United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3496
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-10: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 329.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T23:37:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act (S. 3496)
Purpose
The legislation establishes and implements a multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere, including links to transnational criminal organizations, environmental damage, and human rights abuses.
Key Provisions
- Requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with other federal agencies, to develop a comprehensive strategy addressing illicit artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), including policies to interrupt ties between mining and illicit actors, deter mining in protected areas, promote due diligence and responsible sourcing, build law enforcement capacity, implement existing memoranda of understanding with Peru and Colombia, support anti-money laundering efforts, formalize ASM operations, engage civil society and industry, and prevent misinvoicing of gold shipments.
- Mandates a classified briefing on illicit gold mining activities in Venezuela involving groups such as ELN and FARC defectors, as well as trade with countries including Turkey and Iran.
- Directs coordinated international financial investigations into Venezuela's illicit gold trade, with technical assistance for sanctions frameworks in Latin America.
- Encourages leveraging U.S. influence in multilateral institutions to foster international cooperation.
- Establishes a public-private partnership with governments such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to support ASM formalization, traceability, certification, and responsible sourcing.
- Includes a rule of construction clarifying that the Act does not authorize military force or U.S. forces in hostilities.
- Amends 31 U.S.C. § 5318A(c)(2) to require consideration of transactions involving precious metals subject to U.S. sanctions when identifying primary money laundering concerns.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 5318A(c)(2) of title 31, United States Code, by adding new factors related to precious metals transactions and sanctions compliance for jurisdictions and financial institutions when designating primary money laundering concerns.
Potential Impacts
- Strengthens U.S. government agencies' roles in foreign assistance, sanctions enforcement, and intelligence sharing related to mining and financial crimes.
- Aims to benefit communities in mining areas by promoting formalization, reducing environmental harm from mercury and deforestation, and decreasing vulnerability to trafficking and extortion.
- May affect international relations by encouraging cooperation with Western Hemisphere governments while targeting networks linked to Venezuelan authorities and Nicaraguan exports.
- Could influence global gold supply chains through enhanced due diligence and certification standards.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. executive branch agencies (State Department, Treasury, Justice Department, intelligence community).
- Governments and institutions in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and other Western Hemisphere countries.
- ASM miners, indigenous communities, civil society groups, and private sector entities in the gold mining and refining industries.
- Transnational criminal organizations and illicit actors involved in gold trafficking.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Explicitly avoids authorizing military force, limiting the Act to civilian, diplomatic, and financial measures.
- Expands U.S. sanctions and anti-money laundering tools to address precious metals trade linked to sanctioned entities.
- Emphasizes public-private partnerships and international coordination without creating new regulatory mandates on U.S. domestic mining.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-10: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 329.
- 2026-02-10: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2026-02-10: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- 2026-01-29: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 2025-12-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2025-12-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act — issued 2025-12-16 — PDF (23 pages)
- United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act — issued 2026-02-10 — PDF (46 pages)