H.R. 7992 – CANS Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 31, 2026 at 6:42 AM UTC

The CANS Act of 2026 directs the Interior Department, through the U.S. Geological Survey, to conduct a continuous study of how much aluminum ends up in landfills. Within three years of the law’s passage and every three years thereafter, the Secretary must report the findings to several House and Senate committees. The study aims to quantify landfill aluminum, assess domestic versus foreign scrap flows, and identify ways to improve recycling and reduce reliance on foreign sources.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of the Interior must carry out an ongoing study to measure the amount of aluminum disposed of in landfills.
A report must be submitted not later than three years after enactment and every three years thereafter, to designated House and Senate committees.
The report must estimate annual landfill aluminum amounts, breakdown by industrial and automotive waste, and quantify aluminum exported as scrap, including to foreign entities of concern.
The report must identify needed improvements in collection and sorting technology to keep aluminum in the domestic supply chain.
The report must recommend policies to divert aluminum from landfills and keep scrap from being exported.
The report must analyze how increased domestic recycling would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources and affect domestic aluminum manufacturing capacity.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

March 18, 2026

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 18, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

March 18, 2026

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued March 18, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7992

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 18, 2026

Mr. Wittman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a study regarding aluminum recycling.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Counting Aluminum Net Surplus Act of 2026 or the CANS Act of 2026.

2.

Aluminum recycling study

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall carry out an ongoing study to assess the amount of aluminum disposed of in landfills.

(b)

Report

(1)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this section and triennially thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report regarding the study required under subsection (a).

(2)

Requirements

Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following information:

(A)

An estimate of the amount of aluminum disposed of in landfills each year and the associated end-use market of such aluminum.

(B)

An estimate of the amount of aluminum disposed of in landfills by industrial waste sites and automotive industry application each year.

(C)

An estimate of the amount of aluminum, both in aggregate and per country, exported through foreign scrap purchases, including to foreign entities of concern, each year.

(D)

Improvements to collection and sorting technologies needed to ensure aluminum is returned to and used in the supply chain.

(E)

Policies necessary to ensure that—

(i)

aluminum can be diverted from landfills; and

(ii)

aluminum scrap that would otherwise be exported remains in the domestic supply chain.

(F)

The effect of increased domestic aluminum recycling on—

(i)

lessening the dependence of the United States on foreign entities of concern for sourcing aluminum; and

(ii)

domestic manufacturing capacity for aluminum.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Aluminum scrap

The term aluminum scrap means scrap that is composed primarily of aluminum.

(2)

Foreign entity of concern

The term foreign entity of concern has the meaning given the term in section 40207(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (42 U.S.C. 18741(a)).

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey.