[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 145 (Tuesday, September 15, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H5676-H5678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COORDINATING AND HARNESSING AMERICA'S RECOVERY OF MINERALS ACT
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 9617) to amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate a
National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 9617
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coordinating and Harnessing
America's Recovery of Minerals Act'' or the ``CHARM Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CRITICAL MINERAL RECOVERY STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Subtitle B of the Solid Waste Disposal Act
(42 U.S.C. 6911 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following new section:
``SEC. 2009. NATIONAL CRITICAL MINERAL RECOVERY STRATEGY.
``(a) Strategy.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall, in consultation
with the heads of other Federal agencies that the
Administrator determines to be relevant, develop and carry
out a National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy (in this
section referred to as the `Strategy') for the purpose of
coordinating Federal efforts to recover critical minerals
from discarded materials.
``(2) Purpose.--In developing the Strategy under paragraph
(1), the Administrator, in consultation with the heads of
other Federal agencies described in paragraph (1), shall--
``(A) identify programs administered by, and authorities
of, the Administrator that
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relate to the recovery of critical minerals from discarded
materials;
``(B) identify programs administered by, and authorities
of, the other relevant Federal agencies that relate to the
recovery of critical minerals from discarded materials;
``(C) identify, and consider for inclusion in the Strategy,
opportunities that expand the recovery of critical minerals,
as well as that address legal, technological, and other
barriers to recovering such critical minerals from discarded
materials;
``(D) identify, and consider for inclusion in the Strategy,
opportunities to recover critical minerals from discarded
materials that are mining waste or residuals or metal
processing waste;
``(E) identify discarded materials that are potential
sources of critical minerals;
``(F) identify potential critical minerals that may be in
discarded materials;
``(G) evaluate the role of recovered critical minerals, and
the sources from which such critical minerals were recovered
from discarded materials, in strengthening domestic supply
chains of critical minerals; and
``(H) identify opportunities to recover critical minerals
from discarded materials in a manner that minimizes risk to
human health and the environment.
``(b) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and Committee on
Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and make publicly
available, a report that contains the Strategy and a
description of activities carried out pursuant to subsection
(a).
``(2) Inclusion.--The Administrator shall include in the
report transmitted under paragraph (1) a description of--
``(A) any actions taken by the Administrator to facilitate
the recovery of critical minerals from discarded materials
pursuant to the Strategy;
``(B) any actions taken by another Federal agency, in
coordination with the Administrator, to facilitate the
recovery of critical minerals from discarded materials
pursuant to the Strategy;
``(C) any ongoing or planned actions by the Administrator
to facilitate the recovery of critical minerals from
discarded materials pursuant to the Strategy; and
``(D) any recommendations for legislation to support the
developing and carrying out of the Strategy.
``(c) Critical Mineral Defined.--In this section, the term
`critical mineral' has the meaning given such term in section
7002(a)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C.
1606(c)(3)).''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents contained
in section 1001 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act is amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 2008 the
following:
``Sec. 2009. National Critical Mineral Recovery Strategy.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Fletcher)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
{time} 1940
General Leave
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the
legislation and to include extraneous material on H.R. 9617.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Kentucky?
There was no objection.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Environment Subcommittee Chairman
Palmer and Ranking Member Tonko, for introducing H.R. 9617, the
Coordinating and Harnessing America's Recovery of Minerals Act, or
CHARM Act.
Throughout this Congress, our committee has examined opportunities to
recover critical minerals from discarded materials, such as mine waste,
coal combustion materials, end-of-life electronics, and produced water.
The CHARM Act is a product of a lot of this work. This bill directs
the EPA, in consultation with Federal agencies, to develop a national
critical mineral recovery strategy in coordination with other Federal
agencies. EPA already has the expertise in recovery of valuable
materials from discarded materials, and the agency is well-positioned
to lead these efforts.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House to support the passage
of this bipartisan legislation. I appreciate the hard work of Chairman
Palmer and Ranking Member Tonko, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9617, the CHARM Act,
bipartisan legislation led by our committee's Environment Subcommittee
Ranking Member Tonko and Chairman Palmer.
Critical minerals are a vital component of many modern technologies,
from our cell phones to clean energy technologies like solar panels and
electric vehicles. As the world continues to invest in these
technologies, the demand for these minerals will only increase.
However, the United States is heavily reliant on imports for many
critical materials, leaving us exposed to geopolitical supply chain
risks. China currently possesses a stranglehold on much of the critical
mineral supply chain and has already demonstrated a willingness to
leverage this dominance by restricting exports to the United States and
other countries. This poses serious economic and energy security risks.
Critical mineral recovery offers a resourceful solution to this
problem. Looking at discarded materials like e-waste and other end-of-
life products promotes resource efficiency, boosts resiliency, helps
alleviate supply chain pressures, and reduces the need to mine new
minerals.
This bipartisan bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency to
carry out a national critical mineral recovery strategy to coordinate
Federal efforts to recover critical minerals from discarded materials,
tapping into an important domestic feedstock that is easily overlooked.
This strategy can help our Nation collect the information to bolster
our domestic critical mineral supply chains. It will build on EPA's
ongoing efforts under the bipartisan infrastructure law, without
compromising the environment or public health.
For too long, we have allowed valuable critical minerals to go to
landfills, never to be recovered. This must change if we want to remain
globally competitive and reduce our dependence on foreign sources for
critical minerals.
While there is much more work to do to scale our domestic recycling
and recovery efforts, this is an important and commonsense step
forward.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Palmer), the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee and
my good friend who has been an absolute leader on the critical mineral
issue. We have seen that most of them are developed and processed in
China, and he has been waving the flag that we need to get ahead of
that. We now have an administration and Congress moving forward because
of the work of this man.
Mr. PALMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee,
Mr. Guthrie, for all of his help.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of my bill, H.R. 9617.
According to the United States Geological Survey, of the 33 important
critical minerals--the majority of which that our country needs is
being imported--the United States depends on China as a major source
for 14 of them.
This should be a major source of concern to everyone because China
has already demonstrated its willingness to leverage our supply chain
vulnerabilities in recent years.
To address this alarming situation, my friend, Ranking Member Paul
Tonko, and I, along with our colleagues on the House Energy and
Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, have explored opportunities to
identify untapped, nontraditional sources of critical minerals right
here in the United States.
The bipartisan CHARM Act is a product of these efforts throughout the
119th Congress. I thank my colleague, Ranking Member Tonko, again, for
joining me in advancing this legislation.
This legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency to work
with other relevant agencies to develop a national critical mineral
recovery strategy. In furthering this strategy, EPA will identify its
own programs and authorities that could increase recovery of critical
minerals from discarded materials, as well as those at other Federal
agencies.
[[Page H5678]]
It will pinpoint opportunities to address legal and technological
barriers to recovering critical minerals from discarded materials. EPA
will also identify potential sources of critical minerals in discarded
materials and evaluate the role of these recovered materials in
strengthening domestic supply chains.
The committee advanced this legislation with across-the-board
bipartisan support, and I encourage my colleagues in the full House to
support its passage.
Mrs. FLETCHER. Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan CHARM Act is an important
and commonsense bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hard bipartisan work and
can't overstate how important this is and how important the lead of the
gentleman from Alabama has been on this issue. I strongly encourage a
``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 9617.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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