,i  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bfjd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,april #ae1 #bjba ,mr4
 ,/aub] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,ne:\se1 ,mr4  
,we/]man1 ,mrs4 ,cammack1 ,ms4 ,t5ney1  
,mr4 ,la,malfa1 ,mr4 ,mc,kinley1 ,mr4   
,gro?man1 ,mr4 ,emm]1 ,mrs4 ,mill] (    
,ill9ois1 ,mr4 ,ros5dale1 ,mr4 ,/ew>t1  
,mr4 ,baird1 & ,mr4 ,tiffany7 introduc$ 
! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !        
,committee on ,natural ,res\rces1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committee on ,small      
,bus9ess1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly   
det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case =      
consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 
! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to improve ! p]mitt+ process =
 critical m9]al projects1 & = o!r       
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,access+ ,am]ica's         
,critical ,m9]als ,act ( #bjba4  #b4    
,p]mitt+  7a7 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is ! 
s5se ( ,congress t--  7#a7 critical     
m9]als are fundam5tal to ! economy1     
competitiv5ess1 & security ( ! ,unit$   

,/ates2  7#b7 to ! maximum ext5t        
practicable1 ! critical m9]al ne$s ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates %\ld be satisfi$ by       
m9]als1 elem5ts1 sub/ances1 & mat]ials  
responsibly produc$ & recycl$ 9 ! ,unit$
 ,/ates2 &  7#c7 ! curr5t ,f$]al p]mitt+
 process is an imp$im5t to m9]al        
production & ! m9]al security ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates4  7b7 ,coord9ation on p]mitt+   
process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y1 9  
consultation ) appropriate ,f$]al       
ag5cies1 %all1 to ! maximum ext5t       
practicable1 ) respect to ! ,f$]al      
p]mitt+ & review process = critical     
m9]al projects on ,f$]al l&--  7,a7     
e/abli% & adh]e to timel9es & s*$ules = 
! consid]ation (1 & f9al decisions      
reg>d+1 applications1 op]at+ plans1     
leases1 lic5ses1 p]mits1 & o!r use      
au?orizations = m9]al-relat$ activities 
on ,f$]al l&2  7,b7 e/abli% cle>1       
quantifiable1 & temporal p]mitt+        
p]=mance goals & track+ progress aga9/  
^? goals2  7,c7 engage 9 e>ly           
collaboration among ag5cies1 project    

sponsors1 & affect$ /akehold]s-- 7i7 to 
incorporate & address ! int]e/s ( ea*   
su* ag5cy1 sponsor1 & /akehold]2 &  7ii7
 to m9imize delays2  7,d7 ensure        
transp>5cy & acc\ntability by us+       
co/-effective in=mation te*nology to    
collect & dissem9ate in=mation reg>d+   
individual critical m9]al projects &    
ag5cy p]=mance2  7,e7 engage 9 e>ly &   
active consultation ) ,/ate & local     
gov]nm5ts & ,indian ,tribes to avoid    
conflicts or duplication ( ef=t1 resolve
 conc]ns1 & all[ = concurr5t1 r ?an     
sequ5tial1 ,/ate1 local1 ,tribal1 &     
,f$]al environm5tal & regulatory        
reviews2  7,f7 meet or exce$ ! p]=mance 
metrics conta9$ 9 subsection 7g72  7,g7 
exp& & in/itutionalize p]mitt+ & review 
process improvem5ts t h prov5 effective2
  7,h7 develop me*anisms to bett]       
communicate priorities & resolve        
disputes among ag5cies at ! national1   
regional1 ,/ate1 & local levels2 &  7,i7
 develop o!r practices to improve !     
regulatory processes1 su* z             

preapplication proc$ures4  7#b7         
,consid]ations ,9 c>ry+ out p>agraph    
7#a71 ! lead ag5cy %all consid] def]r+  
to1 & rely+ on1 basel9e data1 analyses1 
& reviews p]=m$ by ,/ate ag5cies )      
jurisdiction ov] ! propos$ critical     
m9]al project4  7#c7 ,memor&um (        
agreem5t ,! lead ag5cy ) respect to a   
critical m9]al project on ,f$]al l&1 9  
consultation ) any o!r ,f$]al ag5cy )   
jurisdiction ov] su* project1 %all1 ^u  
reque/ ( ! project sponsor1 a ,/ate or  
local gov]nm5t1 an ,indian ,tribe1 or   
o!r entity su* lead ag5cy det]m9es      
appropriate1 e/abli% a memor&um (       
agreem5t ) ! project sponsor1 a ,/ate or
 local gov]nm5t1 an ,indian ,tribe1 or  
ano!r entity su* lead ag5cy det]m9es    
appropriate to c>ry out ! activities    
describ$ 9 ?is subsection4  7#d7 ,"t    
limit = p]mitt+ process ,not)/&+ any o!r
 provision ( law1 & except ) agreem5t ( 
! project sponsor1 ! total p]iod = all  
necess>y ,f$]al reviews & p]mit         
consid]ation = a critical m9]al project 

on ,f$]al l& reasonably expect$ to      
produce critical m9]als may n exce$--   
7,a7 ) respect to a project t requires  
an environm5tal assessm5t "u section    
#ajb7b77;,c7 ( ! ,national ,environm5tal
 ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#dcca7b77;,c771 #ah mon?s2 or  7,b7 )   
respect to a project t requires an      
environm5tal impact /atem5t "u su*      
section1 #bd mon?s4  7c7 ,det]m9ation "u
 ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act   
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,to ! ext5t t ! ,national 
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq47 applies to !   
issuance ( any m9]al exploration or m9e 
p]mit relat+ to a critical m9]al        
project1 ! lead ag5cy may deem !        
requirem5ts ( su* ,act satisfi$ if !    
lead ag5cy det]m9es t a ,/ate or ,f$]al 
ag5cy act+ "u ,/ate or ,f$]al law has   
address$ ! foll[+ factors3 7,a7 ,!      
environm5tal impact ( ! action to be    
conduct$ "u ! p]mit4  7,b7 ,possible    
alt]natives to issuance ( ! p]mit4  7,c7
 ,! relation%ip betwe5 long- & %ort-t]m 

uses ( ! local environm5t & ! ma9t5ance 
& enhancem5t ( long-t]m productivity4   
7,d7 ,any irrev]sible & irretrievable   
commitm5t ( res\rces t w\ld be involv$ 9
 ! propos$ action4  7#b7 ,publication ,!
 lead ag5cy %all publi% a det]m9ation "u
 p>agraph 7#a7 n lat] ?an #ij days aft] 
receipt ( an application = ! p]mit4     
7#c7 ,v]ification ,! lead ag5cy %all    
publi% a det]m9ation t ! factors "u     
p>agraph 7#a7 h be5 suffici5tly address$
 & public p>ticipation has occurr$ )    
reg>d to any au?oriz+ actions be=e issu+
 any m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit = a 
critical m9]al project4  7d7 ,s*$ule =  
p]mitt+ process ,= any critical m9]al   
project = :i* ! lead ag5cy _c make !    
det]m9ation describ$ 9 subsection 7c71  
at ! reque/ ( a project sponsor1 ! lead 
ag5cy1 coop]at+ ag5cies1 & any o!r      
ag5cies involv$ ) ! m9]al exploration or
 m9e p]mitt+ process %all ent] into an  
agreem5t ) ! project sponsor 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 su* ,act2  7#c7 ! scope (1 & 
s*$ule =1 ! basel9e /udies requir$ to   
prep>e an environm5tal impact /atem5t or
 simil> analysis requir$ "u su* ,act2   
7#d7 prep>ation ( any draft environm5tal
 impact /atem5t or simil> analysis      
requir$ "u su* ,act2  7#e7 prep>ation ( 
a f9al environm5tal impact /atem5t or   
simil> analysis requir$ "u su* ,act2    
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  7e7 ,address+ public comm5ts
 ,z "p ( ! review process ( a critical  
m9]al project "u ! ,national            
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 

,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq471 ! lead ag5cy  
may n 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   
,review & report ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft]
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !        
,secret>y & ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture  
%all submit to ,congress a report t--   
7#a7 id5tifies additional measures      
7includ+ regulatory & legislative       
proposals1 z appropriate7 t w\ld        
increase ! timel9ess ( p]mitt+          
activities = ! exploration & developm5t 
( dome/ic critical m9]als2  7#b7        
id5tifies options 7includ+ co/ recov]y  
paid by p]mit applicants1 z appropriate7
 = ensur+ adequate /aff+ & tra9+ (      
,f$]al entities & p]sonnel responsible =
 ! consid]ation ( applications1 op]at+  
plans1 leases1 lic5ses1 p]mits1 & o!r   
use au?orizations = critical m9]al      
projects on ,f$]al l&2  7#c7 quantifies 
! am\nt ( "t typically requir$ 7includ+ 

a range d]iv$ f m9imum & maximum        
durations1 mean1 m$ian1 v>iance1 & any  
o!r /ati/ical measure or repres5tation !
 ,secret>y & ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture 
det]m9e appropriate7 to complete ea* /ep
 7includ+ ^? aspects outside ! control (
 ! executive bran*1 su* z judicial      
review1 applicant decisions1 or ,/ate & 
local gov]nm5t involvem5t7 associat$ ) !
 developm5t & process+ ( applications1  
op]at+ plans1 leases1 lic5ses1 p]mits1 &
 o!r use au?orizations = a m9]al        
exploration or m9e p]mit = a critical   
m9]al project2 &  7#d7 describes actions
 c>ri$ out pursuant to subsection 7b74  
7g7 ,p]=mance metric ,n lat] ?an #ij    
days aft] ! date ( submission ( ! report
 "u subsection 7e71 ! ,secret>y & !     
,secret>y ( ,agriculture1 aft] provid+  
public notice & an opportunity to       
comm5t1 %all develop & publi% a p]=mance
 metric = evaluat+ ! progress made by ! 
executive bran* to exp$ite ! p]mitt+ (  
critical m9]al projects4  7h7 ,annual   
reports ,beg9n+ ) ! fir/ budget         

submission by ! ,presid5t "u section    
#aaje ( title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
aft] publication ( ! p]=mance metric    
requir$ "u subsection 7f71 & annually   
!reaft]1 ! ,secret>y & ! ,secret>y (    
,agriculture %all jo9tly submit to      
,congress a report t-- 7#a7 summ>izes ! 
implem5tation ( recomm5dations1         
measures1 & options id5tifi$ 9 p>agraphs
 7#a7 & 7#b7 ( subsection 7f72  7#b7 us+
 ! p]=mance metric "u subsection 7d71   
describes progress made by ! executive  
bran*1 z comp>$ to ! basel9e e/abli%$   
pursuant to subsection 7c77#c71 on      
exp$it+ ! p]mitt+ ( activities t w      
increase exploration =1 & developm5t (1 
dome/ic critical m9]als2 &  7#c7 comp>es
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to o!r c\ntries 9 t]ms 
( p]mitt+ effici5cy & any o!r crit]ia   
relevant to ! globally competitive      
critical m9]als indu/ry4  7i7           
,individual projects ,us+ data f !      
,secret>y ( ,agriculture & ! ,secret>y  
g5]at$ "u subsection 7g71 ! ,director ( 
! ,(fice ( ,managem5t & ,budget %all    

prioritize inclusion ( individual       
critical m9]al projects on ! website    
op]at$ by ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t &       
,budget 9 accordance ) section #aabb (  
title #ca1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7j7    
,report ( small bus9ess adm9i/ration ,n 
lat] ?an #a ye> & #cjj days aft] ! date 
( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,adm9i/rator ( 
! ,small ,bus9ess ,adm9i/ration %all    
submit to ! ,committees on ,small       
,bus9ess & ,natural ,res\rces ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives & ,small ,bus9ess &   
,entrepr5eur%ip & ,en]gy & ,natural     
,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate a report t assesses
 ! p]=mance ( ,f$]al ag5cies ) respect  
to--  7#a7 comply+ ) *apt] #f ( title   
#e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 9 promulgat+   
regulations applicable to ! critical    
m9]als indu/ry2 &  7#b7 p]=m+ an        
analysis ( regulations applicable to !  
critical m9]als indu/ry t may be        
outmod$1 ineffici5t1 duplicative1 or    
excessively burd5some4  7k7 ,def9itions 
,9 ?is section3 7#a7 ,byproduct ,! t]m  
byproduct has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9    

section #gjjb ( ! ,consolidat$          
,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7,public    
,law #aaf-bfj74  7#b7 ,critical m9]al ,!
 t]m critical m9]al has ! mean+ giv5 su*
 t]m 9 section #gjjb ( ! ,consolidat$   
,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7,public    
,law #aaf-bfj7 except t su* t]m %all n  
exclude mat]ials describ$ 9 subsection  
7a77#c77;,b77iii7 ( su* section4  7#c7  
,critical m9]al project ,! t]m critical 
m9]al project means a project--  7,a7   
locat$ on-- 7i7 a m9+ claim1 millsite   
claim1 or tunnel site claim = any       
locatable m9]al2  7ii7 l&s op5 to m9]al 
entry2 or  7iii7 a ,f$]al m9]al lease2 &
  7,b7 = ! purpose ( produc+ a critical 
m9]al1 includ+-- 7i7 z a byproduct1 or a
 product ( a ho/ m9]al1 or f tail+s2 or 
7ii7 ?r\gh an exploration project )     
respect to :i* ! pres5ce ( a byproduct  
is a reasonable expectation1 bas$ on    
kn[n m9]al companionality1 geologic     
=mation1 m9]alogy1 or o!r factors4  7#d7
 ,indian ,tribe ,! t]m ,indian ,tribe   
has ! mean+ giv5 su* t]m 9 section #d ( 

! ,indian ,self-,det]m9ation &          
,education ,assi/ance ,act 7#be         
,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74  7#e7 ,secret>y ,! t]m
 ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( !        
,int]ior4  7#f7 ,/ate ,! t]m ,/ate      
means--  7,a7 a ,/ate2  7,b7 ! ,di/rict 
( ,columbia2  7,c7 ! ,commonweal? (     
,pu]to ,rico2  7,d7 ,guam2  7,e7        
,am]ican ,samoa2  7,f7 ! ,commonweal? ( 
! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s2 &  7,g7 !     
,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s4  7#g7 ,lead
 ag5cy ,! t]m lead ag5cy means ! ag5cy )
 prim>y responsibility = issu+ a m9]al  
exploration or m9e p]mit = a project4   
7#h7 ,m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit ,! 
t]m m9]al exploration or m9e p]mit      
means-- 7,a7 an au?orization ( ! ,bureau
 ( ,l& ,managem5t or ! ,=e/ ,s]vice1 z  
applicable1 = a prem9+ activity t       
requires analysis "u ! ,national        
,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( #aifi 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472  7,b7 a plan (
 op]ations issu$ by ! ,bureau ( ,l&     
,managem5t or ! ,=e/ ,s]vice2 &  7,c7 a 
p]mit = a project locat$ 9 an area = :i*

 a h>drock m9]al p]mit or lease is      
available4