H.R. 4391

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4391 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4391

To promote international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply 
chains.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 15, 2025

Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Moylan, and Mrs. Kim) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To promote international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply 
chains.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Minerals Security Partnership 
Authorization Act''.

SEC. 2. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO SECURE CRITICAL MINERAL SUPPLY 
CHAINS.

(a) Statement of Policy on Critical Mineral Supply Chains.--It is 
the policy of the United States--
(1) to collaborate with allies and partners of the United 
States to build secure and resilient critical minerals supply 
chains, including in the mining, processing, and valuation of 
critical minerals, as well as with respect to advanced 
manufacturing that includes critical minerals;
(2) to prioritize the development and production of 
critical minerals domestically, both to supply domestic needs 
and for export to allies and partners that participate in 
secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals;
(3) to reduce or eliminate reliance and dependence on 
critical mineral supply chains controlled by the People's 
Republic of China (PRC), the Russian Federation, Iran, or any 
other strategic competitor of the United States;
(4) to work with allies and partners on enhancing 
evaluation capability and technology in trusted countries that 
produce critical minerals to avoid the export of mined and 
processed critical minerals to adversaries of the United 
States;
(5) to identify and implement market-based incentives for 
the purposes of facilitating the creation and maintenance of 
secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains in 
collaboration with allies and partners;
(6) to prioritize securing critical mineral supply chains 
in United States foreign policy, including through the use of 
economic tools to invest responsibly in projects in partner 
countries in a manner that both benefits local populations and 
bolsters the supply of critical minerals to the United States 
and allies and partners of the United States; and
(7) that collaboration with allies and partners to build 
secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains shall not 
replace United States efforts to increase domestic development 
and production of critical minerals.
(b) International Negotiations Relating to Protecting Critical 
Mineral Supply Chains.--
(1) In general.--The President is authorized to negotiate 
an agreement with international partners for the purposes of 
establishing a coalition--
(A) to facilitate--
(i) the mining, processing, and supply of 
critical minerals; and
(ii) advanced manufacturing that includes 
critical minerals; and
(B) to secure an adequate supply of critical 
minerals and relevant products, manufacturing inputs, 
and components that are heavily dependent on critical 
mineral resources for the United States and other 
members of the coalition (in this subsection referred 
to as ``member countries'').
(2) Negotiating objectives.--The overall objectives for 
negotiating an agreement described in paragraph (1) should be--
(A) to establish mechanisms for member countries to 
build secure and resilient supply chains for critical 
minerals, including in--
(i) the mining, refinement, processing, and 
valuation of critical minerals; and
(ii) advanced manufacturing of products, 
components, and materials that are dependent on 
critical minerals;
(B) to improve economies of scale and joint 
cooperation with international partners in securing 
access and means of production throughout the supply 
chains of critical minerals and manufacturing processes 
dependent on critical minerals;
(C) to establish mechanisms, with appropriate 
market-based disciplines, that provide and maintain 
opportunities among member countries for creating 
industry economies of scale to attract joint investment 
among those countries, including--
(i) cooperation on joint projects, 
including cost-sharing on building appropriate 
infrastructure to access deposits of critical 
minerals; and
(ii) creation or enhancement of national 
and international programs to support the 
development of robust industries by providing 
appropriate sector-specific incentives, such as 
political risk and other insurance 
opportunities, financing, and other support, 
for--
(I) mining and processing critical 
minerals;
(II) manufacturing of products, 
components, and materials that are 
dependent on critical minerals and are 
essential to consumer technology 
products or have important national 
security implications; and
(III) associated transportation 
needs that are tailored to the 
handling, movement, and logistics 
management of critical minerals and 
products, components, and materials 
that are dependent on critical 
minerals;
(D) to establish market-based rules for member 
countries regarding adoption of qualifying tax and 
other incentives to stimulate investment, as balanced 
by market-based disciplines to ensure a fair playing 
field among those countries;
(E) to establish recommended best practices to 
protect--
(i) labor rights;
(ii) the natural environment and ecosystems 
near critical mineral industrial sites; and
(iii) safety of communities near critical 
mineral industrial activities;
(F) to advance economic growth in developing 
countries with critical mineral reserves, including for 
the benefit of the citizens of those countries;
(G) to establish rules allowing for the 
establishment of a consortium that is resourced and 
empowered to bid and compete in acquiring and securing 
potential deposits of critical minerals in countries 
that are not members of the coalition described in 
paragraph (1) (in this subsection referred to as 
``nonmember countries'');
(H) to establish a mechanism for joint resource 
mapping with procedures for equitable sharing of 
information on potential deposits of critical minerals 
not less frequently than annually;
(I) to establish appropriate mechanisms for the 
recognition and enforcement by a member country of 
judgments relating to environmental and related harms 
caused by mining operations within such member country 
in contravention of that country's laws; and
(J) to improve supply chain security among member 
countries by providing for national treatment 
investment protections among those countries that are 
equal to, or better than, the standards in the United 
States model bilateral investment treaty.
(c) Minerals Security Partnership Authorization.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, acting through the 
Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the 
Environment, is authorized to lead United States participation 
in the ``Minerals Security Partnership'', for the following 
purposes:
(A) To identify and support investment and advocate 
for commercial critical mineral mining, processing, and 
refining projects that enable robust and secure 
critical mineral supply chains, in consultation with 
other Federal agencies, as appropriate.
(B) To coordinate with relevant regional bureaus to 
develop regional diplomatic engagement strategies 
related to critical minerals projects and to identify 
projects that are priorities.
(C) To coordinate with United States missions 
abroad on projects, programs, and investments that 
enable robust and secure critical mineral supply 
chains.
(D) To coordinate with current and prospective 
members of the Minerals Security Partnership.
(E) To establish a mechanism for information-
sharing with members of the Minerals Security 
Partnership.
(F) To establish policies and procedures, and if 
necessary, to provide funding to facilitate cooperation 
on joint projects with members of the Minerals Security 
Partnership and the Mineral Security Forum, including 
those related to cost-sharing agreements, political 
risk insurance, financing, equity investments, and 
other support, in coordination with other Federal 
agencies, as appropriate.
(G) If an agreement described in subsection (b) is 
entered into, to support the establishment of the 
coalition described in that subsection.
(2) Database.--As part of the Minerals Security 
Partnership, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, 
is authorized to establish and maintain a database of critical 
mineral projects for the purpose of providing high quality and 
up-to-date information to the private sector in order to spur 
greater investment, increase the resilience of global critical 
minerals supply chains, and boost United States supply.
(3) Qualifications for personnel.--With respect to staffing 
personnel to carry out the Minerals Security Partnership, the 
Secretary shall prioritize individuals with the following 
qualifications:
(A) Substantive knowledge and experience in issues 
related to critical minerals supply chain and their 
application to strategic industries, including in the 
defense, energy, and technology sectors.
(B) Substantive knowledge and experience in large-
scale multi-donor project financing and related 
technical and diplomatic arrangements, international 
coalition-building, and project management.
(C) Substantive knowledge and experience in trade 
and foreign policy, defense-industrial base policy, or 
national security-sensitive supply chain issues.
(4) Private sector and civil society coordination.--The 
Secretary of State shall ensure close coordination between the 
Department of State, the private sector, and relevant civil 
society groups on the implementation of this subsection.
(5) Project selection.--
(A) In general.--The United States, through its 
participation in the Minerals Security Partnership, 
shall prioritize projects that advance the national and 
economic security interests of the United States and 
allies and partners of the United States.
(B) Criteria requirements.--The United States shall 
advocate for the Minerals Security Partnership to use 
environmental, social, or governance standards, 
including as criteria for project selection, that are 
consistent with United States law or international 
agreements approved by Congress.
(d) United States Membership in the International Nickel Study 
Group.--
(1) United states membership.--The President is authorized 
to accept the Terms of Reference of and maintain membership of 
the United States in the International Nickel Study Group 
(INSG).
(2) Payments of assessed contributions.--For fiscal year 
2026 and thereafter, the United States assessed contributions 
to the INSG may be paid from funds appropriated for 
``Contributions to International Organizations''.
(e) Critical Mineral Defined.--In this section, the term ``critical 
mineral''--
(1) has the meaning given the term in section 7002 of the 
Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606); and
(2) includes any other mineral or mineral material 
determined by the Secretary of State--
(A) to be essential to the economic or national 
security of the United States; and
(B) to have a supply chain vulnerable to 
disruption.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of State $75,000,000 for fiscal year 
2026 to enhance critical mineral supply chain security, including to 
implement this section.
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