House Committee to Vote on Bills Expanding Critical Mineral Efforts Amid Democratic Opposition Over Mining Subsidies.

The House Natural Resources Committee is set to vote on nearly a dozen bills to expand federal critical mineral efforts and address Western water concerns. H.R. 8446, the “Critical Mineral Consistency Act,” from Republican Reps. Juan Ciscomani, Eli Crane, and Dan Newhouse of Washington, aims to combine the U.S. Geological Survey and Department of Energy’s critical minerals lists with copper, electrical steel, silicon and silicon carbide. The bill would expand the USGS list to include copper and electrical steel. Many Democrats oppose the bill, arguing that it would give mining companies subsidies and expedited permitting.