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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4018 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
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