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119-s-598119th Congress

Unearth Innovation Act

Sponsored By: Senator Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

Introduced

Summary

Mineral and mining innovation would be centralized at the Department of Energy by creating a Mineral and Mining Innovation Initiative to speed research, cleaner extraction, recycling, and commercialization of technologies for domestic mineral needs. The initiative would coordinate safety and innovation with agencies like the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and prioritize partnerships with universities, Indian Tribes, industry, and National Laboratories.

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  • Workers: Would fund research, training, and safety-focused innovation to improve mine safety, workforce skills, and productivity. It directs coordination with mine safety agencies to target real workplace hazards.
  • Communities and Indian Tribes: Would require community engagement, social-acceptance research, and consultation with Indian Tribes, and would support reclamation, remediation, and reuse of mined lands to reduce local environmental harm.
  • Researchers, industry, and supply chains: Would back university and lab partnerships on exploration, advanced extraction, processing, and critical-mineral recycling (including battery recycling) to boost domestic supply, technology adoption, and commercialization.

*Would authorize $100 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2035, totaling $1.0 billion in authorized funding.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New DOE mining innovation program

If enacted, the bill would require the Department of Energy to set up a Mineral and Mining Innovation Initiative within 180 days. The program would get $100 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, with the money remaining available until spent. DOE would fund research, demonstrations, and commercialization for finding, mining, processing, reprocessing, and recycling minerals, including battery recycling. The Initiative would coordinate with the Department of the Interior and other agencies, consult Tribes and universities, and may make cooperative agreements with Tribes, labs, industry, and NGOs. DOE would report results to Congress within 3 years and reassess research priorities at least every 5 years.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 2/13/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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