House passes critical minerals bills to boost domestic

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved three bills focused on recovering critical minerals from domestic waste streams. The legislation, passed ahead of a midterm election recess, aims to bolster supply chains for defense and advanced manufacturing.

Each bill connects to the Trump administration's focus on critical minerals. The National Association of Manufacturers has stated these bills align with its policy agenda for the sector.

Battery Recycling Act Aims to Cut Red Tape

HR 9615, the Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act, was introduced by Representative Marianette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Iowa. It would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to classify lithium-ion batteries as universal waste within 18 months of enactment.

This change is intended to reduce costs and permitting requirements. Representative Miller-Meeks' office stated it would allow destination facilities to store and recycle these batteries at the same location. The goal is to recover more lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper from used batteries.

"China dominates the global battery supply chain, and outdated federal rules have made it harder for American recyclers to compete," Miller-Meeks said. The BRACE Act fixes that by cutting red tape and letting our recyclers recover the critical minerals already sitting in used batteries right here at home. The bill would update regulations from the 1996 Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act.

Strategy for Recovering Minerals from Waste

HR 9617, the Coordinating and Harnessing America's Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act, was introduced by Representatives Gary Palmer, a Republican from Alabama, and Paul Tonko, a Democrat from New York. It would direct the EPA administrator to consult with other agencies to create a National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy.

The strategy would focus on recovering minerals from discarded materials. Representative Palmer cited a need for domestic supply resilience when the bill passed committee in July.

"Critical minerals are essential to our economy and national security, yet America remains too dependent on China for these resources," Palmer said. The CHARM Act would direct the EPA to identify recovery opportunities from electronic waste, legacy mine sites, coal ash, and other domestic sources. This law would amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965.

Funding for Cleanup and Recovery Technology

HR 9616, the Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative Authorization Act, was introduced by Representatives August Pfluger, a Republican from Texas, and Greg Landsman, a Democrat from Ohio. It directs the EPA to update a 2023 program focused on recovering critical materials from contaminated sites.

The existing program develops technology to recover materials from mining waste during cleanup at legacy sites. Pfluger's bill would broaden the program to include a wider range of sites, with a focus on Superfund sites on the National Priorities List. It also calls for $10 million in annual funding to assist the work.

Today, the House took a critical step toward ending our dependence on foreign adversaries for the minerals America counts on, said Pfluger. He stated the legislation turns contaminated sites into strategic assets while speeding up restoration work for communities.