SECURE Minerals Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7126
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-24: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-21T08:06:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The SECURE Minerals Act of 2026 aims to create a government-backed entity to build a secure and resilient supply chain for critical minerals and materials (such as rare earth elements used in batteries, electronics, and defense technologies). It seeks to reduce U.S. dependence on imports, especially from China, by promoting domestic and allied production, processing, recycling, and fair market competition while ensuring national security and economic stability.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation: A new wholly owned government corporation to manage reserves of critical minerals. It authorizes $2.5 billion in funding to support operations.
- Board of Governors: A 7-member board appointed by the President (with Senate confirmation), including a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson. Members serve staggered 14-year terms and must have expertise in commodities, finance, or related fields. The board oversees operations, sets policies, and ensures conflicts of interest are avoided (e.g., no financial ties to benefiting entities for 2 years post-service).
- Identification of Critical Minerals and Materials: The Reserve maintains an annual list of eligible items based on U.S. Geological Survey and Department of Energy lists, focusing on non-fuel minerals vital for defense, energy, manufacturing, and economic security. Excludes common materials like sand or oil.
- Data Collection and Assessments:
- A dedicated division collects global market data on supply, demand, prices, and recycling.
- Biennial risk assessments evaluate vulnerabilities like supply disruptions or price shocks.
- Annual reports on environmental and labor standards in foreign production to promote responsible practices.
- Financing and Acquisition Tools:
- Loans to "authorized intermediaries" (private entities with expertise and no ties to adversarial countries) for purchasing from U.S. or partner country producers.
- Direct acquisitions, futures/options contracts, non-recourse loans, and limited equity investments.
- Partner countries can co-invest at least $100 million (adjusted for inflation) to support joint projects.
- Prohibits support for entities influenced by "foreign entities of concern" (e.g., those controlled by China or similar adversaries).
- Sales and Storage: Allows sales of stored minerals during shortages threatening security or prices; permits research transfers for non-critical items. Storage can be in U.S.-controlled or audited private facilities.
- Administrative and Oversight Mechanisms:
- Corporate powers include contracts, property management, and indemnification.
- Risk and audit committees for internal governance.
- Annual independent audits, biennial Government Accountability Office reviews, and public annual reports to Congress.
- Public database of transactions (with national security redactions released after 3 years).
- Board meetings are mostly open, with limited closed sessions for sensitive info.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends 31 U.S.C. § 9101 to classify the Reserve as a wholly owned government corporation, subjecting it to federal financial oversight but granting operational flexibility (e.g., exempt from some procurement rules).
- Introduces new definitions like "dependence rate" (percentage of U.S. consumption from adversarial sources, targeted below 75%) and "production rate" (domestic/allied supply, targeted above 25%), which guide operations but do not amend prior critical minerals lists under the Energy Act of 2020.
- Creates novel tools like intermediary loans and partner co-investments, expanding beyond existing programs (e.g., Defense Production Act or Export-Import Bank financing) by allowing equity stakes and international advisory councils exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
- Establishes strict anti-corruption measures, including penalties for conflicts and mechanisms to revoke intermediary status if adversarial influence exceeds 25%.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances coordination among agencies like Defense, Energy, State, and Interior for data sharing and risk mitigation; creates new divisions within the Reserve but leverages existing investments (e.g., from the Export-Import Bank). Increases oversight burden on Congress through reports and testimony.
- Citizens: Improves supply chain reliability for everyday technologies (e.g., electric vehicles, medical devices), potentially stabilizing prices and creating jobs in mining, recycling, and manufacturing. Promotes environmentally and labor-responsible production, benefiting communities near extraction sites.
- International Relations: Strengthens alliances with NATO members, major non-NATO allies (e.g., Australia, Japan), and trade partners by enabling co-investments and shared supply chains; counters China's market dominance, potentially escalating trade tensions but fostering diversified global markets.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government and Agencies: Departments of Defense, Energy, State, Interior, Commerce, and Treasury; congressional committees on natural resources, foreign affairs, and armed services.
- Private Sector: Domestic and partner country producers/processors of critical minerals; authorized intermediaries (e.g., commodities traders); recycling and tech firms benefiting from financing.
- Partner Countries: NATO allies and others (e.g., Canada, South Korea) eligible for co-investments and priority supply access.
- Citizens and Communities: Workers in mining/recycling industries; Tribal groups (board representation required); consumers relying on stable supplies for energy and defense.
- Adversarial Entities: Foreign entities of concern (e.g., Chinese firms) face exclusion, limiting their market influence.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Bolsters national security by mandating diversification targets and prohibiting adversarial involvement, with enforceable remedies like asset liens or conservatorships (similar to FDIC powers). Exempts certain closed meetings from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Sunshine Act requirements to protect sensitive data, potentially limiting public scrutiny.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers to regulate commerce and provide for defense (Article I); the government corporation structure ensures accountability while allowing market-like operations, avoiding direct federal employee classifications.
- Political: Addresses geopolitical vulnerabilities (e.g., China's 80-90% control of rare earths) without partisan bias in text, but could spark debates on funding ($2.5B authorization) and equity investments (rare for government entities). Promotes "responsible production" standards, influencing international labor/environmental norms and U.S. trade policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6], Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-24: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2026-02-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- 2026-01-15: 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.
- 2026-01-15: 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.
- 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-01-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Securing Essential and Critical U.S. Resources and Elements Minerals Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-15 — PDF (68 pages)