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ARA recently attended a Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works hearing entitled “Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries to Promote U.S. Battery Manufacturing and Greenhouse Gas Reduction”. During discussions Senators voiced concerns on two main issues: 1) Increasing domestic demand for safe and cost efficient recycling of these volatile and potentially valuable batteries; and 2) the ethical sourcing of rare earth materials used in the composition of these batteries. Specifically, on the issue of recycling lithium-ion batteries, witnesses and Senators agreed that the U.S. lags behind other countries in utilizing effective recycling methods especially in comparison to the recycling rates for lead acid batteries. ARA has been following this issue for years and will be ramping up its engagement with policy makers and other industry stakeholders to have a voice at the table for development safe and economic recycling protocols.