The House approved legislation Wednesday that would expand Department of Energy efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains.
Lawmakers voted 223-206 to approve H.R. 3617, the “Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act.” Nine Democrats voted for the Republican-led measure. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania was the sole Republican to vote against it.
The bill, from Rep. John James (R-Mich.), would require the Department of Energy to conduct an ongoing assessment of critical energy needs.
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Specifically, the measure defines all energy sector critical minerals that are vulnerable to supply chain disruptions as “critical energy resources,” and then directs DOE to launch studies and new strategies to secure those supply chains.
