H.R. 4781 , the Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement (RESCUE) Act of 2025 , introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), would amend the FAST Act to classify efforts to recover critical minerals and rare earth elements from coal, coal waste, acid mine drainage and mine tailings as eligible for the FAST-41 expedited permitting and review process.
Barr-backed legislation would make projects recovering critical minerals and rare earth elements from coal waste and related sources eligible for expedited FAST-41 review.
H.R. 4781 (Rep. Barr), “Rare Earth Solutions and Carbon Utilization Enhancement Act of 2025” or the “RESCUE Act of 2025”
Rep. Barr is identified as the sponsor of a bill concerning rare earth solutions and carbon utilization enhancement, indicating a commitment tied to critical minerals recovery from coal and coal ash.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Action: Mr. Barr introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Bill Version: Introduced in House (IH). Short Title: Coal Ash for American Infrastructure Act. Full Title: To amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act to establish a framework for the beneficial use of coal combustion residuals, and for other purposes.
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Barr introduced a bill directly tied to beneficial use of coal combustion residuals, but the available official record shows only introduction and committee referral, not enactment or passage.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (Introduced 08/05/2025). Latest Action: House - 08/05/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Tracker: This bill has the status Introduced.
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The House record confirms the measure was introduced by Barr and remains at the introduced stage in committee, so the promise is not delivered in the legislative sense.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Current EPA rules push utilities to close and cap coal ash impoundments, which strands millions of tons of usable material and makes it harder to recover critical minerals or supply markets like cement and concrete. This bill creates beneficial use staging units to allow coal ash impoundments to support recycling into concrete, roadways, wallboard, and critical mineral extraction.
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Barr publicly framed the proposal as a mechanism to recover critical minerals from coal ash, showing clear intent and advocacy, but this is still only a proposal in the record examined.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Video Gallery entry dated March 4, 2026 titled 'Barr Offers Amendment to Strengthen Coal Industry in FSC 3.4.26.'
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): This official page documents continued congressional activity on coal-related policy in 2026, but the page text provided here does not itself show final passage, adoption, or implementation of the minerals-from-coal/coal-ash claim.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
An amendment numbered 15 ... to amend the FAST Act to expand eligibility for FAST 41 permitting for projects related to the extraction, recovery, or processing of critical minerals ... or carbon from coal, coal waste, coal processing waste, pre- or post-combustion coal byproducts, or acid mine drainage from coal mines. Latest Action: 03/29/2023 ... Agreed to by voice vote.
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Barr has a prior, concrete legislative record advancing coal-derived critical minerals recovery and permitting expansion, but it predates the lookback window and does not prove later delivery of the specific claim.
Public state: unverifiedAs of unknown · legacy_unverified · . Original AI recommendation (not independently established): never.same_termA for effort
The record shows Barr made a serious and directly relevant effort to advance recovery of critical minerals from coal and coal ash, including introducing the Coal Ash for American Infrastructure Act in 2025 and prior successful amendment activity related to coal-derived critical minerals permitting. However, the key bill cited remained only introduced and referred to committee, and the available evidence does not show enactment, implementation, or an actual completed recovery program or policy outcome. Under the rubric, a serious legislative attempt that failed to deliver the promised result is scored as never, with effort badge true.