Ciscomani Introduces New Effort to Bolster Support for Critical Materials

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) last week introduced a new effort to 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). The effort also would eliminate the confusion between the two definitions and give the same benefits to both Critical Materials and Critical Minerals, furthering the United States’ mission to end reliance on foreign adversaries for critical minerals and materials.

The legislation, H.R. 8446, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act, would add the DOE’s list of Critical Materials to USGS’ list of Critical Minerals. This would remove the DOE Critical Materials from the disadvantage of not being eligible for the more extensive energy-focused benefits conferred to the USGS Critical Mineral list instead conveying the same benefit to both lists. Ciscomani is joined on the bill by Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and fellow Arizona Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02).  

“With both critical minerals and critical materials playing such a key role in everything from energy to national security, we need to ensure our federal agencies are operating with the same understanding of what we need to prioritize.” said Ciscomani. “This legislation ensures parity between critical minerals versus critical materials while bolstering America’s supply chain for strategic resources for a more resilient future.”

“Securing our domestic mineral supply chains is critical for our country’s energy and national security,” said Chairman Newhouse. “However, one of the challenges to unleashing the full potential of American mining is the confusion between the Department of Energy’s ‘critical materials’ list and the Department of Interior’s ‘critical minerals’ list. As Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I would like to thank Rep. Ciscomani for his leadership on legislation to ensure consistency in the two agencies’ designations and provide clarity to American mining.”

Supporting organizations include Transformer Manufacturing Association of America (TMAA), Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), the Copper Development Association (CDA), and National Mining Association (NMA).  

“Congratulations and thank you Rep. Ciscomani for introducing this important legislation, supported by us and several clean energy and electrification associations” said Adam Estelle, President & CEO of CDA. “We recognize that a strong domestic supply chain for ALL DOE Critical Materials is essential, and this Act will go a long way to supporting those industries in here in the United States.”

Background:  

• While the statutory definition of Critical Minerals and Critical Materials are similar, the DOE and USGS created very different methodologies when developing their lists.
• The USGS finalized the Critical Mineral methodology and list in 2022, focused solely on the supply and relied on old data from 2015-2018.
• On the other hand, when DOE announced the Critical Material list in 2023, they balanced essentiality and supply risk, and looked at projections into the short and medium-term future, rather than looking in the past.
• Copper, Electrical Steel, Silicon and Silicon Carbide, are all Critical Materials and not Critical Minerals.