Congresswoman Lee Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen the Domestic Supply of Critical Minerals and Resources
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) and Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the bipartisan Critical Mineral Consistency Act (H.R. 755) to strengthen the domestic supply of critical minerals by cutting government red tape and providing clarity to both industry and federal agencies. The legislation will ensure parity between “Critical Materials,” as defined by the Department of Energy (DOE), and “Critical Minerals,” as defined by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior.
Currently, DOE’s Critical Material list has the disadvantage of not being eligible for the more extensive benefits conferred to USGS’s Critical Mineral list — including federal tax credit and financing opportunities. Lee’s bipartisan bill would simply add DOE’s list of Critical Materials to USGS’s list of Critical Minerals.
Merging the lists will eliminate confusion between Critical Materials and Critical Minerals and confer the same benefits to both sets of federally identified critical resources, allowing the U.S. to strengthen its domestic supply of critical minerals.
“Accessing critical minerals and materials is essential for our national security and energy grid. Government red tape should not be a barrier to development and innovation,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “There should not be different definitions on what a critical resource is depending on what department creates the list. This commonsense, bipartisan bill will provide the clarity that both industry and federal agencies need.”
“Arizona leads the way in the production of Critical Minerals, which are key to our economy, national security, and clean energy technologies,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “As demand for these resources continues to grow, it is essential that our federal agencies are operating with the same understanding and definitions. My legislation will ensure parity between U.S. Geological Survey Critical Minerals and Department of Energy materials lists to include copper, electrical steel, fluorine, silicon, and silicon carbide on the Critical Minerals list, a long overdue classification. This will strengthen our domestic supply and secure these resources for a more resilient future.”
USGS testified in support of the bill during the 118th Congress.
This bipartisan legislation is also supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including: the Transformer Manufacturing Association of America (TMAA), Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), Copper Development Association (CDA), and National Mining Association (NMA).
###