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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) bipartisan legislation to fund technologies to recover critical minerals from contaminated sites and waste streams advanced out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce by a unanimous vote of 48-0.

The Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative (EMRTAI) Authorization Act, co-led by Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01), would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to broaden and authorize the EMRTAI program to identify, evaluate, and support the recovery of critical minerals from contaminated land and waste streams, strengthening domestic critical mineral supply chains while advancing cleanup efforts.

Nowhere is the opportunity more apparent than in the Permian Basin, which is already positioned to recover critical minerals at scale. Produced water — the wastewater generated during oil and gas production — contains significant concentrations of critical minerals, such as lithium, yet the technology and regulatory framework to responsibly recover and process these resources remains underdeveloped. This legislation would help close that gap, ensuring that the Permian Basin and similar areas across the country can turn an existing waste stream into a domestic source of critical minerals.

"America's reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals is a national and economic security risk we cannot afford to ignore," said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11). "The Permian Basin is strategically positioned to be a leader in recovering these resources domestically. I'm proud to see the EMRTAI Authorization Act advance through the House Committee on Energy and Commerce today. This bipartisan legislation will help unlock the technology needed to recover critical minerals from contaminated sites and waste streams, strengthening our supply chains while supporting responsible cleanup efforts. I want to thank my colleague Congressman Landsman for his partnership on this important effort."

"We’re proud to see this bill moving closer to becoming law because it’s an investment in America’s future. It will help build up our domestic supply chains, protect public health, and make our country more secure," said Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01).