Congressman David Schweikert introduced H.R. 8277 on Apr. 22, a bill that would designate copper as a critical mineral and allow ore extraction costs to be included under the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit.
Copper is considered vital for the United States’ economic strength and national security, serving as a key material in electric infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, defense technologies, and industrial production. Arizona produces about 70 percent of the nation’s copper output.
The proposed legislation aims to update the tax code by adding copper to Section 45X’s list of applicable critical minerals. It also seeks to permit ore extraction costs for credit when refined into qualifying minerals. The bill includes measures intended to strengthen domestic supply chains and help U.S. producers compete with foreign operations that may have less stringent labor or environmental standards.
“Copper is not optional in a modern economy,” said Rep. David Schweikert. “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. 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.”
The bill also includes safeguards against double counting of costs and restricts eligibility for foreign ore except in cases where such ore cannot be sourced domestically or comes from countries not considered of concern.
Schweikert has served in Congress representing Arizona’s 1st District since 2011 after replacing Harry Mitchell according to Ballotpedia. He previously served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1991 through 1995 as reported by Vote Smart. In recent elections he won against Amish Shah in 2024 with just over half the vote according to Ballotpedia, following another close victory over Jevin Hodge in 2022 also according to Ballotpedia.
Schweikert was born in Los Angeles in 1962 and currently lives in Fountain Hills as reported by Vote Smart. He graduated from Arizona State University with degrees earned both in 1988 and again in 2005.
