Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Gary Palmer, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, announced on June 17 a legislative hearing titled ‘Trash to Treasure: Examining Legislation to Support Domestic Critical Mineral Recovery and Recycling.’ The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 at 10:15 AM ET in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
The purpose of the hearing is to discuss proposed legislation aimed at supporting critical mineral recovery and recycling efforts as a means to strengthen national security. Guthrie and Palmer said, “Critical minerals are at the foundation of American energy, manufacturing, and national security. As we continue to onshore jobs and grow our domestic supply chains to build the technologies that power modern life, it’s essential that we address outdated and unworkable regulations that are standing in the way of strengthening our competition with China.” They continued, “The EPA brings real technical expertise to this challenge, and next week’s hearing will help provide a framework to strengthen our critical mineral infrastructure, invest in materials recycling, and support the cleanup of contaminated sites, while also recovering critical minerals from previously untapped domestic sources.”
Items scheduled for consideration include several bills: Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act; Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals (CHARM) Act; Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Authorization Act of 2026; Streamlining Critical Mineral Permitting Act; Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025; Securing America’s Mineral Supply (SAMS) Act; Spent Petroleum Catalyst Recycling and Critical Minerals and Metals Recovery Exemption Act.
The markup will be open to both the public and press. It will also be livestreamed online at energycommerce.house.gov. Questions about the hearing can be directed to committee staff or press contacts provided in the announcement.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee focuses on legislation concerning energy policy as well as health care, environmental protection, telecommunications issues, consumer matters—and has influenced policy areas such as energy innovation initiatives—according to its official website. The committee stands as one of the oldest standing committees in Congress, with origins dating back to its formation as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures in 1795.