Text of Senate Amendment 6325

On 2026-06-24, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6325" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6325

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3452-S3454] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6325. Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Scott of South Carolina) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title XII, add the following: Subtitle F--Critical Mineral Mining Education SEC. 1271. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the ``Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026''. SEC. 1272. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) The United States mining industry and, more broadly, mining and mineral processing and refining, is widely reported as facing a significant personnel shortage. (2) This shortage is driven by an aging workforce, declining numbers of graduates entering mining careers, and difficulty recruiting and retaining skilled workers. (3) Fifty percent of the current mining workforce is expected to retire within the next 5 years. (4) As of 2023, only 14 United States universities and colleges had mining and mining engineer programs. (5) Downstream segments, such as ore processing, refining, and metallurgy, are affected by the same workforce trends. (6) Institutions and personnel from allied countries with mining expertise can share their knowledge and experience with the United States workforce through education exchange programs. SEC. 1273. DEFINITIONS. The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Public Law 87-256; 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 101 the following: ``SEC. 101A. DEFINITIONS. ``In this Act: ``(1) Advanced degree.--The term `advanced degree' means a degree from an institution of higher education that is a master's or doctoral degree. ``(2) Critical mineral.--The term `critical mineral'-- ``(A) has the meaning given such term in section 7002(a)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (division Z of Public Law 116-260; 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3)); and ``(B) includes gold, and copper, and any other mineral or mineral material the Secretary of State determines-- ``(i) to be essential to the economic or national security of the United States; and ``(ii) has a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. ``(3) Excess foreign currencies.--The term `excess foreign currencies' means foreign currencies, which, if acquired by the United States-- ``(A) would be in excess of the normal requirements of departments, agencies, and embassies of the United States for such currencies, as determined by the President; and ``(B) would be available for the use of the United States Government under applicable agreements with the foreign country concerned. ``(4) Federal employee.--The term `Federal employee'-- ``(A) means any employee described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code; and ``(B) does not include a person described in subparagraph (G) of such section. ``(5) Government-sponsored international exchanges and training.--The term `Government-sponsored international exchanges and training' means the movement of people between countries, financed wholly or in part with United States Government funds-- ``(A) to promote the sharing of ideas; ``(B) to develop skills; and ``(C) to foster mutual understanding and cooperation. ``(6) Institution of higher education.--The term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). ``(7) Historically black college and university.--The term `historically Black college and university' has the meaning given the term `part B institution' in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)). ``(8) Mining education program.--The term `Mining Education Program' means an academic program related to the mining industry. ``(9) Mining industry.--The term `mining industry' means the mining industry of the United States, which consists of activities related to naturally occurring metal and nonmetal critical minerals, including-- ``(A) geological mapping, geophysical surveying, geochemical sampling, and management of geological data; ``(B) mineral system analysis, exploration, and resource delineation, including exploratory drilling and resource estimation and classification; ``(C) project development, feasibility studies, financing, and permitting; ``(D) mine construction, extraction, and operational support activities; ``(E) mineral processing, beneficiation, smelting, refining, chemical conversion, and separation; ``(F) material conversion and advanced materials manufacturing; ``(G) transportation, logistics, and handling of intermediate and finished material products; and ``(H) reclamation, remediation, reuse, recycling, and recovery of materials from primary and secondary sources, including mine waste and end-of-life products. ``(10) Mining profession.--The term `mining profession' means the body of jobs directly related to the mining industry. ``(11) Minority serving institution.--The term `minority- serving institution' means an eligible institution under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).''. SEC. 1274. CRITICAL MINERAL MINING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 116. CRITICAL MINERAL MINING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. ``(a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be established the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program (referred to in this section as the `Fellowship Program') within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. ``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Fellowship Program are-- ``(1) to advance foreign policy priorities of the United States by promoting studies, research, and international exchange in the mining industry; ``(2) to send United States students to mining institutions abroad to build the capacity of the United States mining workforce; ``(3) to develop a robust and skilled workforce that can support and fill the gaps of the United States growing domestic critical mineral supply chain; and ``(4) to reduce dependency on foreign energy and critical mineral supplies and enhance competitiveness of the United States within the global critical mineral marketplace. ``(c) Administration.--The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State (referred to in this section as the `Bureau') shall administer the Fellowship Program in accordance with policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (referred to in this section as the `Board'), in consultation with binational Fulbright Commissions, mining industry leaders, institutions of higher education, foreign governments, and United States embassies in eligible countries. ``(d) Selection of Fellows.-- ``(1) In general.--The Bureau shall determine the number of fellows selected for the Fellowship Program each year. The Board shall select qualified individuals to participate in the Fellowship Program. In selecting the fellows, the Board should ensure geographic representation to ensure region- specific specialties are developed. ``(2) Criteria.--All fellows shall meet one of the following criteria: ``(A) Have a bachelor's or equivalent degree conferred before participating in the Fellowship Program. ``(B) Be a student who is currently enrolled in a United States institution of higher education and completing an advanced degree in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics or a field related to the mining industry. ``(C) Have had a postdoctoral degree conferred during the 5-year period immediately preceding participation in the Fellowship Program. ``(3) Required intent.--Upon completing the Fellowship Program, each fellow shall demonstrate his or her intent to seek employment in a mining profession that directly benefits the growth, progress, and development of the United States mining industry-- ``(A) in the United States Government; or ``(B) at a United States-based nongovernmental organization, academic institution, private sector company, or other organization that has been approved by the Bureau. ``(4) Eligible universities.--United States students shall attend universities approved by the Bureau, in consultation with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, that have a mining education program and are located in a foreign country. To the extent practicable, the Bureau should prioritize enrollment in higher education mining programs in-- ``(A) member countries in the Minerals Security Partnership; or ``(B) any additional countries identified by the Bureau, in consultation with the congressional committees referred to in this paragraph, as containing sufficiently qualified mining programs. ``(5) Outreach.--To the extent practicable, the Bureau shall conduct outreach at United States undergraduate and graduate institutions the Bureau determines are likely to [[Page S3453]] produce a range of qualified applicants to be sent abroad. ``(e) Structure.-- ``(1) Work plan.--To carry out the purposes described in subsection (b)-- ``(A) each fellow selected pursuant to subsection (d)(1) shall be encouraged to arrange placement in a mining education program at an eligible foreign university; ``(B) each fellow shall-- ``(i) participate in advanced coursework, research projects, and practical training opportunities, including internships, offered by the host institution; `