Unearth Innovation Act
(S. 598)
(S. 598)
The Unearth Innovation Act of 2025 would establish a Mining and Mineral Innovation Program within the Department of Energy (DOE) to advance the research, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies related to mining, recycling, and processing. Its goal is to strengthen domestic mineral resources and secure critical mineral supply chains. As energy demand skyrockets, it is essential to bolster domestic production of critical minerals and secure the U.S. supply chain. This bill will strengthen U.S. national security and economic growth.
The Unearth Innovation Act directs the DOE to study and evaluate mining and processing technologies and practices in coordination with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. The program aims to improve the identification of new potential mineral resources, environmental performance of mining and mineral recovery, mining efficiency and productivity, data collection, mine safety, site remediation, workforce training, and community engagement, among other goals. The bill further directs DOE to consult with National Laboratories, mining institutions, industry stakeholders, and tribes to reevaluate the needs of the domestic mining industry at least every five years.
Securing a reliable and sustainable supply of critical minerals necessary for key industries including renewable energy, defense, and technology is a continuous challenge as current mining and mineral processing methods can be environmentally harmful, inefficient and reliant on outdated technologies. National and economic security is further threatened as the U.S. relies heavily on foreign nations for our critical mineral supply chain, specifically adversarial countries. The Unearth Innovation Act directly combats these challenges by establishing a program to invest domestically in mining innovation and technology that is otherwise heavily underfunded.
The Mining and Mineral Innovation Program, with the authorization of $100 million annually from FY2026 to FY2035, would technologically advance the mining sector to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental footprints while engaging with communities to improve the social acceptance of mining. Successful implementation of the program would bolster national and economic security through securing mineral supply chains domestically.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)
ClearPath Action, Colorado School of Mines, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the National Wildlife Federation, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy, the Key Minerals Forum, the Zero Emission Transportation Association, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, Employ America, MineTech Ventures, Alta Resource Technologies, the Chamber of Progress, U.S. Critical Minerals, Nyrstar, the Alabama Mobility and Power Center (University of Alabama), South32 Hermosa, Alliance for Mineral Security, South Star Battery Metals Corp, the American Critical Minerals Association, and the Federation of American Scientists