,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ciae ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #bd1 #bjbb ,mr4 ,barrasso 7for himself and ,mr4 ,manchin7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,energy to provide technology grants to strengthen domestic mining education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,technology ,grants to ,strengthen ,domestic ,mining ,education ,act of #bjbb or the ,mining ,schools ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,technology grants to strengthen domestic mining education 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,board ,the term ,board means the ,mining ,professional ,development ,advisory ,board established by subsection 7d77#a74 7#b7 ,mining industry ,the term mining industry means the mining industry of the ,united ,states1 consisting of the search for1 and extraction1 beneficiation1 refining1 smelting1 and processing of1 naturally occurring metal and nonmetal minerals from the earth4 7#c7 ,mining profession ,the term mining profession means the body of jobs directly relevant to-- 7,a7 the exploration1 planning1 execution1 and remediation of metal and nonmetal mining sites2 and 7,b7 the extraction1 including the separation1 refining1 alloying1 smelting1 concentration1 and processing1 of mineral ores4 7#d7 ,mining school ,the term mining school means-- 7,a7 a mining1 metallurgical1 geological1 or mineral engineering program accredited by the ,accreditation ,board for ,engineering and ,technology1 ,inc41 that is located at an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja772 and 7,b7 a geology or engineering program or department that is located at a #d-year public institution of higher education 7as so defined7 located in a ,state the gross domestic product of which in #bjbj was not less than #b1jjj1jjj1jjj in the combined categories of 8,mining 7except oil and gas70 and 8,support activities for mining01 according to the ,bureau of ,economic ,analysis4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy4 7b7 ,domestic mining education strengthening program ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to strengthen domestic mining education under which the ,secretary shall award competitive grants to mining schools for the purpose of recruiting and educating the next generation of mining engineers and other qualified professionals to meet the future energy and mineral needs of the ,united ,states4 7c7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the grant program established under subsection 7b71 the ,secretary shall award not more than #aj grants each year to mining schools4 7#b7 ,selection requirements 7,a7 ,in general ,to the maximum extent practicable1 the ,secretary shall select recipients for grants under paragraph 7#a7 to ensure geographic diversity among grant recipients to ensure that region-specific specialties are developed for region-specific geology4 7,b7 ,timeline 7i7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall award the first grants under paragraph 7#a7 by not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7ii7 ,subsequent grants ,each year following the first year in which grants are awarded pursuant to clause 7i71 the ,secretary shall award subsequent grants by not later than #a year after the date on which the grants were awarded the previous year4 7#c7 ,recommendations of the ,board ,in selecting recipients for grants under paragraph 7#a7 and determining the amount of each grant1 the ,secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the ,board under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of subsection 7d77#c74 7#d7 ,use of funds ,a mining school receiving a grant under paragraph 7#a7 shall use the grant funds-- 7,a7 to recruit students to the mining school2 and 7,b7 to enhance and support programs related to1 as applicable-- 7i7 mining1 mineral extraction efficiency1 and related processing technology2 7ii7 emphasizing critical mineral and rare earth element exploration1 extraction1 and refining2 7iii7 reclamation technology and practices for active mining operations2 7iv7 the development of reprocessing systems and technologies that facilitate reclamation that fosters the recovery of resources at abandoned mine sites2 7v7 mineral extraction methods that reduce environmental and human impacts2 7vi7 technologies to extract1 refine1 separate1 melt1 or produce minerals1 including rare earth elements2 7vii7 reducing dependence on foreign energy and mineral supplies through increased domestic critical mineral production2 7viii7 enhancing the competitiveness of ,united ,states energy and mineral technology exports2 7ix7 the extraction or processing of coinciding mineralization1 including rare earth elements1 within coal1 coal processing byproduct1 overburden1 or coal residue2 7x7 enhancing technologies and practices relating to mitigation of acid mine drainage1 reforestation1 and revegetation in the reclamation of land and water resources adversely affected by mining2 7xi7 enhancing exploration and characterization of new or novel deposits1 including rare earth elements and critical minerals within phosphate rocks1 uranium-bearing deposits1 and other nontraditional sources2 7xii7 meeting challenges of extreme mining conditions1 such as deeper deposits or offshore or cold region mining2 and 7xiii7 mineral economics1 including analysis of supply chains1 future mineral needs1 and unconventional mining resources4 7d7 ,mining ,professional ,development ,advisory ,board 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established an advisory board1 to be known as the ,mining ,professional ,development ,advisory ,board4 7#b7 ,composition ,the ,board shall be composed of #f members1 to be appointed by the ,secretary not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 of whom-- 7,a7 #c shall be individuals who are actively working in the mining profession and for the mining industry2 and 7,b7 #c shall have experience in academia implementing and operating professional skills training and education programs in the mining sector4 7#c7 ,duties ,the ,board shall-- 7,a7 evaluate grant applications received under subsection 7c7 and make recommendations to the ,secretary for selection of grant recipients under that subsection2 7,b7 propose the amount of the grant for each applicant recommended to be selected under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,c7 perform oversight to ensure that grant funds awarded under subsection 7c7 are used for the purposes described in paragraph 7#d7 of that subsection4 7#d7 ,term ,a member of the ,board shall serve for a term of #d years4 7#e7 ,vacancies ,a vacancy on the ,board-- 7,a7 shall not affect the powers of the ,board2 and 7,b7 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than #ahj days after the date on which the vacancy occurs4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjcj4 7#b7 ,requirement ,at the end of each fiscal year1 any amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 for that fiscal year that are not awarded as grants under subsection 7c7 shall be returned to the ,treasury4