,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhfj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ah 7legislative day1 ,september #af71 #bjbe ,mr4 ,sheehy 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cotton1 ,mrs4 ,blackburn1 and ,mrs4 ,britt7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to unleash ,united ,states offshore critical minerals and resources1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,revitalizing ,america's ,offshore ,critical ,minerals ,dominance ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states has a core national security and economic interest in maintaining leadership in deep sea science and technology and seabed mineral resources2 7#b7 the ,united ,states faces unprecedented economic and national security challenges in securing reliable supplies of critical minerals independent of foreign adversary control2 7#c7 vast offshore seabed areas hold critical minerals and energy resources2 7#d7 offshore seabed resources are key to strengthening the economy of the ,united ,states1 securing the energy future1 and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical minerals2 7#e7 the ,united ,states controls seabed mineral resources in #a of the largest ocean areas of the world2 7#f7 the ,united ,states can1 through the exercise of existing authorities and by establishing international partnerships1 access potentially vast resources in seabed polymetallic nodules1 other subsea geologic structures1 and coastal deposits containing strategic minerals such as nickel1 cobalt1 copper1 manganese1 titanium1 and rare earth elements1 which are vital to the national security and economic prosperity of the ,united ,states2 7#g7 the ,united ,states must take immediate action to accelerate the responsible development of seabed mineral resources1 quantify the endowment of seabed minerals of the ,united ,states1 reinvigorate ,united ,states leadership in associated extraction and processing technologies1 and ensure secure supply chains for the defense1 infrastructure1 and energy sectors of the ,united ,states2 and 7#h7 it is the policy of the ,united ,states to advance ,united ,states leadership in seabed mineral development by-- 7,a7 rapidly developing domestic capabilities for the exploration1 characterization1 collection1 and processing of seabed mineral resources through streamlined permitting without compromising environmental and transparency standards2 7,b7 supporting investment in deep sea science1 mapping1 and technology2 7,c7 enhancing coordination among executive departments and agencies with respect to seabed mineral development activities described in this ,act2 7,d7 establishing the ,united ,states as a global leader in responsible seabed mineral exploration1 development technologies1 and practices1 and as a partner for countries developing seabed mineral resources in areas within their national jurisdictions1 including their exclusive economic zones2 7,e7 creating a robust domestic supply chain for critical minerals derived from seabed mineral resources to support economic growth1 reindustrialization1 and military preparedness1 including through new processing capabilities2 and 7,f7 strengthening partnerships with allies and industry to counter the growing influence of ,china over seabed mineral resources1 and to ensure that ,united ,states companies are well-positioned to support allies and partners interested in developing seabed minerals responsibly in areas within their national jurisdictions1 including their exclusive economic zones4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,commercial recovery ,the term commercial recovery has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,deep ,seabed ,hard ,mineral ,resources ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #adjc74 7#b7 ,critical mineral ,the term critical mineral has the meaning given the term in section #gjjb7;a7 of the ,energy ,act of #bjbj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #afjf7;a774 7#c7 ,exploration ,the term exploration has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,deep ,seabed ,hard ,mineral ,resources ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #adjc74 7#d7 ,lease ,the term lease has the meaning given the term in section #b of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca74 7#e7 ,mineral ,the term mineral means-- 7,a7 a critical mineral2 7,b7 uranium2 7,c7 copper2 7,d7 potash2 7,e7 gold2 and 7,f7 any other element or compound that the ,chair of the ,national ,energy ,dominance ,council determines appropriate4 7#f7 ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,the term outer ,continental ,shelf has the meaning given the term in section #b of the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca74 7#g7 ,processing ,the term processing includes the concentration1 separation1 refinement1 alloying1 and conversion of minerals into usable forms4 7#h7 ,prospecting ,the term prospecting has the meaning given the term geological and geophysical 7,g,g7 prospecting activities in section #ehj4a of title #cj1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor regulation74 7#i7 ,seabed mineral resource ,the term seabed mineral resource means a mineral-bearing material located in the seabed of the outer ,continental ,shelf1 including-- 7,a7 a polymetallic nodule2 7,b7 a cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust2 7,c7 a polymetallic sulfide2 7,d7 a heavy mineral sand2 and 7,e7 a phosphorite4 7#aj7 ,united ,states company ,the term ,united ,states company has the meaning given the term ,united ,states citizen in section #d of the ,deep ,seabed ,hard ,mineral ,resources ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #adjc74 #d4 ,strategic seabed critical mineral access 7a7 ,expediting issuance of certain authorizations 7#a7 ,deep ,seabed ,hard ,mineral ,resources ,act ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 acting through the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state and ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,bureau of ,ocean ,energy ,management1 shall-- 7,a7 expedite the process for reviewing and issuing licenses for exploration and permits for commercial recovery under the ,deep ,seabed ,hard ,mineral ,resources ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #adja et seq472 and 7,b7 carry out subparagraph 7,a7 in a manner ensuring efficiency1 predictability1 and competitiveness for ,united ,states companies4 7#b7 ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior shall-- 7,a7 establish an expedited process for reviewing and approving permits for prospecting and granting leases under the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca et seq472 and 7,b7 carry out subparagraph 7,a7 in a manner ensuring efficiency1 predictability1 and competitiveness for ,united ,states companies4 7b7 ,seabed mapping plan ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 and the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 and in cooperation with commercial and other nongovernmental organizations1 shall develop a plan to map priority areas of the seabed and outer ,continental ,shelf of the ,united ,states1 to include extended areas of the outer ,continental ,shelf1 such as those with abundant or accessible seabed mineral resources1 to accelerate data collection and characterization4 7c7 ,identification of certain critical minerals ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior shall-- 7#a7 identify critical minerals that may be derived from seabed mineral resources2 and 7#b7 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,defense and ,secretary of ,energy1 determine which critical minerals derived from seabed mineral resources are essential for applications such as defense infrastructure1 manufacturing1 and energy4 7d7 ,engagement with key partners and allies 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,state1 ,secretary of the ,interior1 and ,secretary of ,energy1 shall engage with key partners and allies to offer support for seabed mineral resource exploration1 extraction1 processing1 and environmental monitoring in areas within the jurisdictions of such key partners and allies1 including by-- 7,a7 seeking scientific collaboration and commercial development opportunities for ,united ,states companies2 and 7,b7 developing a prioritized list of foreign countries for engagement4 7#b7 ,key partner or ally determination 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state shall determine whether an entity is a key partner or ally for the purposes of paragraph 7#a7 based on several factors1 including-- 7i7 existing agreements with the ,united ,states2 7ii7 alignment with strategic interests of the ,united ,states2 and 7iii7 participation in joint initiatives4 7,b7 ,notification ,the ,secretary of ,state shall notify the ,secretary of ,commerce1 ,secretary of the ,interior1 and ,secretary of ,energy of any determination made under subparagraph 7,a74 7e7 ,reports ,not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,commerce and ,secretary of ,energy1 and in consultation with the heads of other relevant ,federal departments and agencies1 shall submit to the ,committees on ,energy and ,natural ,resources and ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives a report that identifies private sector interest in and opportunities for seabed mineral resource exploration and mining on the outer ,continental ,shelf1 in areas beyond national jurisdiction1 and in areas within the jurisdiction of a foreign country that expresses interest in partnering with ,united ,states companies with respect to seabed mineral resource development2 and 7#b7 the ,secretary of the ,interior1 jointly with the ,secretary of ,state1 ,secretary of ,commerce1 and ,secretary of ,energy1 shall submit to the ,committees on ,energy and ,natural ,resources and ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives a report regarding the feasibility of an international benefit-sharing mechanism for seabed mineral resource extraction and development that occurs in an area beyond the jurisdiction of any country4 7f7 ,rules of construction ,nothing in this ,act-- 7#a7 impairs or otherwise affects the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency2 or 7#b7 creates any right or benefit1 substantive or procedural1 enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the ,united ,states1 any department1 agency1 or entity of the ,united ,states1 any officer1 employee1 or agent of the ,united ,states1 or any other person4