WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Army Organic Industrial Base Mineral Partnerships Act of 2026. The bill authorizes the U.S. Army to partner with private sector companies to drill for lithium brine at Red River Army Depot and other Army Organic Industrial Base (OIB) facilities nationwide.
Sen. Cruz said, “Red River Army Depot sits atop the Smackover Formation, which is one of the largest lithium brine reserves in the United States. The reserves are a critical strategic asset, and enable the production of drones, communication systems, and other systems necessary for America’s national security. Developing the reserves will make Texarkana the Army’s premier hub for lithium battery production, and will strengthen America’s critical mineral supply chain. I look forward to advancing this legislation.”
Sen. Cornyn said, “China controls the lion’s share of the global supply of critical minerals, posing a serious and imminent threat to our national security. By empowering Army Depots to partner with private entities to extract critical minerals and allowing them to reinvest profits toward mission success, this legislation would reduce dependence on foreign adversaries and bolster our defense, energy, and advanced manufacturing capabilities.”
