November 19, 2024 - A senior U.S. Geological Survey official will testify this week on bipartisan critical mineral bills during a hearing that will also weigh Republican coal mining legislation.

Colin Williams, who leads the USGS mineral resources program, will appear before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources on Tuesday.

On the agenda is the “Critical Minerals Security Act,” H.R. 7662, from Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, which would require agencies to craft a strategy for advancing mining, refining and processing of critical minerals, and provide a host of reports to Congress.

Ten lawmakers are co-sponsoring the bill, including Democratic Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Kathy Castor of Florida and Republican Rep. Robert Wittman of Virginia. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is sponsoring a companion.