H.R. 9617 · Passed House · Environmental Protection

CHARM Act

Sponsor: Gary J. Palmer (R-AL)

What it does

• Requires the EPA to establish and carry out a national strategy for recovering critical minerals from discarded materials.
• Defines critical minerals as minerals, elements, substances, or materials designated by the U.S. Geological Survey as essential to U.S. economic or national security with vulnerable supply chains.
• Mandates the EPA report to Congress every two years on actions, plans, and recommendations relating to the national strategy for mineral recovery.

Official summary

Coordinating and Harnessing America’s Recovery of Minerals Act or the CHARM Act This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish and carry out a national strategy for recovering critical minerals from discarded materials. Critical minerals are defined as any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey because it is essential to U.S. economic or national security, has a vulnerable supply chain, and serves an essential function in manufacturing a product. The EPA must report to Congress every two years on its actions, plans, and recommendations relating to the national strategy.

Latest action

Sep 16, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works