Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act
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The bill would amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to make securing the supply of "critical energy resources" an explicit DOE mission, requiring ongoing assessments of supply-chain vulnerabilities and strategies to strengthen domestic production.
It responds to concerns that the United States depends heavily on imports of minerals and materials needed for energy technologies, and that rival nations could exploit that dependence, though the bill mainly sets analytical and strategic duties rather than new spending or mandates.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to define "critical energy resource" as an energy resource essential to U.S. energy systems whose supply chain is vulnerable to disruption, and would add securing such supplies as an explicit DOE function. It would require the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with other federal agencies, the energy sector, states, and stakeholders, to conduct ongoing assessments of resource criticality, supply chain vulnerabilities and diversity, production capacity constraints, relevant federal regulations, import dependence, and efforts by adversarial nations to exploit critical energy resource markets. The bill would also direct DOE to facilitate strategies to diversify and strengthen domestic supply chains, develop substitutes for critical energy resources, and improve recycling and reuse technology. It would require a report to Congress within two years describing the status of these assessments and any resulting regulations, guidance, or actions. It does not appropriate new funding or create a new agency.
Key provisions
- 1Would amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to define "critical energy resource" and add securing its supply as a DOE mission and function
- 2Would require DOE to conduct ongoing assessments of critical energy resource criticality, supply chain vulnerability, diversity, capacity constraints, regulations, import reliance, and adversarial exploitation
- 3Would direct DOE to facilitate strategies to diversify sources and increase domestic production, separation, and processing of critical energy resources
- 4Would direct DOE to develop substitutes and alternatives to critical energy resources and improve reuse and recycling technology
- 5Would require the Secretary of Energy to report to congressional committees within two years on the status of the assessments and resulting actions
Who would be affected
The Department of Energy and the Secretary of Energy, who would take on new statutory duties; other federal agencies consulted in the process; energy-sector companies and states involved in critical mineral and material supply chains; and Congress, which would receive the required report.
Why it matters
By formally tasking DOE with assessing and strengthening critical energy resource supply chains, the bill could shape future regulations, funding priorities, and diplomatic or trade decisions aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on imported minerals, particularly from adversarial nations, though the bill itself does not mandate specific actions or funding.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) (Sec. 2)
Adds a definition of "critical energy resource," a new DOE mission to secure such supplies, and a new function addressing supply disruptions
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Report to Congress on status of the required assessments
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 3617 would have no significant effect on the federal deficit, with any discretionary spending costs being insignificant and subject to appropriations.
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3617 would result in zero effect on direct (mandatory) spending and revenues over the 2025–2035 period, producing no change to the deficit. Discretionary spending — subject to the availability of appropriated funds — would be insignificant, primarily for a report to Congress, because the Department of Energy already largely meets the bill's requirements for assessing and developing strategies to strengthen critical minerals supply chains. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
DOE would carry out ongoing internal assessments across several dimensions of critical energy resource supply chains, consulting with other agencies, industry, and states. Based on these assessments, DOE would develop strategies to diversify supply, boost domestic production, and advance substitute materials and recycling technologies. Two years after enactment, the Secretary of Energy would report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the status of the assessments and any regulations, guidance, or actions taken as a result, creating a paper trail for congressional oversight but no enforcement mechanism.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to secure the supply of critical energy resources that are essential to the energy security of the United States. A critical energy resource means an energy resource (1) that is essential to the energy sector and energy systems of the United States, and (2) the supply chain of which is vulnerable to disruption.
As part of its duties, DOE must conduct ongoing assessments of
- energy resource criticality,
- the U.S. supply chain of critical energy resources and its vulnerabilities,
- the diversity of domestic critical energy resource supply chains,
- capacity constraints on the domestic production of critical energy resources,
- federal regulations affecting the domestic production or importation of critical energy resources,
- how energy security is affected by reliance on imports of critical energy resources, and
- how adversarial nations seek to exploit critical energy resource markets to undermine investment in the United States.
DOE must also
- facilitate the development of strategies to strengthen critical energy resource supply chains,
- develop substitutes and alternatives to critical energy resources, and
- improve technology that reuses and recycles critical energy resources.
Legislative subjects
Energy; Energy research; Energy storage, supplies, demand; Government information and archives; Government studies and investigations; Mining; Research and development; Strategic materials and reserves; Supply chain
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-268