EPA would draft a plan to recover critical minerals from trash and industrial waste
Passed one chamberH.R. 9617Latest action
Sponsor: Gary J. Palmer · Representative · AL
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: CHARM Act
119th Congress
Topics: Environment & energy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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The CHARM Act would require the EPA to plan and report on recovering critical minerals from waste, with no new regulations or funding.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 9617, the CHARM Act, would require the EPA to create a national plan for recovering critical minerals from trash and industrial waste, including leftover waste from mining and metal processing. The EPA would work with other federal agencies to list existing programs and legal powers, identify which discarded materials may contain these minerals, and find legal, technical, or other obstacles to recovery. The bill creates no new regulations or requirements for businesses.
Who does it affect?
The EPA and other federal agencies would take on new coordination and reporting work. Over time, the strategy could matter to mining and recycling companies, manufacturers that rely on these minerals, and communities near waste sites.
Why does it matter?
The plan would examine how recovered minerals could strengthen the country's supply and how to recover them while limiting risks to human health and the environment. Everyday residents would not see immediate changes.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Based on the “Referred in Senate” text of Sep 16, 2026.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedJul 9, 2026
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Sep 16, 2026
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.