EMRTAI Authorization Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a new program at the Environmental Protection Agency to find and collect important minerals from polluted areas. These minerals are often used in high-tech products like electric car batteries and smartphones.
• The program would give money to state and local governments, tribes, and private companies to develop new ways to clean up contaminated land while pulling out valuable materials. This helps turn waste into useful resources.
• The EPA can spend up to $10 million each year on this project. No single group or project can receive more than $3 million in funding to ensure the money is spread out among different ideas.
• One main goal is to improve national security by creating a steady supply of these minerals inside the United States. This reduces the need to rely on other countries for materials needed for modern technology and defense.
• The program is designed to last for 10 years. It focuses on sites that are already on the national priority list for cleanup to ensure the environment and human health are protected during the recovery process.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.