Many bills take years to finally work their way through Congress – if they ever get there. The perennial subjects I’ve focused on here include medical isotope production, increased open access for research publications and helium supplies.
Another topic involves critical minerals, often called rare earth minerals (though not actually rare). This year’s first bill comes from Representative Lanborn of Colorado. Perhaps reflecting a lowered sense of expectations, the bill focuses on increasing the nation’s understanding of the extent of its mineral resources. It is notably different from the one critical mineral bill that passed the House last year, so I can’t predict an automatic passage. But I suspect that has much more to do with the persistent inability of Congress to pass much more than wind than any specifics of this bill.
Pasco Phronesis 