September 16, 2025
Mr. Schweikert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
To direct the Secretary of Energy to support research and development on extraction of critical minerals from brine to reduce the dependence of the United States on the importation of such minerals, illustrating that innovative technology for domestic extraction could be a more cost efficient and environmentally friendly alternative than traditional extraction methods, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Critical Mineral Brine Extraction Research and Development Act
.
Sec. 2. Research and development
(a) In general
The Secretary of Energy shall—
(1)
support research and development on the scale-up, evaluation, and potential commercialization of the technology for extraction of critical minerals from brine; and
(2)
conduct demonstrations of such technology, in collaboration with private sector industry, in order to—
(A)
further performance enhancement relating to such technology; and
(B)
reduce associated costs.
(b) Report to Congress
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report on the technical and economic feasibility of technology for the extraction of critical minerals from brine, and potential barriers for the expansion of the use of such technology for domestic purposes, including options for Federal-private partnerships for reducing costs and improving the efficiency of extraction of critical minerals from brine.
(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $2,000,000 dollars for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out subsection (a).