At a recent hearing of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) came prepared to show and tell “why rare earths are so important,” holding up a small metal object, the size of a thimble, between his thumb and forefinger.

“They are in something we take for granted every day, namely, rare earth magnets,” Krishnamoorthi said, putting down the magnet and placing a small spinning disc on the dais in front of him.