House Passes Miller-Meeks' BRACE Act to Strengthen Domestic Battery Recycling

September 15, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act (BRACE Act) , bipartisan legislation authored by Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) to modernize outdated federal regulations and strengthen America's domestic battery recycling industry. The BRACE Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency to update decades-old hazardous waste regulations that predate the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries. The bill allows destination facilities to store lithium-ion batteries at the same location where they are recycled, cutting unnecessary costs and eliminating the need for complex, duplicative permits. As demand for lithium-ion batteries has grown across electric vehicles, energy storage, communications, and consumer products, the legislation is designed to keep more critical mineral recovery, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, onshore rather than overseas. "China dominates the global battery supply chain, and outdated federal rules have made it harder for American recyclers to compete. The BRACE Act fixes that by cutting red tape and letting our recyclers recover the critical minerals already sitting in used batteries right here at home. I'm grateful to my colleagues Representatives Menendez and Ruiz for partnering with me on this commonsense, bipartisan bill, and I'll keep working to strengthen America's critical mineral supply chains," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. “The American Critical Minerals Association (ACMA) thanks Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks for her leadership in advancing the BRACE Act, a meaningful step toward strengthening America's ability to recycle and recover lithium-ion batteries, materials essential to the nation's energy, manufacturing, and national security future,” said Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of American Critical Minerals Association . “By directing the EPA to modernize and clarify regulatory standards for battery recycling, this legislation will expand domestic recovery pathways, reduce reliance on foreign adversaries, and strengthen America's supply chain resilience. The BRACE Act is an important component of the comprehensive policy framework needed to build a resilient, competitive U.S. critical minerals ecosystem. ACMA looks forward to continued collaboration with Congress as this legislation moves forward.” The BRACE Act now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. ### Issues : Energy