Critical Materials Future Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/596
Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

ID: H000273

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-46.

March 12, 2025

Introduced

Committee Review

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another brilliant example of legislative theater, courtesy of Senators Hickenlooper, Graham, Coons, and Young. Let's dissect this masterpiece, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Critical Materials Future Act of 2025 aims to establish a pilot program to support domestic critical material processing, because, you know, the US can't rely on those pesky foreign nations for its strategic interests. The objectives are to provide financial stability, attract private investment, and reduce supply chain vulnerabilities. How original.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill creates a pilot program within the Department of Energy, which will support at least three domestic critical material processing projects. It also defines various terms, such as "country of risk," "critical material," and "reliable source." Oh, and it gives the Secretary of Energy some fancy new powers to enter into "other transactions" and appoint temporary personnel without regard to those pesky civil service rules.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: mining and critical material processing industry representatives, financial experts, academic researchers, and, of course, the Department of Energy. I'm sure they'll all have a say in how this pilot program is implemented, because that's exactly what we need – more bureaucratic input.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "solution in search of a problem." The real issue here is not the lack of domestic critical material processing, but rather the fact that it's often cheaper and more efficient to import these materials from other countries. By creating this pilot program, the government is essentially subsidizing an industry that can't compete on its own merits.

The potential impact? A bunch of taxpayer dollars will be wasted on a program that might not even work as intended. The implications? More bureaucratic red tape, more opportunities for corruption and cronyism, and a further erosion of the US's competitive edge in the global market.

In short, this bill is a perfect example of legislative malpractice. It's a Band-Aid solution to a non-existent problem, designed to appease special interests rather than address any real issues. Bravo, Senators! You've managed to create a bill that's both pointless and counterproductive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do – like diagnosing the terminal stupidity of our elected officials.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Congressional Rules & Procedures Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations & Accountability National Security & Intelligence Small Business & Entrepreneurship State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties
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💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$69,400
16 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$3,400
Committees
$0
Individuals
$66,000

No PAC contributions found

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
3 transactions
$3,400

No committee contributions found

1
SANKAR, SHYAM
2 transactions
$6,600
2
CARSON, RUSSELL
2 transactions
$6,600
3
GATES, WILLIAM H. III
2 transactions
$6,600
4
JAIN, AKASH
2 transactions
$6,600
5
BROWN, SAM WINFRED
2 transactions
$6,600
6
ALLHASSANI, MEHDI
1 transaction
$3,300
7
KELLEY, JIM
1 transaction
$3,300
8
KARP, ALEXANDER
1 transaction
$3,300
9
DODSON, DEWEY
1 transaction
$3,300
10
WARNER, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
11
LOGAN, HAROLD R.
1 transaction
$3,300
12
LENZMEIER, CHARLES
1 transaction
$3,300
13
LOGAN, ANN M.
1 transaction
$3,300
14
GOLDBERG, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
15
ARSENAULT, MARCEL
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

ID: G000359

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED PAC
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$3,833
Oct 15, 2024
2
CATAWBA INDIAN NATION
Organization ROCK HILL, SC
$3,300
May 21, 2024
3
BEVERLY B GROSSMAN TRUST
Organization ENCINO, CA
$1,550
Jul 12, 2024
4
BELL FAMILY TRUST
Organization INDIAN WELLS, CA
$1,000
Mar 1, 2024
5
BEVERLY B GROSSMAN TRUST
Organization ENCINO, CA
$230
Oct 2, 2024
6
BEVERLY B GROSSMAN TRUST
Organization ENCINO, CA
$200
Jul 30, 2024
7
BEVERLY B GROSSMAN TRUST
Organization ENCINO, CA
$150
Aug 14, 2024
8
ALFRED SEYMOUR BASSLER TR
RETIRED RETIRED
Organization WOODBINE, MD
$100
Jul 26, 2024
9
ALFRED SEYMOUR BASSLER TR
RETIRED RETIRED
Organization WOODBINE, MD
$100
Jul 26, 2024
10
BEVERLY B GROSSMAN TRUST
Organization ENCINO, CA
$100
Jul 30, 2024

Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

ID: C001088

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,700
Dec 27, 2023
3
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
4
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP ATTORNEY
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
5
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
6
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN CEO
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
7
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
8
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN CEO
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
9
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
10
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP ATTORNEY
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024

Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]

ID: Y000064

Top Contributors

10

1
AMERICAN GRAPHICS PRINTING
Organization CLINTON TWP, MI
$622
Sep 20, 2023
2
SERENA GOJCAJ PHOTOGRAPHY
Organization MACOMB, MI
$575
Sep 24, 2023
3
USPS
Organization ROCHESTER HILLS, MI
$221
Aug 25, 2023
4
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Dec 21, 2023
5
HABEMATOLEL POMO OF UPPER LAKE
Organization UPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jul 28, 2023
6
OTOE MISSOURIA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Organization RED ROCK, OK
$3,300
Jul 28, 2023
7
TURTLE MOUNTAIN BAND OF CHIPPEWA OF NORTH DAKOTA
Organization BELCOURT, ND
$3,300
Jul 28, 2023
8
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
Organization PALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 30, 2024
9
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO INDIANS
Organization TEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Jul 25, 2024
10
AT&T INC & ITS AFFLIATES
Organization SACRAMENTO, CA
$3,000
Mar 5, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 28 nodes and 32 connections

Total contributions: $87,801

Top Donors - Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount

1 Org15 Individuals