Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act
Summary
The "Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act" aims to bolster the United States' energy security by ensuring a reliable supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals. It amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to define 'critical energy resource' and tasks the Secretary of Energy with assessing and mitigating vulnerabilities in the supply chain. The Act mandates ongoing assessments of energy resource criticality, supply chain vulnerabilities, and the impact of adversarial nations on critical energy resource markets.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to increased domestic production and diversification of critical energy resources. It will also result in the development of strategies to reduce reliance on foreign sources and promote recycling technologies. A report on the assessment's status will be submitted to Congress within two years, informing future policy decisions.
Potential Benefits
- Increased energy independence and reduced reliance on foreign sources.
- Potential for job creation in domestic mining, processing, and recycling industries.
- Enhanced national security by securing access to essential resources.
- Support for the development and deployment of advanced energy technologies.
- Greater resilience of energy systems against disruptions and market manipulation.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased environmental impact from domestic mining and processing.
- Possible conflicts with existing environmental regulations.
- Risk of prioritizing energy security over other important considerations, such as environmental protection or social equity.
- Potential for increased costs associated with domestic production and diversification.
- The definition of 'critical energy resource' could be interpreted broadly, leading to unintended consequences.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare and providing for the common defense (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate commerce (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3), which could be interpreted to include securing the supply of critical minerals. The Act delegates authority to the Secretary of Energy, which is a common practice, but Congress retains oversight through the reporting requirement.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).