Restoring American Mineral Security Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 6696

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.

Last Updated

2026-01-06T06:24:16Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Restoring American Mineral Security Act of 2025 aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign countries, especially China, for critical minerals—essential raw materials used in defense, manufacturing, and energy technologies like batteries and semiconductors. It establishes an international alliance to build a secure, reliable supply chain through coordinated trade policies among trusted partners, while promoting domestic production and imposing higher duties on imports from adversarial nations.

Key Provisions

• Sense of Congress: Declares that a stable supply of critical minerals is vital for U.S. needs; highlights China's market dominance and unfair practices (e.g., overproduction and below-market sales); emphasizes using trade tools with allies to counter these and support U.S. industry growth.

• Definitions:
• Critical mineral: Minerals listed under the Energy Act of 2020, such as lithium or cobalt, crucial for high-tech applications.
• Foreign country of concern: Includes China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and adds Venezuela; refers to nations posing risks to U.S. supply chains.
• Derivative product: Goods incorporating critical minerals, like batteries, electric vehicles, or wind turbine parts.
• Select derivative product: Specific items like permanent magnets or lithium-ion batteries.
• Processed: Refers to steps turning raw ore into usable metals or alloys.
• Other terms cover congressional committees, trade duties, and entities of concern (e.g., companies tied to adversarial governments).

• Critical Minerals Security Alliance (Section 4):
• Authorizes the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to negotiate with other countries to form the Alliance, consulting with Commerce, Treasury, State Departments, and Congress.
• Eligibility for Countries: Must impose high duties (matching or exceeding U.S. rates on Chinese imports by January 1, 2026) or equivalent restrictions on critical minerals and select derivatives from countries of concern; eliminate duties on Alliance members' imports (except anti-dumping or national security duties); commit to regular meetings, share production capacity data, enforce trade remedies against unfair practices, screen investments for security, and coordinate on broader economic threats.
• USTR engages trading partners to meet criteria and certifies eligible countries to Congress with reports on compliance and sector details.
• Negotiating Goals: Secure supply chains for at least 90% of critical minerals and 100% of select derivatives.
• Entry and Modifications: Agreements enter force via congressional joint resolution of approval or after 90 days without disapproval; provides duty-free U.S. imports from members, exempt from certain trade penalties (e.g., Section 301 tariffs on unfair practices).
• Reviews and Reports: Triennial U.S. reviews of domestic capacity (potentially ending or adjusting the Alliance); annual reports to Congress on engagement, deficiencies, and member capacities. First review assesses expanding product coverage.

• Increased Duties on Imports from Countries of Concern (Section 5): Once the first Alliance agreement takes effect, applies 2026 U.S. tariff rates (from Section 301 actions against China) to critical minerals and select derivatives from countries of concern.

• Trust Fund for U.S. Projects (Section 6):
• Creates a Treasury trust fund from duties on critical mineral imports.
• Funds are invested in U.S. obligations; available without further approval: 60% to Energy Department's Loan Programs Office for mining/processing or manufacturing; 20% to Defense Department for similar projects; 20% to U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for Alliance-country projects.
• Exceptions to BUILD Act: Allows DFC support in higher-income countries if it advances U.S. interests, counters competitors (e.g., China), involves U.S. entities, or ensures mineral sales to U.S. defense/users; requires presidential certification to Congress.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new multilateral alliance framework for critical minerals, beyond bilateral trade deals, with specific eligibility tied to anti-China measures.
• Mandates higher, uniform duties on imports from countries of concern, building on but expanding Section 301 tariffs.
• Establishes a dedicated trust fund mechanism, diverting tariff revenue directly to support domestic and allied production without annual appropriations.
• Modifies the BUILD Act (2018) by waiving income-level restrictions for DFC funding in Alliance contexts, enabling broader international support with safeguards.
• Enhances congressional oversight through fast-track joint resolutions (similar to Trade Act of 1974 procedures) for Alliance agreements, ensuring legislative input on trade pacts.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: USTR gains negotiation authority and reporting duties; Energy and Defense Departments receive dedicated funding for loans/grants, boosting project pipelines; DFC expands role in allied nations, potentially increasing its portfolio. Treasury handles fund transfers and investments.
• Citizens and Industry: Supports U.S. mining/processing jobs and innovation in critical sectors (e.g., batteries, renewables), reducing supply vulnerabilities and costs for manufacturers; may lower prices for duty-free allied imports while raising costs for Chinese-sourced goods.
• International Relations: Strengthens ties with allies (e.g., via shared trade enforcement and investment screening), potentially isolating countries of concern; could escalate trade tensions with China through coordinated duties and anti-circumvention measures, promoting a "friend-shoring" global supply chain.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: USTR, Departments of Commerce, Energy, Defense, State, and Treasury; congressional committees (e.g., Ways and Means, Finance) for oversight.
• U.S. Industries: Mining companies, manufacturers of batteries/electronics/renewables, and defense contractors benefiting from funding and secure supplies.
• Trading Partners: Eligible countries (e.g., allies like Australia or Canada) gaining duty-free U.S. access but required to align policies; ineligible nations facing engagement pressure.
• Adversarial Entities: Countries of concern (China, etc.) and their companies, hit by higher duties and export barriers.
• Consumers and Environment: Indirectly affected through stable tech supplies and potential growth in domestic mining (with environmental oversight implied via federal projects).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces executive trade authority under laws like the Trade Act of 1974 but mandates congressional approval for Alliance pacts, balancing powers; definitions draw from existing statutes (e.g., Energy Act, NDAA), ensuring consistency while expanding "foreign entity of concern" to cover more risks. Potential challenges under WTO rules if duties are seen as discriminatory, though framed as national security measures.
• Constitutional: Upholds Article I trade powers via joint resolutions, treating procedures as congressional rulemaking; no direct First Amendment or due process issues, but investment screening could raise property rights concerns for affected firms.
• Political: Signals bipartisan push (introduced by Reps. Panetta and Kustoff) for economic security amid U.S.-China rivalry; promotes alliance-building over unilateralism, influencing future trade policy; triennial reviews allow adaptability, but fund allocations prioritize defense/energy, potentially sparking debates on industrial vs. environmental priorities.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Kustoff, David [R-TN-8], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.
• 2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.
• 2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.
• 2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.
• 2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.
• 2025-12-12: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Rules, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, Armed Services, and 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.
• 2025-12-12: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Restoring American Mineral Security Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-12 — PDF (23 pages)