,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #beca  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,may #g1 #bjai,mr4    
,amodei 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,gohm]t1 ,mr4  
,johnson ( ,ohio1 ,mr4 ,"y1 ,mr4        
,we/]man1 ,mr4 ,hice ( ,georgia1 ,mr4   
,cook1 ,mr4 ,gos>1 ,mrs4 ,rodg]s (      
,wa%+ton1 ,mr4 ,lamborn1 ,mr4 ,tipton1  
,mr4 ,la,malfa1 ,mr4 ,mooney ( ,we/     
,virg9ia1 ,mr4 ,/aub]1 ,mr4 ,/ew>t1 ,mr4
 ,mc,clintock1 ,mr4 ,hag$orn1 & ,mr4    
,gian=te7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0
 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural     
,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to require !     
,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior & ! ,secret>y (  
,agriculture to m effici5tly develop    
dome/ic s\rces ( ! m9]als & m9]al       
mat]ials ( /rategic & critical          
importance to ! economic & national     
security & manufactur+ competitiv5ess ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,national ,/rategic & ,critical ,m9]als 
,production ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress 
f9ds t--  7#a7 ! indu/rialization (     

develop+ nations has driv5 dem& =       
nonfuel m9]als necess>y =               
telecommunications1 milit>y te*nologies1
 heal?c>e te*nologies1 & conv5tional &  
r5ewable en]gy te*nologies2  7#b7 !     
availability ( m9]als & m9]al mat]ials  
are ess5tial = economic gr[?1 national  
security1 te*nological innovation1 & !  
manufactur+ & agricultural supply *a92  
7#c7 m9]als & m9]al mat]ials are        
critical compon5ts ( e transportation1  
wat]1 telecommunications1 & en]gy       
infra/ructure project necess>y to       
mod]nize ! crumbl+ infra/ructure ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates2  7#d7 ! exploration1     
production1 process+1 use1 & recycl+ (  
m9]als contribute significantly to !    
economic well-be+1 security1 & g5]al    
welf>e ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#e7 !     
,unit$ ,/ates has va/ m9]al res\rces b  
is becom+ increas+ly dep5d5t on =eign   
s\rces ( m9]al res\rces1 z demon/rat$ by
 ! fact t--  7,a7 #be ye>s ago1 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates 0 dep5d5t on =eign s\rces = #de 
nonfuel m9]al mat]ials1 ( :i*--  7i7 #h 

7 import$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to fulfill 
#ajj p]c5t ( ! requirem5ts ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates = ^? nonfuel m9]al mat]ials2 &   
7ii7 #ai 7 import$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to
 fulfill great] ?an #ej p]c5t ( !       
requirem5ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = ^?      
nonfuel m9]al mat]ials2  7,b7 by #bjae !
 import dep5d5ce ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates =    
nonfuel m9]al mat]ials increas$ f       
dep5d5ce on ! import ( #de nonfuel m9]al
 mat]ials to dep5d5ce on ! import ( #dg 
nonfuel m9]al mat]ials1 ( :i*--  7i7 #ai
 7 import$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to fulfill
 #ajj p]c5t ( ! requirem5ts ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates = ^? nonfuel m9]al mat]ials2 &   
7ii7 #bb 7 import$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to
 fulfill great] ?an #ej p]c5t ( !       
requirem5ts ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = ^?      
nonfuel m9]al mat]ials2  7,c7 accord+ to
 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,en]gy1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
imports great] ?an #ej p]c5t ( ! #da    
metals & m9]als key to clean en]gy      
applications2  7,d7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %>e 
( worldwide m9]al exploration doll>s 0  
#g p]c5t 9 #bjae1 d[n f #ai p]c5t 9 !   

e>ly #aiijs2  7,e7 ! #bjad ,rank+ (     
,c\ntries = ,m9+ ,inve/m5t1 :i* ranks   
#be major m9+ c\ntries1 f\nd t #g- to   
#aj-ye> p]mitt+ delays are ! mo/        
significant risk to m9+ projects 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7,f7 9 late #bjaf1 !  
,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability ,(fice f\nd t--
 7i7 ! ,f$]al gov]nm5t's approa* to     
address+ critical mat]ials supply issues
 has n be5 consi/5t ) select$ key       
practices = int]ag5cy collaboration1 su*
 z ensur+ t ag5cies' roles &            
responsibilities are cle>ly def9$2 &    
7ii7 ! ,f$]al critical mat]ials approa* 
faces o!r limitations1 includ+ data     
limitations & a focus on only a subset (
 critical mat]ials1 a limit$ focus on   
dome/ic production ( critical mat]ials1 
& limit$ engagem5t ) indu/ry4  #c4      
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,ag5cy ,! 
t]m ag5cy means--  7,a7 any ag5cy1      
dep>tm5t1 or o!r unit ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1  
local1 or tribal gov]nm5t2 or  7,b7 an  
,alaska ,native ,corporation4  7#b7     
,alaska ,native ,corporation ,! t]m     

,alaska ,native ,corporation has ! mean+
 giv5 ! t]m ,native ,corporation 9      
section #c ( ! ,alaska ,native ,claims  
,settlem5t ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #afjb74  
7#c7 ,lead ag5cy ,! t]m lead ag5cy means
 ! ag5cy ) prim>y responsibility = issu+
 a m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit = a   
project4  7#d7 ,m9]al exploration or m9e
 p]mit ,! t]m m9]al exploration or m9e  
p]mit includes-- 7,a7 an au?orization ( 
! ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t or ! ,=e/    
,s]vice1 z applicable1 = prem9+         
activities t requires an environm5tal   
impact /atem5t or simil> analysis "u !  
,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act (  
#aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472    
7,b7 a plan ( op]ations issu$ by-- 7i7 !
 ,bureau ( ,l& ,managem5t "u subp>t     
#chji ( "p #chjj ( title #dc1 ,code (   
,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor       
regulations72 or  7ii7 ! ,=e/ ,s]vice "u
 subp>t ,a ( "p #bbh ( title #cf1 ,code 
( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor     
regulations72 &  7,c7 a p]mit issu$ "u  
an au?ority describ$ 9 section #cejc4ac 

( title #dc1 ,code ( ,f$]al ,regulations
 7or successor regulations74  7#e7      
,project ,! t]m project means a project 
= :i* ! issuance ( a p]mit is requir$ to
 conduct activities =1 relat+ to1 or    
incid5tal to m9]al exploration1 m9+1    
b5eficiation1 process+1 or reclamation  
activities--  7,a7 on a m9+ claim1      
millsite claim1 or tunnel site claim =  
any locatable m9]al2 or  7,b7 9         
conjunction ) any ,f$]al m9]al 7o!r ?an 
coal & oil %ale7 t is leas$ "u--  7i7 ! 
,m9]al ,leas+ ,act = ,acquir$ ,l&s 7#cj 
,u4,s4,c4 #cea et seq472 or  7ii7       
section #djb ( ,reorganization ,plan    
,numb]$ #c ( #aidf 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app474
  #d4 ,improv+ developm5t ( /rategic &  
critical m9]als  7a7 ,def9ition (       
/rategic & critical m9]als ,9 ?is       
section1 ! t]m /rategic & critical      
m9]als means m9]als t are necess>y--    
7#a7 = ! national def5se & national     
security requirem5ts2  7#b7 = ! en]gy   
infra/ructure ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1        
includ+-- 7,a7 pipel9es2  7,b7 ref9+    

capacity2  7,c7 electrical p[] g5]ation 
& transmission2 &  7,d7 r5ewable en]gy  
production2  7#c7 = community resili5cy1
 coa/al re/oration1 & ecological        
su/a9ability = ! coa/al ,unit$ ,/ates2  
7#d7 to support dome/ic manufactur+1    
agriculture1 h\s+1 telecommunications1  
heal?c>e1 & transportation              
infra/ructure2 or  7#e7 = ! economic    
security (1 & balance ( trade 91 !      
,unit$ ,/ates4  7b7 ,consid]ation (     
c]ta9 dome/ic m9es z infra/ructure      
projects ,a dome/ic m9e t1 z det]m9$ by 
! lead ag5cy1 w provide /rategic &      
critical m9]als %all be consid]$ to be  
an infra/ructure project1 z describ$ 9  
,executive ,ord] #achjg4  #e4           
,responsibilities ( ! lead ag5cy  7a7 ,9
 g5]al ,! lead ag5cy %all appo9t a      
project lead )9 ! lead ag5cy1 :o %all   
coord9ate & consult ) coop]at+ ag5cies &
 any o!r ag5cies involv$ 9 ! p]mitt+    
process1 project propon5ts1 &           
contractors to ensure t coop]at+ ag5cies
 & o!r ag5cies involv$ 9 ! p]mitt+      

process1 project propon5ts1 &           
contractors--  7#a7 m9imize delays2     
7#b7 set & adh]e to timel9es & s*$ules =
 completion ( ! p]mitt+ process2  7#c7  
set cle> p]mitt+ goals2 &  7#d7 track   
progress aga9/ ^? goals4  7b7           
,det]m9ation "u ,,nepa  7#a7 ,9 g5]al   
,to ! ext5t t ! ,national ,environm5tal 
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dcba et seq47 applies to ! issuance (  
any m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit1 !   
requirem5ts ( t ,act %all be consid]$ to
 h be5 proc$urally & sub/antively       
satisfi$ if ! lead ag5cy det]m9es t any 
,/ate or ,f$]al ag5cy act+ "u ,/ate or  
,f$]al law has address$ or w address !  
foll[+ factors3  7,a7 ,! environm5tal   
impact ( ! action to be conduct$ "u !   
p]mit4  7,b7 ,possible adv]se           
environm5tal effects ( actions "u !     
p]mit4  7,c7 ,possible alt]natives to   
issuance ( ! p]mit4  7,d7 ,! relation%ip
 betwe5 long- & %ort-t]m uses ( ! local 
environm5t & ! ma9t5ance & enhancem5t ( 
long-t]m productivity4  7,e7 ,any       

irrev]sible & irretrievable commitm5t ( 
res\rces t w\ld be involv$ 9 ! propos$  
action4  7,f7 ,t public p>ticipation w  
occur dur+ ! decision-mak+ process =    
au?oriz+ actions "u ! p]mit4  7#b7      
,writt5 requirem5t ,9 mak+ a det]m9ation
 "u p>agraph 7#a71 n lat] ?an #ij days  
aft] receipt ( an application = ! p]mit1
 ! lead ag5cy1 9 a writt5 record (      
decision1 %all--  7,a7 expla9 !         
rationale us$ 9 rea*+ ! det]m9ation2    
7,b7 /ate ! facts 9 ! record t are !    
basis = ! det]m9ation2 &  7,c7 %[ t !   
facts 9 ! record c\ld all[ a reasonable 
p]son to rea* ! same det]m9ation z !    
lead ag5cy did4  7c7 ,coord9ation on    
,p]mitt+ ,process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! lead
 ag5cy %all enhance gov]nm5t coord9ation
 = ! p]mitt+ process by-- 7,a7 avoid+   
duplicative reviews2  7,b7 m9imiz+      
pap]work2 &  7,c7 engag+ o!r ag5cies &  
/akehold]s e>ly 9 ! process4  7#b7      
,consid]ations ,9 c>ry+ out p>agraph    
7#a71 ! lead ag5cy %all consid]-- 7,a7  
def]r+ to1 & rely+ on1 basel9e data1    

analyses1 & reviews p]=m$ by ,/ate      
ag5cies ) jurisdiction ov] ! propos$    
project2 &  7,b7 to ! maximum ext5t     
practicable1 conduct+ any consultations 
or reviews concurr5tly r ?an sequ5tially
 if ! concurr5t consultation or review  
w\ld exp$ite ! process4  7#c7 ,memor&um 
( ,ag5cy ,agreem5t ,if reque/$ at any "t
 by a ,/ate or local plann+ ag5cy1 !    
lead ag5cy1 9 consultation ) o!r ,f$]al 
ag5cies ) relevant jurisdiction 9 !     
environm5tal review process1 may e/abli%
 memor&a ( agreem5t ) ! project sponsor1
 ,/ate & local gov]nm5ts1 & o!r         
appropriate entities to accompli% !     
coord9ation activities describ$ 9 ?is   
subsection4  7d7 ,s*$ule = ,p]mitt+     
,process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,= any project =
 :i* ! lead ag5cy _c make ! det]m9ation 
describ$ subsection 7b71 at ! reque/ ( a
 project propon5t1 ! lead ag5cy1        
coop]at+ ag5cies1 & any o!r ag5cies     
involv$ ) ! m9]al exploration or m9e    
p]mitt+ process %all ent] into an       
agreem5t ) ! project propon5t t sets "t 

limits = ea* "p ( ! p]mitt+ process1    
includ+--  7,a7 ! decision on :e!r to   
prep>e an environm5tal impact /atem5t or
 simil> analysis requir$ "u ! ,national 
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472  7,b7 a       
det]m9ation ( ! scope ( any environm5tal
 impact /atem5t or simil> analysis      
requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dcba et seq472  7,c7 ! scope (1 &      
s*$ule =1 ! basel9e /udies requir$ to   
prep>e an environm5tal impact /atem5t or
 simil> analysis requir$ "u ! ,national 
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472  7,d7         
prep>ation ( any draft environm5tal     
impact /atem5t or simil> analysis       
requir$ "u ! ,national ,environm5tal    
,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#dcba et seq472  7,e7 prep>ation ( a    
f9al environm5tal impact /atem5t or     
simil> analysis requir$ "u ! ,national  
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472  7,f7 any     

consultations requir$ "u applicable law2
  7,g7 submission & review ( any comm5ts
 requir$ "u applicable law2  7,h7       
publication ( any public notices requir$
 "u applicable law2 &  7,i7 any f9al or 
int]im decisions4  7#b7 ,"t ,limit =    
,p]mitt+ ,process ,except if ext5d$ by  
mutual agreem5t ( ! project propon5t & !
 lead ag5cy1 ! "t p]iod = ! total review
 process describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 %all n
 exce$ #cj mon?s4  7e7 ,limitation on   
,address+ ,public ,comm5ts ,! lead ag5cy
 %all n be requir$ to address any ag5cy 
or public comm5ts t 7 n submitt$--  7#a7
 dur+ a public comm5t p]iod or          
consultation p]iod provid$ dur+ !       
p]mitt+ process2 or  7#b7 z o!rwise     
requir$ by law4  7f7 ,f9ancial          
,assurance ,! lead ag5cy %all det]m9e ! 
am\nt ( f9ancial assurance requir$ =    
reclamation ( a m9]al exploration or m9+
 site1 on ! condition t ! f9ancial      
assurance %all cov] ! e/imat$ co/ if !  
lead ag5cy 7 to contract ) a ?ird p>ty  
to reclaim ! op]ations accord+ to !     

reclamation plan1 includ+ con/ruction & 
ma9t5ance co/s = any treatm5t facilities
 necess>y to meet ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or     
tribal environm5tal /&>ds4  7g7         
,projects )9 ,national ,=e/s ,) respect 
to projects on ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em l&1
 ! lead ag5cy %all-- 7#a7 exempt f !    
requirem5ts ( "p #bid ( title #cf1 ,code
 ( ,f$]al ,regulations 7or successor    
regulations7--  7,a7 all areas (        
id5tifi$ m9]al res\rces 9 l& use        
designations1 o!r ?an nondevelopm5t l&  
use designations1 9 exi/5ce on ! date ( 
enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 &  7,b7 all        
additional r\tes & areas t ! lead ag5cy 
det]m9es necess>y to facilitate !       
con/ruction1 op]ation1 ma9t5ance1 &     
re/oration ( an area describ$ 9 p>agraph
 7#a72 &  7#b7 cont9ue to apply !       
exemptions describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 aft]
 ! date on :i* approval ( ! m9]als plan 
( op]ations describ$ 9 section          
#c7d77;,b77ii7 = ! ,national ,=e/ ,sy/em
 l&4  7h7 ,application to ,exi/+ ,p]mit 
,applications  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,?is       

section applies to a m9]al exploration  
or m9e p]mit = :i* an application 0     
submitt$ be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is   
,act if ! applicant = ! p]mit submits a 
writt5 reque/ to ! lead ag5cy = ! p]mit4
  7#b7 ,implem5tation ,! lead ag5cy %all
 beg9 implem5t+ ?is section ) respect to
 an application describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7
 n lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! date on :i* 
! lead ag5cy receives ! writt5 reque/ = 
! p]mit4  #f4 ,f$]al ,regi/] process =  
m9]al exploration & m9+ projects  7a7   
,dep>tm5tal ,review ,abs5t any          
extraord9>y circum/ances1 z det]m9$ by !
 ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior or ! ,secret>y (
 ,agriculture1 z applicable1 & except z 
o!rwise requir$ by law1 ! ,secret>y ( ! 
,int]ior or ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture1 
z applicable1 %all ensure t ea* ,f$]al  
,regi/] notice associat$ ) ! issuance ( 
a m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit &      
requir$ by law %all be--  7#a7 subject  
to any requir$ reviews )9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( 
! ,int]ior or ! ,dep>tm5t (             
,agriculture1 z applicable2 &  7#b7     

publi%$ 9 f9al =m 9 ! ,f$]al ,regi/] n  
lat] ?an #de days aft] ! date ( initial 
prep>ation ( ! notice4  7b7 ,prep>ation 
,! prep>ation ( any ,f$]al ,regi/]      
notice describ$ 9 subsection 7a7 %all be
 delegat$ to ! organizational level )9 !
 lead ag5cy4  7c7 ,transmission ,all    
,f$]al ,regi/] notices describ$ 9       
subsection 7a7 reg>d+ (ficial docum5t   
availability1 ann\ncem5ts ( meet+s1 or  
notices ( int5t to und]take an action   
%all orig9ate 91 & be transmitt$ to !   
,f$]al ,regi/] f1 ! (fice 9 :i*1 z      
applicable--  7#a7 ! docum5ts or meet+s 
are held2 or  7#b7 ! activity is        
initiat$4  #g4 ,secret>ial ord] n       
affect$ ,?is ,act %all n apply to any   
m9]al describ$ 9 ,secret>ial ,ord]      
#ccbd1 issu$ by ! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior
 on ,decemb] #c1 #bjab1 9 any area to   
:i* ! ord] applies4