“To establish a new educational exchange program to strengthen domestic mining education, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states congressional findings on a personnel shortage in the U.S. mining industry and downstream sectors (i.e., ore processing, refining, and metallurgy), driven by an aging workforce, declining mining graduates, and recruitment challenges—including that 50% of the current mining workforce is expected to retire within the next five years and that, in 2023, only 14 U.S. universities and colleges offered mining and mining engineering programs. It further finds that institutions and personnel from allied countries with mining expertise can share knowledge with the U.S. workforce through education exchange programs.
This section adds a new section 101A to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) that defines 11 terms as follows: (1) "advanced degree" as a master's or doctoral degree from an institution of higher education; (2) "critical mineral" as given in section 7002(a)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(3)), including gold, copper, and any other mineral or material the Secretary of State determines essential to U.S. economic or national security with a vulnerable supply chain; (3) "excess foreign currencies" as foreign currencies in excess of normal U.S. department, agency, and embassy requirements under applicable agreements; (4) "Federal employee" as civilian officers and employees under 5 U.S.C. 7342(a)(1)(A)–(F), excluding those described in subparagraph (G); (5) "Government-sponsored international exchanges and training" as U.S. government-financed movement of people between countries to promote idea-sharing, skill development, and mutual understanding; (6) "institution of higher education" as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)); (7) "historically Black college and university" as a part B institution under section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)); (8) "mining education program" as an academic program related to the mining industry; (9) "mining industry" as U.S. activities related to naturally occurring metal and nonmetal critical minerals, including geological mapping, exploration, extraction, processing, manufacturing, transportation, and reclamation; (10) "mining profession" as jobs directly related to the mining industry; and (11) "minority-serving institution" as an eligible institution under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
This section establishes the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program to promote U.S. studies, research, and exchanges in the mining industry; build the U.S. mining workforce by sending students abroad; support the domestic critical mineral supply chain; and reduce reliance on foreign critical mineral supplies. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State administers the program under Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board guidelines, selecting fellows (U.S. students with a bachelor's degree, pursuing an advanced STEM or mining-related degree, or recent postdocs) who intend to work in the U.S. mining sector afterward and prioritizing foreign universities in Minerals Security Partnership countries or other approved nations with strong mining programs. Fellowships last at least one year (renewable for a second year) and cover fellows' reasonable costs, including tuition, living expenses, books, visas, and relocation/travel; fellows must complete Bureau-approved work plans involving advanced coursework, research, internships, professional development, networking, and cultural ambassadorship in host countries.
This section establishes the Visiting Mining Scholars Program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The program brings foreign mining academics and professionals to the United States to expand mining education programs at higher education institutions, bolster workforce development, and advance research and development in mining and related fields. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State administers the program per guidelines from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, selecting at least 10 qualified foreign nationals annually (whenever feasible) from Fulbright-operating countries with relevant mining expertise—prioritizing Minerals Security Partnership members—and placing them at approved U.S. institutions for Bureau-determined periods to perform specified activities (e.g., curriculum development, research collaboration, student mentoring).
This section makes technical and conforming amendments to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) by (1) striking paragraph (5) of section 104(g); (2) in section 108A(a), striking paragraph (2), removing the "(1)" designation before "Congress," and redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (C) as paragraphs (1) through (3); (3) in section 112, revising subsection (a) to add paragraphs (12) and (13) referencing the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program under new section 116—which provides funding for studies, research, and international exchange for students seeking or completing advanced degrees from U.S. higher education institutions in self-arranged placements with foreign universities having mining education programs—and the Visiting Mining Scholars Program under new section 117—which provides funding for international mining academics, practitioners, professionals, and operators in self-arranged placements with U.S. universities—while making conforming numbering changes, and revising subsection (g) by striking paragraph (2), redesignating paragraphs (3) through (11) as (2) through (10), and updating a cross-reference; and (4) in section 115(d)(2), striking subparagraph (B) and reformatting former subparagraph (A).
This section authorizes appropriations of $10 million annually to the Department of State for FY2026 through FY2035 to carry out the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program and the Visiting Mining Scholars Program.