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This section designates the short title of the Act as the “Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies Act” or the “DOMINANCE Act” and provides a table of contents.
This section declares the sense of Congress that the United States is heavily dependent on China for critical minerals and materials; that China has weaponized its dominance through overcapacity and below-market sales; and that U.S. economic and national security interests require countering such practices, ensuring resilient supply chains, and deploying government tools to mobilize private capital and allied cooperation. It states that the purposes of the Act are to reduce U.S. and partner-country dependence on strategic competitors for energy, critical minerals, and related technologies; to support partner-country economic growth and resource development; to advance U.S. national security through investments and coordination; to establish an interagency mechanism for diplomatic, development, trade, and financing tools; to strengthen U.S. energy and mineral companies' global competitiveness; and to secure diversified supply and processing capacity for critical minerals.
This section defines 10 terms for purposes of the Act, including “ally or allied country” (i.e., countries specified in 10 U.S.C. 2350a(a)(2) and members of listed organizations); “appropriate congressional committees” (i.e., specified committees in the House and Senate); “critical mineral” (i.e., any mineral on the list required by 30 U.S.C. 1606(c)(3) on or after January 1, 2026); “Department” (i.e., Department of State); “processed,” with respect to a critical mineral (i.e., activities after ore extraction through conversion into metal, metal powder, or master alloy); “Secretary” (i.e., Secretary of State); and terms relating to energy security compacts (e.g., “Assistant Secretary,” “Country Compact Team,” “partner country,” “Under Secretary”).
This section declares U.S. policy to collaborate with allies and partners on secure and resilient critical mineral supply chains—including mining, processing, reclamation, recycling, valuation, and advanced manufacturing—while prioritizing domestic production and exports, reducing reliance on supply chains controlled by China, Russia, Iran, or other strategic competitors, implementing market-based incentives, addressing predatory practices, and coordinating investments without supplanting domestic efforts. The section further authorizes the President to negotiate agreements with foreign governments to establish a coalition of member countries (i.e., the U.S. and its partners) that facilitates transparent mining, processing, supply, procurement, and advanced manufacturing of critical minerals; secures adequate supplies; and pursues objectives such as building resilient supply chain mechanisms, achieving economies of scale through joint projects and incentives (e.g., cost-sharing infrastructure, political risk insurance, financing), establishing market-based rules and best practices for labor rights, environmental protection, community safety, and supply chain diversity, promoting economic growth in developing countries, forming a consortium to compete for non-member country deposits, and conducting annual joint resource mapping.
This section authorizes the Secretary of State, acting through the Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, to lead U.S. participation in the Minerals Security Partnership to (1) identify and support critical mineral mining, processing, and refining projects; (2) develop regional diplomatic strategies and coordinate with U.S. missions abroad, Partnership members, and finance institutions; (3) establish information-sharing mechanisms, cooperation policies (including funding if necessary), and a compliance evaluation framework; (4) monitor trade measures affecting critical mineral supplies; (5) deter asset sales to prohibited foreign entities; and (6) recommend priority countries for engagement. This section further authorizes the Secretary to establish and maintain a database of critical mineral projects to facilitate private-sector investment and directs development of procedures for exchanging commercial or geological/geophysical information with Partnership members. Such procedures must aggregate data to avoid identifying sources and incorporate confidentiality limitations under specified statutes—including 13 U.S.C. 9 (prohibiting non-statistical uses of census data and individual report disclosures)—with exceptions for international energy supply emergencies or presidential certification of adequate member-country security measures. The section requires prioritizing staffing for the Partnership.
This section authorizes the President to accept the terms of reference of and maintain U.S. membership in the International Nickel Study Group (INSG), an intergovernmental forum that collects and disseminates statistics on global nickel supply, demand, and production. The section permits payment of U.S. assessed contributions to the INSG for FY2026 and each fiscal year thereafter from amounts authorized to be appropriated under the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (22 U.S.C. 287e).
This section directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with other relevant federal agencies, to develop within 180 days of enactment a strategy for securing critical mineral supply chains. The strategy must (1) review and coordinate roles of Department of State offices engaged in such efforts; (2) leverage U.S. financial, commercial, and development assistance tools; (3) include targeted engagement plans for U.S. allies and partners and countries with significant critical mineral deposits or processing capacity; (4) coordinate with federal agencies to align trade policies addressing price volatility and trusted sourcing; (5) strengthen collaboration with allies and U.S. leadership in multilateral institutions; (6) extend diplomatic and commercial advocacy to private sector entities; and (7) facilitate ally coordination on best practices, labor standards, and environmental and social impacts. Within 210 days of enactment, the Secretary must brief the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Permanent Select on Intelligence and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Select on Intelligence on the strategy.
This section states the sense of Congress that U.S. private sector entities competing for critical mineral projects abroad need U.S. government support. It directs the Secretary to task an appropriate official or office of the Department with establishing a mechanism and process to provide such support, which may include (1) certifying projects that uphold labor rights and minimize environmental impacts and (2) enabling U.S. private sector entities to engage U.S. embassies in host countries for assistance.
This section authorizes amounts from funds appropriated for bilateral economic assistance in FY2026 or subsequent fiscal years, including the Economic Resilience Initiative, for multi-year Energy Security Compacts with partner countries to enhance U.S. and partner energy and economic security, including through diversification of critical mineral and energy supply chains to counter economic coercion. The section permits transfers of such funds to specified accounts (Trade and Development Agency; Millennium Challenge Corporation; United States International Development Finance Corporation Capital Account, Program Account, and Equity Investment Account; and Export-Import Bank of the United States Program Account), subject to prior consultation with and regular notification to the House and Senate Appropriations and Foreign Affairs/Foreign Relations Committees. The Director for Energy Security Compacts may enter contracts for technical support, make grants to partner countries to build administrative or technical capacity, and form Country Compact Teams for compact implementation. The section prohibits assistance for military activities or training; projects likely to cause substantial U.S. job losses, production displacement, or significant unmitigable environmental, health, or safety hazards; or entities in which the President, Vice President, or their immediate family members hold ownership or managerial interests. All compacts and activities must comply with monitoring, evaluation, performance measurement, and public reporting requirements under the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 (i.e., quarterly updates to ForeignAssistance.gov with award-level data on obligations, expenditures, strategies, budgets, and evaluations). Finally, this section requires the Director to submit annual reports for five years after enactment to specified congressional committees, the Executive Office of the President, National Security Council, and Secretary of State on activity status, implementation obstacles, and updates to the multiyear financial plan.
This section establishes an Office of Energy Security Compacts within the Department, led by a Director responsible to the Assistant Secretary, to administer and implement Energy Security Compacts as prescribed. The Director shall support the Department's participation in the Economic Resilience Initiative and Energy Security Compacts Council by (1) drafting the Secretary's contribution to the strategy required under section 7030(d) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 119-37); (2) leading development, negotiation, and management of Energy Security Compacts funded through the initiative; (3) consulting and coordinating with Energy Security Council member agencies; (4) receiving solicited and unsolicited proposals for compacts; (5) signing interagency agreements and transferring or receiving funds, including for credit subsidies; and (6) coordinating with donor entities such as allies, the Minerals Security Partnership, and multilateral fora. The Director may detail staff to or request details from other agencies and appoint candidates directly to competitive service positions without regard to certain civil service hiring provisions. This section terminates the office's authority 10 years after enactment and requires the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs to submit a report to appropriate congressional committees within 180 days of enactment on plans to attract and retain expertise for the office, including promotion tracks to GS-15 positions.
This section establishes the required structure for Energy Security Compacts between the United States and eligible partner countries to increase reliable access to energy, electricity, or critical minerals, thereby stimulating economic growth, enabling private sector investment, supporting U.S. commercial competitiveness, and diversifying supply chains. Prior to establishing a compact, the Office of Energy Security Compacts and Energy Security Compact Council must conduct a constraints analysis of the partner country's energy sector and relevant supply chains, consistent with U.S. energy security risks and commercial opportunities. Each compact must include (1) a constraints analysis; (2) specific objectives such as increased energy production, reliability, affordability, economic growth, improved energy access, and critical minerals infrastructure; (3) responsibilities of each party; (4) quantitative benchmarks; (5) intended impacts; (6) a multiyear financial plan estimating contributions from U.S. agencies, the partner country, and others, updated annually; (7) potential participation by other donors; (8) oversight and transparency measures for Economic Resilience Initiative assistance; (9) processes for solicited and unsolicited proposals; (10) competitive procedures for grants, agreements, and procurement; (11) the partner country's sustainment strategy post-compact; (12) roles of core and collaborating agencies; and (13) partner country contributions relative to its budget. Eligibility requires (1) per capita income not exceeding the World Bank loan threshold or eligibility for International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/International Development Association graduation; (2) identification as strategically or commercially important to the U.S.; (3) demonstrated capacity and commitment; and (4) not being a foreign country of concern (i.e., China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, or other country so designated by the Department of State under 42 U.S.C. 19221(a)). Compacts must exempt U.S. assistance from partner country taxation, be recommended by the Director for Energy Security Compacts and approved by the Secretary, last no longer than 10 years, and allow subsequent or concurrent compacts.
This section directs the President to establish, not later than 90 days after enactment, an Energy Security Compacts Council (Council) chaired by the Secretary of State to coordinate and implement Energy Security Compacts. The Council comprises principal officers from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Department of Energy, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Export-Import Bank of the United States, Department of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of the Interior, and other agencies as determined by the President; acting principal officers may serve in vacancies, and principal officers may delegate to senior officials. The Council must (1) meet not less than quarterly; (2) coordinate related activities among agencies; (3) make annual recommendations to the Director for Energy Security Compacts on prioritizing eligible countries, considering National Security Council and presidential priorities; and (4) recommend improvements in interagency collaboration to promote energy security and U.S. national security interests abroad. Council meetings are subject to the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. §552b).
This section requires the Director for Energy Security Compacts, not later than 30 days before entering into an Energy Security Compact, to (1) notify and consult with the appropriate congressional committees regarding such compact, (2) transmit the text of such compact to those committees, and (3) provide those committees an in-person briefing regarding such compact.
This section directs the Government Accountability Office to submit to Congress, not later than two years after enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, an evaluation of the efficiency and development impact of projects supported by an Energy Security Compact.
This section establishes in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Energy Security and Diplomacy, responsible to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, to formulate and implement international energy, energy technology, critical minerals, and supply chain policies in foreign policy, including protecting U.S. energy security interests, coordinating U.S. government energy programs abroad, representing the Secretary in interagency and international efforts (e.g., International Energy Agency), analyzing global energy security implications for Department decision-making, coordinating with other federal agencies (e.g., Energy, Defense), countering adversary use of energy dependencies, and supporting secure supply chains, energy access, and U.S. commercial interests abroad. The Assistant Secretary must submit to the appropriate congressional committees (1) a report within 180 days of enactment on efforts to establish the Bureau of Energy Security and Diplomacy (as required by section 302), including current and projected staffing and resources; and (2) a report within one year of enactment, and annually thereafter for three years, on the U.S. international energy strategy and actions taken by the bureau.
This section establishes in the Department of Commerce a Bureau of Energy Security and Diplomacy, headed by an Assistant Secretary, to formulate and implement international energy, energy technology, critical minerals, and supply chain policies as prescribed by the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs. It authorizes the Secretary, for one year after enactment, to appoint employees to the bureau with relevant expertise without regard to competitive service requirements under title 5, U.S. Code, or General Schedule pay rates and classification; and directs the Secretary to prioritize rehiring individuals separated in 2025 from the Bureau of Energy and Natural Resources due to a reduction in force whose expertise aligns with the bureau's responsibilities. It states the sense of Congress that the Assistant Secretary serve as a standing participant in the Investment Committee or other interagency groups chaired by the White House National Security Council or National Economic Dominance Council to coordinate U.S. policy on international critical mineral and energy supply chain diversification.
This section establishes the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program to promote U.S. foreign policy priorities in the mining industry, build the U.S. mining workforce through international exchanges at foreign mining institutions, and support the domestic critical mineral supply chain. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State administers the program under guidelines from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, in consultation with specified entities. The Board selects fellows—who must hold a bachelor's degree, be pursuing an advanced STEM or mining-related degree, or have a postdoctoral degree received within five years—and prioritizes enrollment at foreign universities with mining programs, preferably in Minerals Security Partnership countries. Fellows engage in coursework, research, training, professional development, and networking for at least one year (with possible renewal), serving as U.S. cultural ambassadors, and must intend to work in the U.S. mining sector afterward. The Bureau provides fellows an allowance covering tuition, living expenses, textbooks, and other reasonable costs.
This section establishes the Visiting Scholars Mining Program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program (Fulbright program) to bring at least 10 foreign mining academics and professionals annually (whenever feasible) to the United States to expand mining education programs at U.S. institutions of higher education, bolster workforce development, and advance mining research and development. The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board selects non-U.S. citizens from Fulbright-operating countries with relevant mining expertise—prioritizing Minerals Security Partnership members or others identified via congressional consultations—for placement at Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs-approved U.S. institutions committed to mining programs; selected scholars must consult on curricula, conduct research, mentor students, and develop outreach, per Bureau-approved work plans. (Thus, the program fosters international collaboration to address U.S. mining industry needs in education, sustainability, and critical minerals.)
This section adds to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' responsibilities for managing, coordinating, and overseeing exchange programs under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (1) the Mining Fellowship Program established under section 116, which provides funding for studies, research, and international exchange for students seeking or completing advanced degrees from U.S. institutions of higher education in self-arranged placements with universities offering mining education programs in foreign countries; and (2) the Visiting Mining Scholars Program established under section 117, which provides funding for international mining academics, practitioners, professionals, and operators in self-arranged placements with U.S. universities.
This section adds a definitions section (sec. 118) to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The section defines the following terms for purposes of the Act: (1) advanced degree as a master’s or doctoral degree from an institution of higher education; (2) critical mineral as any mineral on the list required by section 7002(c)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(c)(3)) on or after January 1, 2026, including gold and copper; (3) institution of higher education as having the meaning given in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) (i.e., public or nonprofit institutions that—among other requirements—admit only high school graduates or equivalent, are legally authorized in their state, provide associate, bachelor’s, or higher degrees, and are accredited); (4) mining education program as an academic program related to the mining industry; (5) mining industry as U.S. activities related to naturally occurring metal and nonmetal critical minerals, from geological mapping and exploration through extraction, processing, manufacturing, transportation, and reclamation, remediation, recycling, and recovery; and (6) mining profession as the body of jobs directly relevant to the mining industry.