US Senate committee advances critical minerals bill co-sponsored by Sens. Lee and Kelly

(The Center Square) – A bill seeking to improve America’s mineral supply chain is heading to the U.S. Senate floor.

The Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025, introduced by Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, would remove disparities between separate critical materials lists from the Department of Energy and Department of Interior. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved the bill last week.

The DOE says the Energy Act of 2020 defined a critical material as “any non-fuel mineral, element, substance, or material” that “has a high risk of supply chain disruption” or “serves an essential function in one or more energy technologies.”

This same bill defines a critical mineral as “any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the director of the U.S. Geological Survey.”

The CMCA attempts to align the Department of Energy and Department of Interior lists to decrease confusion among industries and federal agencies.

These conflicting federal standards hinder America from building “resilient supply chains,” Kelly said.

He added the bill progresses “toward a more coordinated national strategy, critical mineral development [and] reduces dependence on foreign adversaries.”

This bill would also help Arizona contribute to powering America’s economy and defense, Kelly explained.

Furthermore, Lee said having two separate lists “doesn’t make sense.”

Regarding industry supporters, the Zero Emission Transportation Association and the National Mining Association have backed the CMCA.

ZETA’s executive director, Albert Gore, said the current misunderstanding “excludes several important commodities from benefits” offered by both lists.

Gore added that “maximizing responsible and timely production” is important to meeting the increasing demand for “advanced technologies across sectors, including electric vehicles, defense, healthcare, consumer electronics and many other crucial applications.”

NMA CEO Rich Nolan said “all minerals are critical” and called the CMCA a vital “step forward.”

This bill is a win for American miners and domestic supply chain security, Nolan added.

Sens. John Curtis, R-Utah; Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia; Jim Risch, R-Idaho; and Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, co-sponsored this bill.