[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4018 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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).
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