CANS Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7992
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-18: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-01T18:27:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 7992: Counting Aluminum Net Surplus Act of 2026 (CANS Act of 2026)
Purpose
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct an ongoing study on aluminum waste in landfills and submit periodic reports to Congress. The goal is to better understand aluminum disposal, recycling challenges, exports, and strategies to boost domestic recycling, reducing U.S. reliance on foreign sources of aluminum.
Key Provisions
- Study Requirement: The Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), must perform an ongoing assessment of aluminum disposed of in landfills.
- Reporting Mandate:
- Initial report due within 3 years of enactment, followed by triennial (every 3 years) reports.
- Submitted to specific House and Senate committees (Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, Science, Space, and Technology in the House; Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Energy and Natural Resources in the Senate).
- Prepared in consultation with the EPA Administrator.
- Report Contents:
- Yearly estimates of aluminum in landfills, including by end-use markets, industrial waste sites, and automotive applications.
- Yearly estimates of aluminum scrap exports, both total and by country (including to "foreign entities of concern," defined via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as entities posing national security risks, often linked to certain foreign governments).
- Recommendations for improved collection and sorting technologies to return aluminum to the U.S. supply chain.
- Suggested policies to:
- Divert aluminum from landfills.
- Keep export-bound scrap in the domestic supply chain.
- Analysis of how increased domestic recycling would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign entities of concern and strengthen domestic aluminum manufacturing.
- Definitions:
- Aluminum scrap: Scrap primarily made of aluminum.
- Foreign entity of concern: As defined in existing law (42 U.S.C. 18741(a)).
- Secretary: Secretary of the Interior via USGS Director.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new ongoing study and mandatory reporting requirement not previously required by law.
- No amendments to existing statutes; creates standalone obligations for federal agencies.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: USGS (Interior) gains new responsibilities for data collection and analysis; EPA provides consultation; congressional committees receive data to inform future legislation on recycling and supply chains.
- Citizens and Industry: Could promote better aluminum recycling practices, benefiting manufacturers, recyclers, and consumers through potential future policies on waste reduction and domestic supply security; automotive and industrial sectors may face scrutiny on waste practices.
- International Relations: Aims to track and potentially limit exports of U.S. aluminum scrap to high-risk foreign countries, supporting U.S. efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains amid global competition (e.g., reducing reliance on adversaries).
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Department of the Interior (USGS), EPA.
- Congress: Specified House and Senate committees overseeing energy, resources, and science.
- Industry: Aluminum producers, recyclers, scrap exporters, automotive manufacturers, and industrial waste generators.
- Other: State/local waste management entities, environmental groups, and foreign buyers of U.S. scrap.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable reporting deadlines and data requirements, potentially leading to future regulations on exports or recycling based on findings; relies on existing definitions to avoid new legal interpretations.
- Constitutional: Routine exercise of Congress's authority to direct executive branch studies on natural resources and commerce; no apparent free speech, property, or due process concerns.
- Political: Ties into national security priorities for critical materials (aluminum as a key metal for manufacturing and defense), emphasizing supply chain resilience against foreign adversaries; may spark debates on trade, environmental policy, and industry regulations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-18: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-03-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Counting Aluminum Net Surplus Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-18 — PDF (4 pages)