Energy

Critical Minerals Security Act of 2025 This bill establishes requirements for the Department of the Interior related to securing U.S. access to critical minerals and rare earth element (REE) resources.  Critical minerals mean any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey.  REEs mean cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, and yttrium.  First, Interior must report on the critical mineral and REE resources, including recyclable or recycled materials containing those resources, around the world. Among other information, the report must include an assessment of the global ownership and supply of critical mineral and REE resources. Interior must submit the report within a year and every two years thereafter. Next, Interior must establish a process to assist a U.S. person—a U.S. citizen, a non-U.S. National (alien under federal law) lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or an entity organized under U.S. laws—seeking to divest stock in mining, processing, or recycling operations for critical minerals and REEs in a foreign country with finding a purchaser that is not under the control of North Korea, China, Russia, or Iran. Finally, Interior must develop (1) a strategy to collaborate with U.S. allies and partners to develop advanced mining, refining, separation, processing, and recycling technologies; and (2) a method for sharing related intellectual property with U.S. allies and partners to enable those countries to license those technologies and develop their resources.

HR 52, the Stop Woke Investing Act, limits shareholder proposals on corporate proxy materials based on company size. Public companies must exclude proposals that do not have a "material" financial impact on the business, defined as directly affecting investment returns or risks. This excludes proposals focused on non-financial social, environmental, or political goals (like diversity initiatives or climate action) from being included in voting materials. The bill caps the number of proposals companies must include: 2 for small firms, 4 for mid-sized firms, and 7 for large firms, with companies deciding which proposals meet the financial impact requirement.

HR 2424, the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2025, repeals a 12% federal excise tax on new heavy trucks, tractors, and trailers. This tax currently adds significant costs - $7,000+ for trailers, $20,000+ for clean diesel trucks, and up to $50,000 for advanced technology trucks - discouraging replacement of older, less efficient vehicles. The bill directly affects truck manufacturers, dealers, and fleet operators by removing this cost barrier, making newer, cleaner models more affordable. It aims to accelerate the adoption of modern trucks with improved safety and environmental features, particularly benefiting electric and alternative-fuel vehicles that face higher upfront costs.

HR 7563 prohibits imports of rare earth magnets from "covered nations" (primarily China, as defined by existing law) into the U.S., except for limited cases where domestic supply is unavailable or national security requires it. It also restricts exporting electronic waste containing rare earth magnets to encourage domestic recycling and allows the Commerce Secretary to provide financial support (like price guarantees) to U.S. or partner-country manufacturers building rare earth magnet production facilities. The law applies to products containing these magnets, directly affecting U.S. manufacturers, importers, and recyclers of electronics and defense equipment. A report on implementation must be submitted to Congress within three years.

This joint resolution (SJRES 9) seeks congressional disapproval of a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rule issued in October 2024. The rule provided guidance for listing "voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts" on exchanges, which would have governed how these carbon credit trading contracts could be traded. If passed, the resolution would block this guidance from taking effect, meaning the CFTC's rule would have no legal force. This action directly affects the CFTC and market participants involved in carbon credit derivative contracts, preventing the new regulatory framework from being implemented.

HR 2925, the Maritime Fuel Tax Parity Act, extends an existing tax exemption for alternative motorboat fuels to small vessels operating exclusively between ports on the Atlantic or Pacific coasts of the United States. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to include these single-coast vessels under the current exemption, ensuring they pay the same excise tax rate as other qualifying vessels. This change applies to fuel sales after December 31, 2023, directly affecting small maritime businesses that operate only along one coastal region. The key provision modifies Section 4041(g) to clarify that the tax exemption covers these specific vessels, promoting tax parity without creating new taxes or altering broader fuel regulations.

The FREE Act (HR 689) requires federal agencies to replace slow, discretionary permitting processes with a streamlined "permitting by rule" system for certain permits. Under this system, applicants would certify compliance with written standards (instead of lengthy agency reviews) and receive a permit automatically after 180 days if the agency doesn’t act. Agencies must first report on their current permitting processes and identify which permits can transition to this model, with deadlines for submissions and implementation. This directly affects federal agencies issuing permits (e.g., environmental or construction permits) and applicants seeking them, aiming to reduce delays and costs while allowing agencies to audit and enforce compliance after permits are granted.

This bill increases annual funding for the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program from $10 million to $12 million, effective for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. It directly affects rural communities eligible for loans and grants under this program, which supports local economic development projects. The key mechanism is a specific funding amendment to Section 313B of the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. This change extends and boosts financial resources for rural infrastructure and community initiatives without altering program eligibility or administration.

This bill prohibits all federal enforcement of emissions control requirements for diesel trucks. It directly affects diesel truck manufacturers, importers, distributors, and owners by eliminating all federal mandates (including under the Clean Air Act) for emissions control devices or onboard diagnostic systems on diesel vehicles. Key provisions repeal existing EPA regulations, prevent future rulemaking on emissions devices, and expunge past legal records related to non-compliance with emissions standards. The law would remove all federal legal barriers to modifying or removing emissions equipment from diesel engines.

HR 4361, the STOP China Act, prohibits the use of federal transportation funds to purchase vehicles or related infrastructure (like charging stations for buses) from companies linked to China. Specifically, it bans federal funding for "covered vehicles" made by entities owned or controlled by China (as defined by the bill), including those using Chinese-made electric powertrains. The U.S. Trade Representative must publish and update a public list of these banned entities within 30 days of the bill’s enactment, with updates every 90 days initially and annually thereafter. Exceptions apply only for vehicle safety testing, inspections, or research. The bill directly affects federal transportation projects and contractors receiving federal funds, requiring them to avoid procurement from listed Chinese-connected companies.