Foster Introduces Legislation to Improve Safety and Sustainability in the Battery Supply Chain

July 16, 2026 Press Release Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Critical Materials Processing Technology Testbed Act of 2026 to help the Department of Energy develop new, safer materials processing technologies needed to bolster our battery supply chain. This testbed would aim to kickstart a domestic materials processing industry in the United States with a focus on environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and minimizing resource intensiveness. “As our nation’s clean energy demands continue to grow, there’s more need than ever to safely process the critical materials that are used in electric car batteries, solar panels, and other electronics,” said Foster . “Currently, these materials are typically processed in countries with minimal safety regulations, causing damage to our environment and human health. A testbed managed by the Department of Energy would allow us to not only create a safer and more environmentally friendly battery supply chain, but also bring good manufacturing jobs to the U.S.” This legislation was prompted by a hearing Foster chaired in the House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, which found that materials processing constitutes a major impediment to strengthening the domestic battery supply chain. A copy of the bill can be found here . ###