A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill creates a pilot program at the Department of Energy to support domestic processing and recycling of critical materials. The program will use financial tools like price supports to help at least three different domestic projects. It aims to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and boost national and energy security. The Secretary of Energy must set up the program within 180 days and consult with various stakeholders and federal agencies. The program is set to end after five years, followed by a required study and annual reports to Congress.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides innovative financial tools and price support mechanisms to attract private investment into the materials sector.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The program supports the expansion of the domestic critical materials processing industry.
- Scored +4
Is this likely to grow the economy?
The bill aims to attract private investment and foster a domestic industrial sector.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The large scale of the $750 million fund and requirements for offtake agreements may favor larger industrial players over small businesses.
- Scored -1
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill does not explicitly allocate resources toward veteran support services.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Strengthens Supply Chains and Security: Under Section 3 and Section 4(b), the pilot program aims to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and enhance energy and national security by supporting domestic critical material processing. This could make the United States less reliant on foreign nations for essential materials.
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Prioritizes Domestic Materials: According to Section 4(d)(2)(B), the program gives priority to projects that use feedstock from domestic or reliable sources. This could create and support jobs within the United States and partner countries.
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Encourages Fair Market Growth: Per Section 4(h)(2), the bill establishes a revolving fund to reinvest money generated from projects back into new critical materials processing. This helps ensure that taxpayer-backed efforts can continue to support the industry and build stable markets over time.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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High Initial Cost to Taxpayers: Under Section 4(h)(3), the bill authorizes $750,000,000 in taxpayer funds to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the Act. This is a significant upfront investment of public money.
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Potential Market Distortions: Section 4(h)(1)(B) allows the Secretary to use price supports like contracts for differences. Government price supports can sometimes interfere with natural market prices and competition, potentially picking winners and losers in the private market.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides innovative financial tools and price support mechanisms to attract private investment into the materials sector. Would union members be better off under this? — The expansion of domestic industrial processing projects often correlates with industrial job growth.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The program supports the expansion of the domestic critical materials processing industry. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill aims to attract private investment and foster a domestic industrial sector. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The large scale of the $750 million fund and requirements for offtake agreements may favor larger industrial players over small businesses.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The program includes provisions to increase the domestic recycling of critical materials. Does this invest in rural communities? — The industrial processing projects may provide economic development opportunities in various domestic locations.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill funds a study and encourages coordination with research programs like DARPA's Open Price Exploration.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to submit annual reports to Congress regarding program activities and expenditures.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill prioritizes sourcing materials from countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements or major non-NATO ally status. Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill does not explicitly allocate resources toward veteran support services.
- 3/12/2025
- Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.
- 2/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Lindsey GrahamRepublican · South Carolina
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana