,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hbc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #c1 #bjbe ,mr4 ,peters 7for himself and ,mr4 ,lankford7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to create intergovernmental coordination between ,state1 local1 ,tribal1 and territorial jurisdictions1 and the ,federal ,government to combat ,united ,states reliance on the ,people's ,republic of ,china and other covered countries for critical minerals and rare earth metals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,intergovernmental ,critical ,minerals ,task ,force ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 current supply chains of critical minerals pose a great risk to the national security of the ,united ,states2 7#b7 critical minerals are necessary for transportation1 technology1 renewable energy1 military equipment and machinery1 and other relevant sectors crucial for the homeland and national security of the ,united ,states2 7#c7 in #bjbb1 the ,united ,states was #ajj percent import reliant for #ab out of #ej critical minerals and more than #ej percent import reliant for an additional #ca critical mineral commodities classified as critical by the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey1 and the ,people's ,republic of ,china was the top producing nation for #cj of those #ej critical minerals2 7#d7 as of ,july #bjbc1 companies based in the ,people's ,republic of ,china that extract critical minerals around the world have received hundreds of charges of human rights violations2 and 7#e7 on ,august #bi1 #bjad1 the ,world ,trade ,organization ,dispute ,settlement ,body adopted findings that the export restraints by the ,people's ,republic of ,china on rare earth metals1 which harmed manufacturers and workers in the ,united ,states1 violated obligations under the ,general ,agreement on ,tariffs and ,trade #aiid and ,china's ,protocol of ,accession to the ,world ,trade ,organization4 #c4 ,intergovernmental critical minerals task force 7a7 ,in general ,section #e of the ,national ,materials and ,minerals ,policy1 ,research and ,development ,act of #aihj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #afjd7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7g7 ,intergovernmental critical minerals task force 7#a7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the task force established under paragraph 7#c77;,b7 are-- 7,a7 to assess the reliance of the ,united ,states on the ,people's ,republic of ,china1 and other covered countries1 for critical minerals1 and the resulting national security risks associated with that reliance2 7,b7 to make recommendations to the ,president for the implementation of this ,act with regard to critical minerals1 including-- 7i7 the congressional declarations of policies in section #c2 and 7ii7 revisions to the program plan of the ,president and the initiatives required under this section2 7,c7 to make recommendations to secure ,united ,states supply chains for critical minerals2 7,d7 to make recommendations to reduce the reliance of the ,united ,states1 and partners and allies of the ,united ,states1 on critical mineral supply chains involving covered countries2 and 7,e7 consistent with ongoing efforts of other ,federal departments1 agencies1 and other entities1 to facilitate co-operation1 coordination1 and mutual accountability among each level of the ,federal ,government1 ,indian ,tribes1 and ,state1 local1 and territorial governments1 on a holistic response to the dependence on covered countries for critical minerals across the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7i7 the ,committees on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs1 ,energy and ,natural ,resources1 ,armed ,services1 ,environment and ,public ,works1 ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation1 ,finance1 and ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7ii7 the ,committees on ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 ,natural ,resources1 ,armed ,services1 ,ways and ,means1 ,foreign ,affairs1 and ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,b7 ,chairperson2 ,co-,chairperson ,the terms ,chairperson and ,co-,chairperson1 respectively1 mean the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairperson of the task force designated by the ,president pursuant to paragraph 7#c77;,a74 7,c7 ,covered country ,the term covered country means-- 7i7 a covered nation 7as defined in section #dhgb7;d7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code72 and 7ii7 any other country determined by the task force to be a geostrategic competitor or adversary of the ,united ,states with respect to critical minerals4 7,d7 ,critical mineral ,the term critical mineral has the meaning given the term critical material in section #gjjb7;a7 of the ,energy ,act of #bjbj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #afjf7;a774 7,e7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe has the meaning given the term in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7,f7 ,task force ,the term task force means the task force established under paragraph 7#c77;,b74 7#c7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 the ,president shall-- 7,a7 designate a ,chairperson1 or #b individuals as ,co-,chairpersons1 for the task force1 who shall be-- 7i7 the ,assistant to the ,president for ,national ,security ,affairs2 7ii7 the ,assistant to the ,president for ,economic ,policy2 or 7iii7 another relevant member of the ,executive ,office of the ,president2 and 7,b7 acting through the ,executive ,office of the ,president1 establish a task force4 7#d7 ,composition2 meetings 7,a7 ,appointment ,the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons1 in consultation with key intergovernmental1 private1 and public sector stakeholders1 shall appoint to the task force representatives with expertise in critical mineral supply chains from ,federal agencies1 including not less than #a representative from each of-- 7i7 the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs2 7ii7 the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 7iii7 the ,critical ,minerals ,subcommittee of the ,national ,science and ,technology ,council2 7iv7 the ,department of ,agriculture2 7v7 the ,department of ,commerce2 7vi7 the ,department of ,defense2 7vii7 the ,department of ,energy2 7viii7 the ,department of ,homeland ,security2 7ix7 the ,department of the ,interior2 7x7 the ,department of ,labor2 7xi7 the ,department of ,state2 7xii7 the ,department of ,transportation2 7xiii7 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7xiv7 the ,export-,import ,bank of the ,united ,states2 7xv7 the ,forest ,service2 7xvi7 the ,general ,services ,administration2 7xvii7 the ,national ,economic ,council2 7xviii7 the ,national ,science ,foundation2 7xix7 the ,national ,security ,council2 7xx7 the ,office of ,management and ,budget2 7xxi7 the ,office of the ,united ,states ,trade ,representative2 7xxii7 the ,united ,states ,international ,development ,finance ,corporation2 7xxiii7 the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey2 and 7xxiv7 any other relevant ,federal entity1 as determined by the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons4 7,b7 ,consultation ,the task force shall consult individuals with expertise in critical mineral supply chains1 individuals from ,states whose communities1 businesses1 and industries are involved in aspects of critical mineral supply chains1 including mining and processing operations1 and individuals from a diverse and balanced cross-section of-- 7i7 intergovernmental consultees1 including-- 7,i7 ,state governments2 7,,ii7 local governments2 7,,iii7 territorial governments2 and 7,,iv7 ,indian ,tribes2 and 7ii7 other stakeholders1 including-- 7,i7 academic research institutions2 7,,ii7 corporations2 7,,iii7 nonprofit organizations2 7,,iv7 private sector stakeholders2 7,v7 trade associations2 7,,vi7 mining industry stakeholders2 and 7,,vii7 labor representatives4 7,c7 ,meetings 7i7 ,initial meeting ,not later than #ij days after the date on which all representatives of the task force have been appointed1 the task force shall hold the first meeting of the task force4 7ii7 ,frequency ,the task force shall meet not less than once every #ij days4 7#e7 ,duties 7,a7 ,in general ,the duties of the task force shall include-- 7i7 facilitating co-operation1 coordination1 and mutual accountability for the ,federal ,government1 ,indian ,tribes1 and ,state1 local1 and territorial governments to enhance data sharing and transparency to build more robust and secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals in support of the purposes described in paragraph 7#a72 7ii7 providing recommendations with respect to-- 7,i7 increasing capacities for mining1 exploration1 beneficiation1 processing1 refinement1 reuse1 and recycling of critical minerals in the ,united ,states to facilitate the environmentally responsible production of domestic resources to meet national critical mineral needs1 in consultation with ,tribal and local communities2 7,,ii7 identifying how statutes1 regulations1 and policies related to the critical mineral supply chain1 such as stockpiling and development finance1 could be modified to accelerate environmentally responsible domestic and international production of critical minerals1 in consultation with ,indian ,tribes and local communities2 7,,iii7 strengthening the domestic workforce to support growing critical mineral supply chains with good-paying1 safe jobs in the ,united ,states2 7,,iv7 identifying alternative domestic sources to critical minerals that the ,united ,states currently relies on the ,people's ,republic of ,china or other covered countries for mining1 processing1 refining1 and recycling1 including the availability1 capacity1 cost1 and quality of those domestic alternatives2 7,v7 identifying critical minerals and critical mineral supply chains that the ,united ,states can onshore1 in whole or in part1 at a competitive value and quality1 for those minerals and supply chains that the ,united ,states relies on the ,people's ,republic of ,china or other covered countries to provide2 7,,vi7 opportunities for the ,federal ,government1 ,indian ,tribes1 and ,state1 local1 and territorial governments to mitigate risks to the national security of the ,united ,states with respect to supply chains for critical minerals that the ,united ,states currently relies on the ,people's ,republic of ,china or other covered countries for mining1 processing1 refining1 and recycling2 and 7,,vii7 evaluating and integrating the recommendations of the ,critical ,minerals ,subcommittee of the ,national ,science and ,technology ,council into the recommendations of the task force2 7iii7 prioritizing the recommendations in clause 7ii71 taking into consideration economic costs and focusing on the critical mineral supply chains with vulnerabilities posing the most significant risks to the national security of the ,united ,states2 7iv7 recommending specific strategies1 to be carried out in coordination with the ,secretary of ,state and the ,secretary of ,commerce1 to strengthen international partnerships in furtherance of critical minerals supply chain security with international allies and partners1 including a strategy to collaborate with governments of the allies and partners described in subparagraph 7,b7 to develop advanced mining1 refining1 separation and processing technologies2 and 7v7 other duties1 as determined by the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons4 7,b7 ,allies and partners ,the allies and partners referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 include-- 7i7 countries participating in the ,quadrilateral ,security ,dialogue2 7ii7 countries that are signatories to the ,abraham ,accords2 and 7iii7 countries that are members of the ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization4 7,c7 ,report ,the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons shall-- 7i7 not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this subsection1 and every #fj days thereafter until the requirements under subsection 7a7 are satisfied1 brief the appropriate committees of ,congress on the status of the compliance of the ,president with completing the requirements under that subsection2 7ii7 not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this subsection1 submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report1 which shall be submitted in unclassified form1 but may include a classified annex1 that describes any findings1 guidelines1 and recommendations created in performing the duties under subparagraph 7,a72 7iii7 not later than #abj days after the date on which the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons submits the report under clause 7ii71 publish that report in the ,federal ,register1 except that the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons shall redact information from the report that the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons determines could pose a risk to the national security of the ,united ,states by being publicly available2 and 7iv7 brief the appropriate committees of ,congress twice per year4 7#f7 ,duplication of effort ,the ,chairperson or ,co-,chairpersons1 to the maximum extent practicable1 shall carry out the task force in a manner that does not duplicate the efforts of other ,federal departments1 agencies1 or other entities4 7#g7 ,sunset ,the task force shall terminate on the date that is #ij days after the date on which the task force completes the requirements under paragraph 7#e77;,c74 7#h7 ,no additional funds ,no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out this subsection4 4 7b7 ,,gao study 7#a7 ,study required ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study examining the ,federal and ,state regulatory landscape related to improving domestic supply chains for critical minerals in the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,appropriate committees of ,congress ,the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7i7 the ,committees on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs1 ,energy and ,natural ,resources1 ,armed ,services1 ,environment and ,public ,works1 ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation1 ,finance1 and ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7ii7 the ,committees on ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 ,natural ,resources1 ,armed ,services1 ,ways and ,means1 ,foreign ,affairs1 and ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,b7 ,critical mineral ,the term critical mineral has the meaning given the term critical material in section #gjjb7;a7 of the ,energy ,act of #bjbj 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #afjf7;a774