BRACE Act

Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Republican · IA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25)· 2026-07-16

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 717.

2026-09-14

Source: Congress.gov

Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy Act or the BRACE Act This bill modifies the regulation of lithium-ion batteries under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in order to facilitate the recycling of lithium-ion batteries and the recovery of critical minerals. Specifically, the bill directs certain facilities that store lithium-ion batteries prior to recycling them to follow regulations for large quantity handlers of universal waste instead of following the more stringent hazardous waste regulations that currently apply, thereby allowing these facilities to store lithium-ion batteries without needing a special permit.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9615 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9615 To support the recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 9, 2026 Mrs. Miller-Meeks introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To support the recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Battery Recycling for America's Competitive Economy Act'' or the ``BRACE Act''. SEC. 2. END OF LIFE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY MANAGEMENT. (a) Definitions.--In this Act: (1) Destination facility.--The term ``destination facility'' has the meaning given such term in section 273.9 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations). (2) Large quantity handler of universal waste.--The term ``large quantity handler of universal waste'' has the meaning given such term in section 273.9 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations). (3) Lithium-ion battery.--The term ``lithium-ion battery'' means a battery that uses the movement of lithium ions between two electrodes to store and release energy. (b) Universal Waste Regulations for Lithium-Ion Batteries.--In lieu of the requirements described in section 273.60(a) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), a destination facility that stores lithium-ion batteries prior to recycling such lithium-ion batteries shall comply with-- (1) the requirements described in sections 273.33(a)(1), 273.35, 273.36, and 272.37 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), which would apply if the destination facility were a large quantity handler of universal waste; and (2) the requirements described in section 273.60(b) of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), which would apply if the destination facility did not store the lithium-ion batteries prior to recycling such lithium-ion batteries. SEC. 3. TECHNICAL UPDATES TO THE MERCURY-CONTAINING AND RECHARGEABLE BATTERY MANAGEMENT ACT. Section 104(a) of the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act (42 U.S.C. 14323(a)) is amended by striking ``60 Fed. Reg. 25492 (May 11, 1995), as effective on May 11, 1995'', and inserting ``part 273 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)''. <all>

• HRES1537Supporting the designation of the week of September 14 through September 18, 2026, as "National Clean Energy Week".
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-14
• HR10170Memory Chip Competitiveness Assessment Act of 2026
  Referred to Committee · 2026-09-01
• HR4707To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1019 Avenue H in Fort Madison, Iowa, as the Martin L. Graber Post Office.
  Passed House · 2026-08-06
• HR1722Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act
  Passed House · 2026-07-23