Input Stories

A bipartisan duo in the Senate has reintroduced legislation that would add copper to the critical minerals list (POLITICO Pro’s E&E DAILY, subscription). 
 
What’s going on: The Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025, introduced by Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) on Tuesday, “would combine the Department of Energy’s list of critical materials, which includes copper, with the U.S. Geological Survey’s own roster, the latest version of which does not.”  

• A similar measure, the NAM-backed Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2024, passed the House in November but stalled in the Senate. 
• “Bipartisan support in the Senate, now controlled by Republicans, may lead to a different outcome this Congress,” according to POLITICO. 

What it would do: The legislation would ensure that “copper producers and other critical material suppliers can access the resources they need to strengthen our supply chains and support American jobs,” Sen. Kelly said. 
 
The president’s plan: The measure aligns with the critical minerals goals of President Trump, who “has already called for adding copper and uranium to the nation’s list of critical minerals, and his nominee to lead USGS, Ned Mamula, said in an interview that he intends to make that change.” 
 
Our take: “Adding copper to a unified critical minerals list is vital to manufacturing in the U.S. and must be a priority for the federal government,” said NAM Vice President of Domestic Policy Chris Phalen. 

• “This legislation would allow us to produce more of these much-needed materials here at home rather than force manufacturers to continue relying on foreign sources.”