Resources Origin and Commodity Knowledge Act - Establishes the Mineral Commodity Information Administration under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior.
Vests management of the Administration in an Administrator and Assistant Administrators whose functions include: (1) commodity information development and analysis; (2) mineral industry analysis; and (3) data acquisition and analysis.
Instructs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the Administrator: (1) at least 200 full-time equivalent positions from the U.S. Geological Survey; and (2) at least 100 full time equivalent positions of an administrative nature from the Department of the Interior.
Sets forth the duties of the Administrator, including: (1) implementation of a Mineral Commodity Data and Information Program; (2) continuance of the Mineral Commodity Data Time Series; (3) projections of usage patterns; (4) publication of mineral commodity reports; and (5) analyses of the foreign and domestic mineral commodities that will be required by the United States to sustain the energy supply, demand, and prices projected by the Annual Energy Outlook analysis.
Directs the Administrator to establish the Mineral Commodity Advisory Committee.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6080 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6080
To establish the Mineral Commodity Information Administration in the
Department of the Interior, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 14, 2006
Mrs. Drake (for herself, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Conaway, Mr. Boswell, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, Mr. Sherwood, Mrs.
Cubin, Mr. Petri, and Mr. Simpson) introduced the following bill; which
was referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Mineral Commodity Information Administration in the
Department of the Interior, and for other purposes.
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 ``Resources Origin and Commodity Knowledge
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND POLICY.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) Mineral commodities are essential to the United States
economy.
(2) The United States is the world's leading user of
mineral commodities.
(3) Mineral commodities processed domestically accounted
for $478,000,000,000 in the United States economy in 2005.
(4) The value of imports of raw and processed mineral
commodities totaled $103,000,000,000 in 2005.
(5) The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve uses
mineral commodity information data and reports to calculate the
indexes of industrial production, capacity, and capacity
utilization, which are among the most widely followed monthly
indicators of the United States economy.
(6) Manufacturers and consumers of mineral commodities in
the United States depended on foreign countries for 100 percent
of 16 mineral commodities and for more than 50 percent of 42
mineral commodities that are critical to the United States
economy.
(7) The Department of Defense requires mineral commodity
information on strategic minerals to manage the National
Defense Stockpile.
(8) Mineral specialists assist the Department of State
fulfill United States obligations under the Clean Diamond Trade
Act (19 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) and as a signatory to the Kimberly
Process Certification Scheme, which is a multinational effort
to stop the flow of conflict diamonds.
(9) New and innovative uses of minerals are vital to
maintaining the high quality of both the natural environment
and human environment in the United States.
(10) Knowledge and understanding of mineral mining and
usage, both domestically and internationally, is important for
maintaining the national security and economic security of the
United States.
(b) Purposes.--The purpose of this Act is to create the Mineral
Commodity Information Administration to ensure information vital to the
United States economy, domestic security, and the high quality of life
enjoyed by all residents of the United States continues to be provided
to the many customers that rely upon the data.
(c) Policy.--The Congress declares that--
(1) it is in the national interest to maintain and
disseminate information on domestically produced mineral
commodities, regardless of ownership of the resources involved;
and
(2) it is in the national interest to maintain and
disseminate information on international mineral commodities
and resources, international mineral industry activities, and
international mineral commodity markets.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF MINERAL COMMODITY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the Mineral Commodity
Information Administration, which shall be under the general direction
and supervision of the Secretary of the Interior and shall not be
affiliated with or be within any other agency or bureau of the
Department of the Interior.
(b) Administrator.--The management of the Administration shall be
vested in an Administrator, who shall be appointed from by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among
individuals who have outstanding qualifications with a broad background
and substantial experience in the mineral industries and in the
management of mineral resources.
(c) Other Officials and Employees.--
(1) In general.--There shall be in the Administration an
Associate Administrator and 4 Assistant Administrators who
shall perform, in accordance with applicable law, such
functions as the Administrator shall assign to them in
accordance with this Act. The functions the Administrator shall
assign to the Assistant Administrators shall include the
following functions:
(A) Commodity information and analysis, including
development and maintenance of--
(i) historical and current mineral
commodity information, including the degree of
import dependence of the United States;
(ii) international mineral commodity and
resource information;
(iii) domestic mineral commodity and
resource information by State, county, and
region;
(iv) material flow and recycling analysis,
showing disposition in the United States of
mined materials into stocks in use, waste, and
residuals; and
(v) ongoing analysis of United States
mineral commodity exports, and analysis of
imports of mineral commodities and processed
materials of mineral origin that are destined
for consumption in the United States,
categorized by the country of origin.
(B) Mineral industry analysis, including the
continuing assessment and analysis of events, trends,
and issues affecting the minerals sector of the
domestic economy, including exploration spending and
activity, mineral production trends, mineral stocks and
inventories, merger and acquisitions activity, and
labor and workforce trends.
(C) Data acquisition and analysis, including
management of data collection, statistical analysis,
analytical forecasting and modeling, and regular data
quality assessments.
(D) Information systems and services, including
information technology management, publications and
production dissemination, and library services.
(E) External affairs, including congressional and
legislative liaison, communications, and public
affairs, and international and intergovernmental
affairs.
(F) Budget, financial, and human resource
management, including budget and financial management,
human capital management, employee training,
professional development, procurement and contract
management, and small business support.
(2) Transfer of existing positions.--Within 30 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior shall transfer to the Administrator the following
positions:
(A) United states geological survey.--From the
United States Geological Survey, not less than 200
full-time equivalent positions, including all filled
and unfilled commodity and country specialists within
the United States Geological Survey Minerals
Information Team immediately before the enactment of
this Act.
(B) Department of interior, generally.--From the
Department of the Interior generally not less that 100
full time equivalent positions of an administrative
nature, including communications and public affairs
specialists, congressional and legislative liaison
specialists, human resources personnel, librarians,
administrative assistants, information technology
management specialists, publication service
specialists, and budget analysts.
(3) Subsequent appointments.--The Administrator may appoint
such employees as may be necessary to positions that are
transferred under paragraph (2), but vacant on the date of the
transfer of the positions. Such appointments shall be subject
to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service. Such positions shall
be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(d) Written and Electronic Materials.--The Secretary of the
Interior shall transfer to the Administrator all existing written and
electronic materials under the control of the Department pertaining to
mineral commodities and mineral resources, including mineral commodity
time series data, library materials, maps, unpublished data files, and
existing mineral commodity reports prepared or held by the United
States Geological Survey and its predecessor agency, the Bureau of
Mines.
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.
(a) Mineral Commodity Data and Information Program.--The
Administrator carrying out a central, comprehensive, and unified
mineral commodity data and information program to collect, evaluate,
assemble, analyze, and disseminate data and information regarding
mineral resources and reserves, mineral commodity production,
consumption, and technology, and related economic and statistical
information, that is relevant to the adequacy of mineral resources to
meet demands in the near term and longer term future for the Nation's
economic and social needs.
(b) Mineral Commodity Data Time Series.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall continue to
maintain all existing mineral commodity data time series
maintained by the Department of the Interior immediately before
the enactment of this Act, and shall develop such new mineral
commodity data time series as the Administrator finds useful
and proper after consulting with other Federal and State
agencies and the public.
(2) Public comment.--The Administrator shall--
(A) provide for public review and comment regarding
all mineral commodity data time series maintained by
the Department of the Interior immediately before the
enactment of this Act, by not later than 15 years after
such date of enactment; and
(B) seek public comments on a continuing basis on
the adequacy and accuracy of any time series added
after the date of the enactment of this Act, not later
than 5 years after the inception of such new series.
(c) Projections of Usage Patterns.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall--
(A) not later than 3 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, prepare and make available to
the public an analysis of projected mineral commodity
usage patterns by the United States at 10, 25, and 50
year intervals following such date of enactment; and
(B) update such analysis and make it publicly
available every 5 years thereafter.
(2) Considerations.--In preparing such analyses, the
Administrator shall take into consideration--
(A) market trends;
(B) geopolitical considerations; and
(C) the reasonably foreseeable advances in basic
industries, high technology, material sciences, and
energy usage.
(d) Annual Report.--The Administrator shall annually publish and
submit to the Congress a report on the state of the domestic mining,
minerals, and mineral reclamation industries, including a statement of
the trend in utilization and depletion of the domestic supplies of
mineral commodities.
(e) Mineral Commodity Reports.--The Administrator--
(1) shall continue to prepare and distribute all series of
mineral commodity reports prepared and published by the Bureau
of Mines and the United States Geological Survey as of the date
of the enactment of this Act, including--
(A) all volumes of the Minerals Yearbook;
(B) Mineral Commodity Summaries;
(C) Mineral Industry Surveys;
(D) Metal Industry Indicators;
(E) Nonmetallic Mineral Product Industry Indexes;
(F) material flow studies and recycling reports;
and
(G) Historical Statistics for Mineral and Material
Commodities;
(2) may develop, prepare, and publish additional reports
related to mineral commodities as the Administrator considers
appropriate.
(f) Analysis With Respect Sustaining Energy Usage.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Mineral Commodity
Information Administration shall, in 2007 and each year
thereafter, following the issuance of the Annual Energy Outlook
analysis prepared by the Administrator of the Energy
Information Administration, prepare and publish an analysis of
the foreign and domestic mineral commodities that will be
required by the United States to sustain the energy supply,
demand, and prices projected by such Annual Energy Outlook
analysis.
(2) Joint agreement.--The Administrator of the Energy
Information Agency and the Administrator of the Mineral
Commodity Information Administration may, at their sole
discretion, enter into a joint agreement for preparation of a
unified analysis to meet the requirements of this paragraph.
(g) Other Approval Not Required.--The Administrator--
(1) shall not be required to obtain the approval of any
other officer or employee of the United States in connection
with the collection or analysis of any information; and
(2) shall not be required, prior to publication, to obtain
the approval of any other officer or employee of the United
States with respect to the substance of any analytical studies,
statistical, or forecasting technical reports that the
Administrator has prepared in accordance with law.
SEC. 5. EXCEPTIONS TO INFORMATION AVAILABILITY.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 552 of title 5, United
States Code, and except as provided in subsection (b), data and
information provided to the Administrator by persons or firms engaged
in any phase of mineral or mineral-material production or large-scale
consumption shall not be disclosed outside of the Administration in a
nonaggregated form in such a manner as may disclose data and
information supplied by an individual or other person, unless such
person authorizes such disclosure after the person is provided notice
and an opportunity to object.
(b) Disclosure to Federal Defense or Homeland Security Agencies.--
The Administrator may disclose nonaggregated data and information to
any agency of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of
Defense, upon written request by the head of the agency for appropriate
purposes.
SEC. 6. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after [the date of
enactment of this Act], the Administrator shall establish an advisory
committee to be known as the Mineral Commodity Advisory Committee.
(b) Functions.--The Advisory Committee--
(1) shall respond to all questions referred to it by the
Administrator regarding any matter related to the activities
authorized by this Act;
(2) shall undertake such studies and inquiries as are
necessary to provide answers, advice, and recommendations on
matters referred to it by the Administrator; and
(3) in carrying out such studies, may seek information from
individuals, business enterprises, colleges, universities, and
any State or Federal agency.
(c) Participation in Reviews of Materials.--The Administrator shall
invite the Advisory Committee to participate in any public review of
materials prepared pursuant to section 4.
(d) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Advisory Committee--
(A) shall consist of 15 individuals appointed in
accordance with paragraph (2); and
(B) shall include--
(i) one representative from each of a
mineral exploration company, a metallic mineral
producer, an industrial mineral producer, and
an aggregate producer;
(ii) one representative from each of the
State geologists, mining labor organizations,
and the mining finance industry;
(iii) two representatives from small
businesses;
(iv) three representatives from
manufacturing industries; and
(v) three purchasing professionals.
(2) Appointment.--The Administrator shall appoint the
members of the Advisory Committee from among individuals who--
(A) are not officers or employees of the Federal
Government; and
(B) are United States citizens.
(3) Term.--Each member of the Advisory Committee shall be
appointed to serve a term of 4 years.
(e) Organization and Meetings.--The Advisory Committee--
(1) shall select a Chairman and Vice-Chairman from among
its members;
(2) shall organize itself into such subcommittees as the
members determine to be necessary; and
(3) shall meet not less than 2 times each year.
(f) Compensation and Expenses.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, each member of the Advisory Committee--
(1) shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily
equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level
IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5,
United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during
which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties
of the Advisory Committee; and
(2) shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of
agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code, while away from the member's home or regular place
of business in the performance of services for the Committee.
(g) Support and Records Maintenance.--The Administrator--
(1) shall provide administrative and technical support for
the Advisory Committee; and
(2) shall maintain the records of the Advisory Committee.
(h) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall
apply to the Advisory Committee only to the extent that the provisions
of such Act do not conflict with the requirements of this section.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the
Mineral Commodity Information Administration established by
this Act.
(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Administration.
(3) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee''
means the Mineral Commodity Advisory Committee established by
this Act.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to
carry out this Act $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years through
2007 through 2017.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1735)
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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