,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ccef ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #bg1 #bjbj,mr4 ,king introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to support the reuse and recycling of batteries and critical minerals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,battery and ,critical ,mineral ,recycling ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,battery ,the term battery means a battery that is-- 7,a7 rechargeable2 and 7,b7 electrochemical1 including lithium ion and other chemistries4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 #c4 ,grants 7a7 ,battery recycling research1 development1 and demonstration grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award multiyear grants to eligible entities for research1 development1 and demonstration projects to create innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and recycling of batteries1 including by addressing-- 7,a7 recycling processes2 7,b7 the development of methods to promote the design and production of batteries that take into full account and facilitate the dismantling1 reuse1 recovery1 and recycling of battery components and materials2 7,c7 strategies to increase consumer acceptance of1 and participation in1 the recycling of batteries2 and 7,d7 the integration of increased quantities of recycled critical minerals in batteries and other products to develop markets for recycled battery materials and critical minerals4 7#b7 ,eligible entities ,the ,secretary may award a grant under paragraph 7#a7 to-- 7,a7 an institution of higher education2 7,b7 a ,national ,laboratory2 7,c7 a ,federal research agency2 7,d7 a ,state research agency2 7,e7 a nonprofit organization2 7,f7 an industrial entity2 7,g7 a manufacturing entity2 7,h7 a private battery-collection entity2 7,i7 a ,state or municipal government entity2 7,j7 a battery retailer2 or 7,k7 a consortium of #b or more entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,j74 7#c7 ,applications 7,a7 ,in general ,to be eligible to receive a grant under paragraph 7#a71 an eligible entity described in paragraph 7#b7 shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7,b7 ,contents ,an application submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall describe how the project will promote collaboration among-- 7i7 vehicle battery manufacturers2 7ii7 other battery manufacturers2 7iii7 battery material and equipment manufacturers2 7iv7 battery recyclers1 collectors1 and refiners2 and 7v7 retailers4 7b7 ,state and local programs 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program under which the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to ,states and units of local government to assist in the establishment or enhancement of ,state battery collection1 recycling1 and reprocessing programs4 7#b7 ,non-,federal cost share ,the non-,federal share of the cost of a project carried out using a grant under this subsection shall be #ej percent of the cost of the project4 7#c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that describes the number of battery collection points established or enhanced1 an estimate of jobs created1 and the quantity of material collected as a result of the grants awarded under paragraph 7#a74 7c7 ,retailers as collection points 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to retailers that sell batteries to establish and implement a system for the acceptance and collection of used batteries for reuse1 recycling1 or proper disposal4 7#b7 ,collection system ,the system described in paragraph 7#a7 shall include take-back of used batteries at no cost to the consumer4 #d4 ,lithium-ion battery recycling prize competition 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall continue to carry out the existing ,lithium-,ion ,battery ,recycling ,prize competition of the ,department of ,energy established under section #bd of the ,stevenson-,wydler ,technology ,innovation ,act of #aihj 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #cgai74 7b7 ,additional funding for pilot projects ,in addition to any other funds made available to the ,secretary to carry out the competition described in subsection 7a71 there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out ,phase ,,iii of that competition #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba1 to remain available until expended1 which the ,secretary may use-- 7#a7 to increase the number of winners of ,phase ,,iii of that competition2 7#b7 to increase the amount awarded to the winners of ,phase ,,iii of that competition2 or 7#c7 to carry out any other activity that is consistent with the goals of ,phase ,,iii of that competition1 as determined by the ,secretary4 #e4 ,best practices for collection of batteries 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7referred to in this section as the ,administrator7 shall develop best practices for the collection of batteries that may be cost-effectively implemented by ,states and units of local government4 7b7 ,coordination ,the ,administrator shall develop best practices under subsection 7a7 in coordination with ,state and local leaders and entities in relevant private sectors4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report describing the best practices developed under this section4 #f4 ,voluntary labeling program 7a7 ,in general ,there is established within the ,department of ,energy and the ,environmental ,protection ,agency a voluntary program to promote battery recycling and identify collection points in order to reduce battery waste1 improve collection1 and reduce safety concerns through-- 7#a7 voluntary labeling of batteries2 or 7#b7 other forms of communication about the reuse and recycling of critical materials from batteries4 7b7 ,division of responsibilities ,responsibilities under the program established by subsection 7a7 shall be divided between the ,secretary and the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency 7referred to in this section as the ,administrator7 in accordance with the terms of applicable agreements between the ,secretary and the ,administrator4 #g4 ,task force on producer requirements 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall convene a task force to develop an extended battery producer responsibility framework that-- 7#a7 addresses battery recycling goals1 cost structures for mandatory recycling1 reporting requirements1 product design1 collection models1 and transportation of collected materials2 7#b7 provides sufficient flexibility to allow battery producers to determine cost-effective strategies for compliance with the framework2 and 7#c7 outlines regulatory pathways for effective recycling4 7b7 ,task force participants ,the task force convened under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 battery producers1 retailers1 recyclers1 collectors1 and refiners2 7#b7 ,states and municipalities2 and 7#c7 other relevant stakeholders1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the ,secretary convenes the task force under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that-- 7#a7 describes the extended producer responsibility framework developed by the task force2 7#b7 includes the recommendations of the task force on how best to implement a mandatory pay-in or other enforcement mechanism to ensure battery producers and sellers are contributing to the recycling of batteries2 and 7#c7 suggests regulatory pathways for effective recycling4 #h4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #cj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4