U.S. House Passes Bipartisan Permitting Reform Act to Accelerate Domestic Lithium and Rare Earth Processing

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States House of Representatives voted 274–152 to pass the Critical Mineral Supply Chain and National Security Permitting Act, establishing streamlined federal environmental review timelines for commercial domestic lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth element processing facilities.

Securing Domestic Clean Energy and Defense Supply Chains

The legislation designates critical mineral extraction and refining as strategic national defense priorities under Title III of the Defense Production Act, capping National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review timelines at 180 days and creating a single coordinating federal agency for mining permits. The bill directs $1.2 billion in Department of Energy loan guarantees to build processing refineries across Nevada, Utah, and North Carolina.

House leaders across both parties affirmed that reducing dependence on foreign mineral processing monopolies is essential to safeguard American military readiness, electric grid transformers, and battery manufacturing.

Bipartisan Coalitions and Environmental Debate

Energy and commerce committee leaders commended the bipartisan compromise, while environmental justice organizations advocated for maintaining comprehensive community water-quality hearings.

The National Mining Association endorsed the statutory review certainty.

Senate Legislative Calendar

The bipartisan measure proceeds to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for consideration in September 2026.