H.R. 4018

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4018 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4018

To unleash America's offshore critical minerals and resources.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 17, 2025

Mr. Ezell (for himself and Mrs. Miller-Meeks) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in 
addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To unleash America's offshore critical minerals and resources.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States has a core national security and 
economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep sea science 
and technology and seabed mineral resources.
(2) The United States faces unprecedented economic and 
national security challenges in securing reliable supplies of 
critical minerals independent of foreign adversary control.
(3) Vast offshore seabed areas hold critical minerals and 
energy resources.
(4) These resources are key to strengthening our economy, 
securing our energy future, and reducing dependence on foreign 
suppliers for critical minerals.
(5) The United States also controls seabed mineral 
resources in one of the largest ocean areas of the world.
(6) Our Nation can, through the exercise of existing 
authorities and by establishing international partnerships, 
access potentially vast resources in seabed polymetallic 
nodules, other subsea geologic structures, and coastal deposits 
containing strategic minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, 
manganese, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are vital 
to our national security and economic prosperity.
(7) Our Nation must take immediate action to accelerate the 
responsible development of seabed mineral resources, quantify 
the Nation's endowment of seabed minerals, reinvigorate 
American leadership in associated extraction and processing 
technologies, and ensure secure supply chains for our defense, 
infrastructure, and energy sectors.
(8) It is the policy of the United States to advance United 
States leadership in seabed mineral development by--
(A) rapidly developing domestic capabilities for 
the exploration, characterization, collection, and 
processing of seabed mineral resources through 
streamlined permitting without compromising 
environmental and transparency standards;
(B) supporting investment in deep sea science, 
mapping, and technology;
(C) enhancing coordination among executive 
departments and agencies with respect to seabed mineral 
development activities described in this Act;
(D) establishing the United States as a global 
leader in responsible seabed mineral exploration, 
development technologies, and practices, and as a 
partner for countries developing seabed mineral 
resources in areas within their national jurisdictions, 
including their exclusive economic zones;
(E) creating a robust domestic supply chain for 
critical minerals derived from seabed mineral resources 
to support economic growth, reindustrialization, and 
military preparedness, including through new processing 
capabilities; and
(F) strengthening partnerships with allies and 
industry to counter China's growing influence over 
seabed mineral resources and to ensure United States 
companies are well-positioned to support allies and 
partners interested in developing seabed minerals 
responsibly in areas within their national 
jurisdictions, including their exclusive economic 
zones.

SEC. 2. STRATEGIC SEABED CRITICAL MINERAL ACCESS.

(a) Expediting Issuance of Certain Authorizations Under Deep Seabed 
Hard Mineral Resources Act.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, acting 
through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and in consultation with the 
Secretary of State and Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
shall expedite the process for reviewing and issuing licenses 
for exploration and permits for commercial recovery under the 
Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1401 et 
seq.).
(2) Requirements.--In expediting the process described in 
paragraph (1), the entities described in that paragraph shall 
ensure efficiency, predictability, and competitiveness for 
United States companies.
(b) Expediting Issuance of Certain Authorizations Under Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
establish an expedited process for reviewing and approving 
permits for prospecting and granting leases under the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).
(2) Requirements.--The expedited process established under 
paragraph (1) shall ensure efficiency, predictability, and 
competitiveness for United States companies.
(c) Seabed Mapping Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and in cooperation with 
commercial and other nongovernmental organizations, shall develop a 
plan to map priority areas of the seabed United States outer 
Continental Shelf, to include extended areas of the outer Continental 
Shelf, such as those with abundant or accessible seabed mineral 
resources, to accelerate data collection and characterization.
(d) Identification of Certain Critical Minerals.--Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior--
(1) shall identify which critical minerals may be derived 
from seabed mineral resources; and
(2) in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and 
Secretary of Energy, determine which critical minerals derived 
from seabed mineral resources are essential for applications 
such as defense infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy.
(e) Engagement With Key Partners and Allies.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in 
coordination with the Secretary of State, Secretary of the 
Interior, and Secretary of Energy, shall engage with key 
partners and allies to offer support for seabed mineral 
resource exploration, extraction, processing, and environmental 
monitoring in areas within the jurisdictions of such key 
partners and allies, including by--
(A) seeking scientific collaboration and commercial 
development opportunities for United States companies; 
and
(B) developing a prioritized list of foreign 
countries for engagement.
(2) Key partner or ally determination.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of State shall 
determine whether an entity is a key partner or ally 
for the purposes of this Act, based on factors such 
as--
(i) existing agreements with the United 
States;
(ii) alignment with strategic interests of 
the United States; and
(iii) participation in joint initiatives.
(B) Notification.--The Secretary of State shall 
notify the Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of the 
Interior, and Secretary of Energy of any determination 
made under subparagraph (A).
(f) Reports.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act--
(1) the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Energy, and in 
consultation with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
of Representatives and the Committees on Energy and Natural 
Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report that identifies private sector interest in and 
opportunities for seabed mineral resource exploration and 
mining on the outer Continental Shelf, in areas beyond national 
jurisdiction, and in areas within the jurisdiction of a foreign 
country that expresses interest in partnering with United 
States companies with respect to seabed mineral resource 
development; and
(2) the Secretary of the Interior, jointly with the 
Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of 
Energy, shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives and the Committees on Energy and 
Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report regarding the feasibility of an 
international benefit-sharing mechanism for seabed mineral 
resource extraction and development that occurs in an area 
beyond the jurisdiction of any country.

SEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an 
executive department or agency, or the head thereof.
(b) No Creation of Right or Benefit.--This Act does not create any 
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in 
equity by any party against the United States, its departments, 
agencies, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any other 
person.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Commercial recovery.--The term ``commercial recovery'' 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Deep Seabed 
Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1403).
(2) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral'' has 
the meaning given the term in section 7002(a)(3) of the Energy 
Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3)).
(3) Exploration.--The term ``exploration'' has the meaning 
given the term in section 4 of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral 
Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1403).
(4) Lease.--The term ``lease'' has the meaning given the 
term in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
U.S.C. 1331).
(5) Mineral.--The term ``mineral'' means--
(A) a critical mineral;
(B) uranium;
(C) copper;
(D) potash;
(E) gold; and
(F) any other element or compound the Chair of the 
National Energy Dominance Council determines 
appropriate.
(6) Outer continental shelf.--The term ``outer Continental 
Shelf'' has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the 
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331).
(7) Processing.--The term ``processing'' includes the 
concentration, separation, refinement, alloying, and conversion 
of minerals into usable forms.
(8) Prospecting.--The term ``prospecting'' has the meaning 
given the term ``geological and geophysical (G&G) prospecting 
activities'' in section 580.1 of title 30, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or a similar successor regulation).
(9) Seabed mineral resource.--The term ``seabed mineral 
resource'' means a mineral-bearing material located in the 
seabed of the outer Continental Shelf, including--
(A) a polymetallic nodule;
(B) a cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust;
(C) a polymetallic sulfide;
(D) a heavy mineral sand; and
(E) a phosphorite.
(10) United states company.--The term ``United States 
company'' has the meaning given the term ``United States 
citizen'' in section 4 of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral 
Resources Act (30 U.S.C. 1403).
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