# Congress Introduces Critical Minerals Council Bill

Seven bipartisan members of Congress introduced the National Critical Minerals Council Act on October 1, 2026. The bill would establish a federal council to coordinate a national strategy for critical-mineral research and investment, workforce development, partnerships with allies, and responsible domestic mineral development. It is proposed legislation, not a funded solicitation or contract; the signal provides no funding amount or implementation timeline.

- The proposed strategy could create future demand for mineral production and processing, research, supply-chain analysis, and workforce-development capabilities if enacted and funded.
- Contractors and suppliers in these areas can use the bill’s stated priorities to assess their capabilities and potential relevance, but no specific procurement opportunity or submission deadline is identified.
- The proposal’s bipartisan sponsorship signals congressional interest in coordinating federal critical-minerals activity; it does not establish current contractor obligations or guarantee future awards.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Defense & Military
**Published:** October 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Critical Minerals Council
- Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Department of Defense (DoD)
- National Economic Council (NEC)

### Key Quotes
> The United States can no longer afford to take a piecemeal approach to address our critical minerals needs.
> — Thom Tillis, U.S. Senator

> Our bill establishes a National Critical Minerals Council to unite all federal investment, research, and development on critical minerals under a single national strategy.
> — Kevin Cramer, U.S. Senator

> It’s essential we develop our domestic critical mineral supply chains and reduce our dependence on foreign countries for rare earths.
> — Susie Lee, U.S. Representative

### Sources
- [Hickenlooper, Tillis, Rosen, Sheehy, Cramer, Lee, Fulcher Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Critical Minerals Council, Federal Strategy on Critical Minerals | Senator John Hickenlooper](https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-tillis-rosen-sheehy-cramer-lee-fulcher-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-establish-national-critical-minerals-council-federal-strategy-on-critical-minerals/) - Hickenlooper Senate