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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5637 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5637
To establish the Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 30, 2026
Mr. Coons introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Strategic
Technology and Resilient Alliances Act of 2026'' or the ``STRATA Act of
2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--CRITICAL MINERALS INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Sec. 101. Establishment.
Sec. 102. Eligibility.
Sec. 103. Notification and briefing.
Sec. 104. Elements.
Sec. 105. Responsibilities of the Director.
Sec. 106. Staff.
TITLE II--RELATED MATTERS
Sec. 201. International Centers of Excellence for Innovative Critical
Minerals Supply Chain Technologies.
Sec. 202. Digital platform.
Sec. 203. Council consultation and coordination.
Sec. 204. Assistance for science and technology cooperation;
limitations.
TITLE III--SUNSET
Sec. 301. Termination of authority.
Sec. 302. Use of funds after termination.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) critical minerals are essential inputs for a wide range
of advanced and emerging technologies, including energy
systems, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and defense
applications, and continued innovation in their use and
production is vital to United States technological leadership;
(2) innovation in critical minerals extraction, separation,
processing, refining, recycling, and substitution technologies
remains insufficient to meet projected United States demand and
requires accelerated research, development, and
commercialization efforts;
(3) cooperation with United States partner countries
possessing complementary scientific, technological, and
industrial capabilities enhances the ability of the United
States to advance innovation across the critical minerals value
chain;
(4) joint research and development initiatives with partner
countries can accelerate breakthroughs in cost-effective,
sustainable, and scalable approaches to critical minerals
production and use;
(5) allied collaboration in materials science, mineral
production and extraction technologies, mineral processing
technologies, and advanced manufacturing can reduce dependence
on legacy methods and enable the development of next-generation
technologies;
(6) innovation in recycling, recovery, and reuse approaches
for critical minerals presents a significant opportunity to
expand supply while reducing environmental impact and resource
constraints;
(7) the development of substitute materials and alternative
technologies can mitigate reliance on scarce or supply-
constrained critical minerals and enhance long-term
technological resilience;
(8) shared research infrastructure, data, and scientific
expertise among partner countries can improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of innovation efforts related to critical
minerals;
(9) public-private partnerships involving governments,
research institutions, and industry are essential to advancing
innovation and scaling new technologies in order to bridge the
``valley of death'' in the critical minerals sector;
(10) strengthening collaboration among universities,
National Laboratories, and private-sector entities across
partner countries enhances talent development and supports a
robust, market-responsive innovation ecosystem;
(11) establishing formal bilateral and multilateral
mechanisms for cooperation in critical minerals innovation
enables sustained, long-term collaboration and more rapid
response to emerging technological challenges;
(12) dedicated funding and streamlined authorities for
joint innovation initiatives reduce barriers to collaboration
and enable more agile development and deployment of critical
minerals technologies so as to accelerate the transition of
technologies in research and development phases to operational
deployment, government integration, and commercial application;
(13) advancing innovation in critical minerals technologies
is essential to maintaining United States leadership in
critical and emerging technologies and supporting long-term
economic and national security; and
(14) activities under this Act should be aligned with
existing critical mineral and energy security initiatives.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committees on Foreign Relations, Energy and
Natural Resources, and Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
(B) the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Energy and
Commerce, and Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives.
(2) Country of concern.--The term ``country of concern''
has the meaning given the term ``covered nation'' in section
4872(f) of title 10, United Stats Code.
(3) Country of concern entity.--The term ``country of
concern entity'' means--
(A) a foreign entity subject to the jurisdiction
of, or organized under the laws of, a country of
concern;
(B) a joint venture, subsidiary, or other entity in
which more than 25 percent of the equity interest,
voting interest, board representation, or other indicia
of control, whether directly or indirectly, is owned or
controlled by an entity, or combination of entities,
described in subparagraph (A); and
(C) a foreign entity owned, directed, or controlled
by a foreign entity described in subparagraph (A) or
(B).
(4) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral'' means
any mineral on the list of critical minerals required by
section 7002(c)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C.
1606(c)(3)) on or after January 1, 2026.
(5) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the program appointed under section 101(b).
(6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Critical
Minerals Innovation Partnership Program established by section
101(a).
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of State.
(8) Senior united states government official.--The term
``senior United States Government official'' means--
(A) any individual serving in a position at level I
of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title
5, United States Code; and
(B) any individual serving as a presidential
special envoy.
TITLE I--CRITICAL MINERALS INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) In General.--There is established in the Department of State a
program, to be known as the ``Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership
Program'', to support the development and adoption of critical minerals
innovative technologies with countries and entities, through the
establishment of partnerships with those countries and entities, in
order to enhance the national security, support the economic
competitiveness, and diversify the critical supply chains of the United
States.
(b) Director.--The Secretary--
(1) shall appoint an individual to be the Director of the
program, who shall report to the Under Secretary of Economic
Growth, Energy, and the Environment and be responsible for--
(A) matters pertaining to the administration and
implementation of the program, including coordinating
with the Federal agencies listed in section
105(b)(3)(C); and
(B) such other related duties, as the Secretary may
from time to time designate; and
(2) may, as the Secretary determines appropriate, appoint
the Director from among officers and employees of the
Department of State.
SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Countries.--
(1) Selection.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary
shall determine which countries are eligible to participate in
the program.
(2) Considerations.--In making an eligibility determination
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider whether the
country--
(A) is an allied or partner country as described in
section 2350a(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code;
(B) is strategically or commercially important to
the United States;
(C) has the capacity and commitment to participate
in the program;
(D) has respect for human and labor rights, and the
rule of law; and
(E) meets other criteria, as determined by the
Secretary.
(3) Preference.--In making an eligibility determination
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, give preference to countries that--
(A) are a party to a trade or economic cooperation
agreement with the United States;
(B) participate in other bilateral or multilateral
initiatives, frameworks, or agreements that are
identified by the President as promoting United States
foreign policy, economic security, or national security
objectives, including normalization agreements,
regional integration efforts, or strategic economic
partnerships; or
(C) meet the criteria described in section 607(b)
of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C.
7706(b)).
(b) Entities.--
(1) Selection.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary
shall determine which entities are eligible to participate in
the program.
(2) Considerations.--In making an eligibility determination
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider whether the
entity--
(A) is--
(i) an institution of higher education (as
defined in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)));
(ii) a federally funded research and
development center;
(iii) a nonprofit institution with existing
partnerships established with relevant
federally funded research and development
centers;
(iv) a private sector entity with existing
partnerships established with relevant
federally funded research and development
centers; or
(v) a consortium of entities described in
any of clauses (i) through (iv);
(B) is not a foreign entity of concern (as defined
in section 10612(a) of the CHIPS Act of 2022 (42 U.S.C.
19221(a))); and
(C) meets other criteria for eligibility, as
determined by the Secretary.
(c) Ineligibility.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary may
not establish partnerships with--
(1) a country of concern; or
(2) a country of concern entity.
SEC. 103. NOTIFICATION AND BRIEFING.
Not later than 30 days before entering into a partnership with a
country or entity under the program, the Director shall--
(1) notify the appropriate congressional committees
regarding the proposed partnership;
(2) transmit to the appropriate congressional committees
the text of the partnership agreement; and
(3) provide to the appropriate congressional committees an
in-person briefing regarding the partnership.
SEC. 104. ELEMENTS.
Each partnership entered into with a country or entity
participating in the program shall include the following elements:
(1) Specific objectives that the country or entity and the
United States expect to achieve.
(2) The responsibilities of the country or entity and the
United States in the achievement of the objectives.
(3) Regular quantitative benchmarks, where appropriate, to
measure progress towards achieving the objectives.
(4) A multiyear plan that--
(A) estimates the amount of contributions,
commitments, and other participation to be provided by
the United States and the country or entity;
(B) identifies proposed mechanisms to implement the
plan and provide oversight; and
(C) describes how the objectives will be met,
including the role of the private sector, Federal
Government entities, and any other entities in
achieving the objectives.
(5) A description of the current and potential
participation of other donor countries or entities in achieving
the objectives, as applicable.
(6) A preferred method of dispute resolution with the
country or entity, unless already covered under a related
Science and Technology Agreement.
(7) A preferred method of intellectual property allocation
with the country or entity, unless already covered under a
related Science and Technology Agreement.
(8) General terms governing notification of the discovery
of potentially classifiable or otherwise controlled information
with the country or entity, unless already covered under a
related Science and Technology Agreement.
(9) As appropriate, a process or processes for
considering--
(A) solicited proposals; and
(B) unsolicited proposals by national, regional,
and local government and private corporations,
including, where applicable, the use of the digital
platform established under section 202 to facilitate
submission, review, and coordination of the unsolicited
proposals.
SEC. 105. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Director should consider utilizing authorities to make grants and enter
into cooperative agreements with countries and entities participating
in the program that are designated by the Secretary as eligible to
receive assistance under this paragraph to increase the administrative
and technical capacity of those countries and entities to facilitate
the development and implementation of the partnerships.
(b) Responsibilities.--The Director shall be responsible for--
(1) establishing dialogue with the representatives of
countries and entities participating in the program--
(A) to evaluate proposals submitted through
national coordinators; and
(B) to recommend joint funding, coordinated
procurement, or other joint efforts, as appropriate;
(2) in consultation with the Office of International
Affairs of the Department of Energy, developing and maintaining
multinational strategy and roadmaps identifying
vulnerabilities, capacity gaps, and priority investment areas
across emerging technologies for critical mineral supply
chains;
(3) directing the program, which may include coordinating
with the International Centers of Excellence for Innovative
Critical Minerals Supply Chain Technologies established under
section 201, in consultation with Federal departments and
agencies, as the Secretary determines relevant, to issue joint
or coordinated solicitations, including calls for proposals,
grant challenge programs, and co-funded initiatives, to address
cross-cutting challenges, which may include--
(A) identifying high-impact priorities, providing
technical assistance, and identifying priority
innovation, research, and development needs, in
consultation with, as the Director determines
appropriate--
(i) the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy; and
(ii) with respect to the development of
National Laboratory partnerships and
identification of priority critical minerals
innovation activities, the Secretary of Energy;
(B) aligning with the capabilities, constraints,
and priorities of United States financing agencies, in
consultation with, as the Director determines
appropriate--
(i) with respect to development finance
support including feasibility funding,
technical assistance, debt, equity, and
political risk assurance for eligible projects,
the United States International Development
Finance Corporation;
(ii) with respect to export credit and
related financing for resulting United States
export opportunities, the Export-Import Bank of
the United States; and
(iii) with respect to project preparation,
feasibility studies, pilot projects and
technical assistance, the United States Trade
and Development Agency; and
(C) consulting with any other Federal agency that
the Secretary determines is appropriate, including--
(i) the Department of Agriculture;
(ii) the Department of Commerce;
(iii) the Department of Defense;
(iv) the Department of Energy;
(v) the Department of the Interior;
(vi) the Department of Transportation;
(vii) the Department of the Treasury;
(viii) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(ix) the National Security Council;
(x) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; and
(xi) the National Science Foundation;
(4) convening and coordinating with the governments of
countries participating in the program, international
institutions, development agencies, and trusted industry
partners to align technical standards to enable interoperable
technology ecosystems consistent with shared security and
economic interests;
(5) establishing mechanisms to aggregate and coordinate
demand for critical minerals and associated technologies among
domestic agencies, allied governments, and private sector
entities to enhance market certainty, enable long-term offtake
arrangements, and support investment in diversified and secure
supply chains;
(6) articulating and recommending priority project areas
for execution by other relevant Federal departments and
agencies;
(7) serving as the recipient for unsolicited proposals for
projects to be considered for inclusion in any partnership, by
national, regional, and local governments and private
companies;
(8) coordinating safeguards and trust mechanisms,
including--
(A) eligibility criteria for countries and entities
participating in the program;
(B) data governance and security protocols;
(C) supply chain transparency requirements;
(D) protections for sensitive technologies; and
(E) monitoring, reporting and verification
approaches; and
(9) monitoring outcomes and reporting on progress,
including metrics related to--
(A) supply chain resilience; and
(B) deployment timelines.
(c) Country Teams.--The Director may establish at United States
overseas posts working groups, to be known as ``Country Teams'', with a
designated lead to implement the partnerships with countries and
entities participating in the program.
SEC. 106. STAFF.
The Director may--
(1) request from heads of relevant Federal departments and
agencies, on a reimbursable basis, the detail of personnel to
the program, who--
(A) shall have relevant sectoral, financial,
technical, or regional expertise; and
(B) for the purpose of preserving the allowances,
privileges, rights, seniority, and other benefits of
the employee, shall remain an employee of the agency
from which the employee is detailed; and
(2) detail personnel of the program to relevant Federal
departments and agencies that are assisting in carrying out the
program.
TITLE II--RELATED MATTERS
SEC. 201. INTERNATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR INNOVATIVE CRITICAL
MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Energy, shall seek to establish centers, to be known as
``International Centers of Excellence for Innovative Critical Minerals
Supply Chain Technologies'' (referred to in this section as
``Centers''), to provide services to countries and entities
participating in the program.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Centers shall be--
(1) to advance the development, demonstration, and
deployment of innovative, responsible, and resource-efficient
critical minerals extraction, processing, and recycling
technologies;
(2) to strengthen technical, regulatory, and institutional
capacity in countries and entities participating in the
program;
(3) to promote transparency, traceability, and adherence to
internationally recognized environmental, labor, and human
rights standards; and
(4) to support secure, diversified, and resilient critical
minerals supply chains aligned with United States national and
economic security interests.
(c) Activities.--The Centers may provide support for--
(1) applied research, pilot projects, and demonstration
activities for innovative extraction and processing
technologies, including low-impact and non-traditional methods;
(2) technical assistance and training to government
entities, academic institutions, and private sector partners;
(3) cooperation among United States entities and foreign
country institutions, including universities, national
laboratories, and industry;
(4) the development and implementation of regulatory
frameworks that--
(A) protect public health and safety;
(B) prevent environmental harm;
(C) prevent the use of forced or child labor; and
(D) improve mine site remediation and closure
practices; and
(5) data-driven tools and digital systems to enhance
monitoring and reporting, including with respect to--
(A) supply chain traceability;
(B) operational resource and energy usage
efficiency metrics and lifecycle emissions accounting;
(C) measurements relating to air quality, water
quality, land use, and site remediation;
(D) identification and mitigation risks related to
labor or practices, community impact, or ecological
stewardship; and
(E) promoting beneficiation, value addition, and
the recycling and reuse of critical minerals.
(d) Administration.--The Centers shall be administered by the
Director, in coordination with relevant partner countries and the
Federal agencies described in section 105(b)(3)(C).
SEC. 202. DIGITAL PLATFORM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and maintain a
publicly accessible digital platform to facilitate participation by
United States entities in activities carried out under the program.
(b) Purpose.--The platform shall--
(1) serve as a centralized clearinghouse of opportunities
for participation in the program, including solicitations,
funding opportunities, pilot projects, and collaborative
research initiatives;
(2) provide a list of priority capability gaps, technical
challenges, and needs identified under paragraph (1);
(3) enable United States entities, including early-stage
companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, venture-backed
firms, research institutions, and consortia, to identify, apply
for, and propose participation in the opportunities for
participation; and
(4) support the submission of both solicited and
unsolicited project proposals on a rolling basis.
(c) Startup and Emerging Technology Engagement.--In carrying out
this section, the Secretary shall--
(1) ensure that early-stage and venture-backed companies
are actively considered for participation in partnerships and
funding opportunities;
(2) develop mechanisms, as appropriate, to facilitate
matchmaking between United States entities and partner country
stakeholders, including industry, research institutions, and
government entities;
(3) coordinate, as appropriate, with private sector
investors, accelerators, and innovation hubs to increase
awareness of opportunities under the program; and
(4) as appropriate, consult with--
(A) the United States and Foreign Commercial
Service;
(B) the United States Trade and Development Agency;
(C) the United States International Development
Finance Corporation; and
(D) the deal teams at United States embassies and
consulates.
SEC. 203. COUNCIL CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.
(a) National Science and Technology Council.--
(1) Liaison.--The Director shall serve as a liaison to the
National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on
International Science and Technology Coordination for the
purposes of--
(A) determining primary areas of cooperation that
are mutually beneficial to both the United States and
countries and entities participating in the program;
and
(B) when appropriate, creating an action plan to
carry out the implementation of the program.
(2) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Director and the National Science and Technology Council are
encouraged to consult, as appropriate, with the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the
Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and other
relevant scientific and technical organizations to inform the
identification and selection of priority areas of cooperation.
(b) National Defense Technology and Industrial Base Council.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
countries and entities participating in the program, shall
submit technologies supported under the program for
consideration to the National Defense Technology and Industrial
Base Council to accelerate the transition of commercial
technologies developed under the program from research and
development to operational deployment, government integration,
and commercial application.
(2) Consideration.--Technologies submitted under paragraph
(1) shall be considered by the National Defense Technology and
Industrial Base Council if the technologies have been--
(A) created through the program and approved for
submission by the United States and countries and
entities participating in the program; or
(B) determined to be eligible and submitted for
consideration by an allied or partner country as
described in section 2350a(a)(2) of title 10, United
States Code.
SEC. 204. ASSISTANCE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION;
LIMITATIONS.
(a) Assistance for Science and Technology Cooperation.--Chapter 4
of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 536. ASSISTANCE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION.
``(a) In General.--The President may furnish assistance under this
part to countries and organizations, including national and regional
institutions, to advance innovation, science, and technologies that
advance scientific knowledge, enhance national security, and support
the commercial competitiveness of the United States.
``(b) Scope.--Assistance under this section may include grants,
cooperative agreements, and technical assistance for projects that
demonstrate, deploy, and scale science and technology projects related
to critical minerals and energy that result from cooperation between
countries and organizations, including national and regional
institutions, and the United States, including--
``(1) advanced extraction technologies;
``(2) processing and refining technologies;
``(3) energy technologies;
``(4) materials science and mineral substitution;
``(5) recycling and recovery technologies;
``(6) advanced manufacturing integration;
``(7) data, mapping, and geological intelligence;
``(8) environmental and resource management technologies;
``(9) fertilizer technologies and innovations;
``(10) biotechnologies;
``(11) pilot and demonstration projects;
``(12) the development, construction, or operation of
shared pilot or demonstration facilities in coordination with
allied and partner countries as described in section
2350a(a)(2) of title 10, United States Code; and
``(13) other critical and emerging technologies or
industry-enabling science and technologies that--
``(A) pertain to critical mineral supply chains;
and
``(B) are central to the economic prosperity,
national security, and global leadership of the United
States.
``(c) Administration.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with
the Secretary of Energy, is responsible for the implementation and
management of assistance under this section.
``(d) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 15 days before
the date on which funds are obligated for assistance under this
section, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committees on
Foreign Relations and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees
on Foreign Affairs and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a
notification that includes the amount and nature of the proposed
assistance in accordance with the notification procedures required
pursuant to section 634A.''.
(b) Authorization of Transfers.--The Secretary may make available,
from amounts authorized to be appropriated under the heading ``National
Security Investment Programs'' in Acts making appropriations for the
Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs or Acts
making appropriations for national security, Department of State, and
related programs (including amounts authorized to be appropriated to
the Economic Resilience Initiative), amounts for the purpose of
establishing partnerships under the program with allied and partner
countries as described in section 2350a(a)(2) of title 10, United
States Code to promote allied research, innovation, and rapid
deployment of critical and emerging technologies in support of United
States and allied economic and national security.
(c) Consultation and Notification.--The transfer authority provided
by this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided
by law, and is subject to the notification procedures under section
634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).
TITLE III--SUNSET
SEC. 301. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.
(a) Termination.--The authorities provided under this Act and the
amendments made by this Act shall terminate on the date that is 10
years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(b) Continuation of Existing Agreements.--The termination under
subsection (a) shall not apply to--
(1) any bilateral or multilateral partnership, agreement,
grant, or cooperative agreement entered into before that date
of termination; or
(2) any administrative or oversight activities necessary to
conclude such a partnership, agreement, grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement, as applicable.
SEC. 302. USE OF FUNDS AFTER TERMINATION.
Funds obligated before the date of termination under section 301(a)
may continue to be expended after that date for the purposes for which
those funds were originally authorized.
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