Skip to main content
HR 2637 117th Congress House Energy Advanced technology and technological innovations Advisory bodies Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Intergovernmental relations Land use and conservation Licensing and registrations Mining State and local government operations Strategic materials and reserves

American Critical Mineral Independence Act of 2021

Introduced: April 16, 2021 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 19, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
Jun 9, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands.
Jun 9, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Apr 16, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Small Business, the Judiciary, and Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 16, 2021
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

American Critical Mineral Independence Act of 2021

This bill provides support for a domestic supply of critical minerals, establishes deadlines to complete the environmental review of critical mineral projects on federal land, and sets forth related requirements to expedite the review of such projects under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).

Specifically, the National Science Foundation must award grants to support research to advance critical mineral mining strategies and technologies. The Department of Energy must also provide grants to research, develop, and assess technologies and techniques to recover critical minerals from mine waste and metallurgical activities.

If an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is required for a critical mineral project, then all necessary federal review and permit considerations must be completed within 18 or 24 months, respectively. However, the review may exceed the time limit if the project sponsor agrees.

The lead agency of the environmental review of such project must allow a state or another appropriate entity to assume certain federal responsibilities regarding the environmental review of the project upon the request of such entity.

Further, the bill authorizes a lead agency to determine that the requirements of NEPA have been satisfied if a state or federal agency acting under state or federal law has addressed specified factors. If the lead agency does not make such a determination, then the agency must enter into an agreement with the project sponsor to set time limits for each part of the permitting process.

What's happening now October 19, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 2604 Related bill Accessing America’s Critical Minerals Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 8
 Cosponsors 20
All 20 Republican 15
R
Smith, Adrian
Nebraska · Jul 19, 2022
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Dec 8, 2021
Meijer, Peter
· May 20, 2021
 R
Owens, Burgess
Utah · May 17, 2021
 R
Miller-Meeks, Mariannette
Iowa · May 14, 2021
 R
Obernolte, Jay
California · May 4, 2021
Graves, Garret
· Apr 22, 2021
McKinley, David
· Apr 22, 2021
 R
Baird, James R.
Indiana · Apr 16, 2021
Gohmert, Louie
· Apr 16, 2021
Gonzalez, Anthony
· Apr 16, 2021
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Lucas, Frank D.
Oklahoma · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Newhouse, Dan
Washington · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Reschenthaler, Guy
Pennsylvania · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Stauber, Pete
Minnesota · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Tiffany, Thomas P.
Wisconsin · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Weber, Randy K. Sr.
Texas · Apr 16, 2021
 R
Westerman, Bruce
Arkansas · Apr 16, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2637: American Critical Mineral Independence Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2637/
MLA
"H.R. 2637: American Critical Mineral Independence Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2637/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2637, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2637/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2637: American Critical Mineral Independence Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-2637/)
Report a problem