Unearth Innovation Act

This bill creates a new mineral and mining innovation program at the Department of Energy to speed up safer, cleaner ways to find, mine, process, and recycle minerals in the United States. The agency must launch it within 180 days and will work with mine‑safety and land agencies to protect workers and reduce harm to air, water, and land .

The work will cover modern mapping and surveys (like geophysical and geochemical tests and drones), advanced drilling and digital mining, in‑place recovery, cleaner processing that uses less energy and water and makes less waste, mine cleanup and reuse of mine waste, battery recycling, and steps that build community trust, including consultation with Indian Tribes. The program also backs worker training, better data sharing, and mine safety, and it reviews its focus at least every five years . The Departments of Energy and Interior can partner with tribes, universities (especially mining programs), labs, and industry; a report to Congress is due in three years; and the bill authorizes $100 million per year from 2026 through 2035.

Key points

• Who is affected: mining communities; miners and the mining workforce; universities and national labs; U.S. companies that rely on minerals; tribal governments; and federal mining and safety agencies .
• What changes: creates a DOE program to research, test, and roll out new mining, processing, and recycling tech; funds partnerships with tribes and universities; supports safety, cleanup, and community benefit planning to reduce harm and share local benefits.
• When: set up within 180 days after it becomes law; report due in 3 years; focus reviewed at least every 5 years; funding runs 2026–2035 .