Congressional Digest

Congressional Digest May 2026 No. 5 Vol. 105
Critical Minerals for New Energy Technologies

Access to Critical Minerals

PROS & CONS of Securing Critical Mineral Supply Chains and Domestic Production

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Critical Minerals for New Energy Technologies

From Sourcing and Extraction to End-Use Demand

Interest in critical minerals, rare earth elements (REEs) and critical materials has long been an area of concern to Congress. Domestic mining laws, such as the General Mining Act of 1872, have been in place for more than a century. In recent decades, [most] minerals and mining production has moved abroad due to many factors, including the higher costs of domestic production and environmental concerns. While demand for critical minerals crosses sectors of the U.S. economy, including health care, consumer electronics and defense, particular interest in recent years has been paid to the critical minerals seen as necessary for a transition to…

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