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The NAM-backed Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 is a step closer to becoming reality.

What’s going on: The House on Tuesday afternoon passed the legislation, which would create a new, unified “Critical Minerals and Materials List” to include the U.S. Geological Survey’s list of critical minerals and the Department of Energy’s critical materials list.

• The bill passed the Natural Resources Committee in February.
• Last fall, President Trump made the NAM-advocated move of adding 10 minerals—including uranium, silver and copper—to the USGS list.
• The NAM has been advocating aligning the two lists for years.

What it would do: The Critical Mineral Consistency Act “modifies the Energy Act of 2020 to expand the definition of  critical minerals to include critical materials designated by the Department of Energy,” according to the bill.

• “By expanding the definition of critical minerals, this bill requires the USGS to include on its list the materials on DOE’s list. Within 45 days of DOE adding a mineral, element, substance or material to its critical materials list, the USGS must update its list to include such mineral, element, substance or material.”

Why it’s important: The U.S. relies on foreign imports of many of the materials on the lists, which have high risk of supply chain disruptions.

• The legislation’s alignment would bolster efforts to source and process these elements domestically.

The final say: “The NAM is a strong, longtime supporter of the Critical Mineral Consistency Act,” said NAM Senior Director of Energy and Resources Policy Michael Davin.

• “The longstanding discrepancies between the Department of Energy and USGS lists has led to confusion, uncertainty and disadvantages for manufacturers. A unified list will be used to ensure improved and expanded domestic access to these materials through financial incentives and permit streamlining.”