119th Congress Energy
S. 1463: Finding ORE Act
Reported
- Introduced (completed)
- Passed Senate (not reached)
- Passed House (not reached)
- To the President (not reached)
- Became law (not reached)
Summary
This bill allows the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to partner with a foreign country in mapping the country's reserves of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
A critical mineral is any mineral, element, substance, or material designated as critical by USGS because it is essential to U.S. economic and national security, has a vulnerable supply chain, and serves an essential function in manufacturing a product. Rare earth elements have catalytic, magnetic, electrical, and luminescent properties vital for civilian and defense purposes.
In negotiating a MOU, USGS must seek to increase the security and resilience of international supply chains for critical minerals and rare earth elements by
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- committing to assisting the partner foreign country through cooperative activities that help it map reserves;
- ensuring that private companies headquartered in the United States or an allied foreign country are offered the right of first refusal in the further development of critical minerals and rare earth elements in the partner foreign country;
- facilitating private-sector investment in the exploration and development of critical minerals and rare earth elements; and
- ensuring that the mapping data is protected against unauthorized access by, or disclosure to, governmental or private entities based in non-allied countries.
USGS must obtain the concurrence of the Department of State in
- prioritizing and selecting partner foreign countries,
- negotiating or implementing a MOU, and
- notifying and reporting to Congress about issues related to a MOU.
Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Roll calls
No roll call votes have been held on this bill.
Amendments
No amendments were offered to this bill.
Cosponsors
- John Cornyn R-TXOriginal
- John Hickenlooper D-COOriginal
- Todd Young R-INOriginal
- Ted Cruz R-TX
Who scored on this bill
- 1Christopher Coons SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, reported3 events+26
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.
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History
- Introduced in the Senate by Christopher Coons.
Show the full action history (5 actions)
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 93.
- Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Introduced in Senate
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.