Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) has introduced legislation to designate copper a critical mineral and boost domestic production.
Copper already plays a key role in many modern technologies, and Arizona is the largest producer in the United States, accounting for 70% of domestic output.
Specifically, Rep. Schweikert's H.R. 8277 updates the tax code to classify copper as a critical mineral, thereby making ore extraction costs eligible for the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit when the ore is refined.
Not only does this bolster American production and domestic supply chains, but it also makes American producers more competitive against foreign operations, which undercut domestic operations through weaker environmental and labor standards.
Other provisions prevent double-counting of costs and limit eligibility for foreign ore, except in narrow cases where the ore is not extracted in the United States in commercial quantities and is not sourced from a foreign country of concern.
"Copper is not optional in a modern economy," Rep. Schweikert said in a press release. "It is essential to our industrial base, our energy systems, and our national security. If Washington is serious about domestic production and serious about supply-chain resilience, then copper needs to be treated like the strategic mineral it is."
The Arizona congressman emphasized that "Arizona miners should not be forced to compete against foreign operations with looser labor rules, weaker environmental standards, and a tax code here at home that still treats copper like an afterthought."
In August, the U.S. Geological Survey recently included copper in its preliminary 2025 Critical Minerals list, a move that formally recognizes the metal's importance to national infrastructure and security interests.
Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) applauded the move, writing in a social media post, "Designating copper as a critical mineral is good news for Arizona. We produce more than two-thirds of American copper and are poised to lead the charge."
