Text of Senate Amendment 6479

On 2026-06-24, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6479" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6479

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3605-S3606] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6479. Mrs. SHAHEEN 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 subtitle E of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1271. REPORTING ON AND STRATEGY WITH RESPECT TO LOBITO CORRIDOR. (a) Establishment of Regular Reporting to Congress on United States Investment in Lobito Corridor.-- (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until 2031, the President should submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on investment by the United States in the Lobito Corridor. (2) Elements.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall include-- (A) an update on the progress of the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project that includes consolidated and up-to- date information from the Department of State, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, and the Trade and Development Agency; (B) a strategy for United States investment in the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project and the interagency coordination underway with respect to the project; (C) a specification of the source and amount of funds that have been obligated by the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the Trade and Development Agency, and other relevant Federal agencies to support the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project; (D) documentation of foreign assistance provided by the United States to ensure the completion of the Lobito Corridor infrastructure project; (E) an overview of United States coordination and investments co-financed with allies and partners and relevant multilateral financial institutions in the Lobito Corridor; (F) a strategic communications plan that-- (i) describes in detail-- (I) the United States investments in the Lobito Corridor within Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia; and (II) how each such investment benefits the people of the United States and the people of the country in which the investment is made; and (ii) includes detailed data figures on how the United States investments in the Lobito Corridor-- (I) have increased, and are anticipated to increase, the access of the United States to critical minerals; and (II) have strengthened regional supply chains; (G) a review of how the Government of the People's Republic of China has implemented critical infrastructure projects in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia that have led to social and environmental degradation and that could impede United States economic and strategic goals for the Lobito Corridor; (H) an assessment of-- (i) the long-term feasibility of United States investment in the Lobito Corridor and how such investment advances United States geostrategic goals; and (ii) the national security implications of the United States investing in critical mineral infrastructure in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia; and (I) a list of meetings and other engagements United States Government personnel have had with representatives of the governments of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia with respect to the feasibility and functionality of the Lobito Corridor. (b) Strategy on Critical Minerals Refining, Processing, and Tracing.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation and the Director of the Trade and Development Agency, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy on the responsible sourcing, mining, refining, processing, and tracing of critical minerals resources that includes-- (1) details on which critical minerals are available for extraction in Angola, provided through the United States Geological Survey; (2) an assessment of-- [[Page S3606]] (A) the capacity of critical minerals in Angola to advance the national security goals of the United States; (B) the feasibility of mid-stream mineral refinement and processing in Angola; (C) the potential for the United States to partner with the governments of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia with respect to critical minerals tracing and transparency; (D) the necessary diplomatic and logistical measures needed to ensure there is an operable and transparent environment for critical minerals to be transported through the Lobito Corridor from Zambia, through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to Angola; (E) the effectiveness of United States investment in the Lobito Corridor and the return on investment garnered through specific projects connected to the Lobito Corridor; and (3) details of the strategy of the United States to enter into offtake agreements with Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia to ensure critical minerals retrieved through such agreements end up in the United States, which should include-- (A) strategic competition safeguards that-- (i) diminish the reliance of Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia on adversaries, such as the People's Republic of China; and (ii) prevent the People's Republic of China from utilizing supply chains, railways, and ports funded by the United States for the benefit of the People's Republic of China; and (B) responsible sourcing, tracing, and accountability measures to address corruption, labor violations, and environmental degradation in areas in which United States investment is supporting the development of the Lobito Corridor. (c) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committees on Natural Resources, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral'' has the meaning given that term in section 7002(a) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)). (3) Lobito corridor.--The term ``Lobito Corridor'' means the railway connecting Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. (4) Lobito corridor infrastructure project.--The term ``Lobito Corridor infrastructure project'' means the infrastructure project to rehabilitate the Lobito Corridor to facilitate the transportation of critical minerals. ______