[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9858 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9858
To establish the Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2026
Mrs. Kim (for herself, Mr. Bera, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Harrigan, Mrs.
Bice, Ms. Salazar, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Zinke, Mr.
Kean, and Mr. Mackenzie) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Strategic
Technology and Resilient Alliances Act of 2026'' or the ``STRATA Act of
2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Sense of congress.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--CRITICAL MINERALS INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Sec. 101. Establishment.
Sec. 102. Eligibility.
Sec. 103. Notification and briefing.
Sec. 104. Elements.
Sec. 105. Responsibilities of Director.
Sec. 106. Staff.
TITLE II--RELATED MATTERS
Sec. 201. International Centers of Excellence for Innovative Critical
Minerals Supply Chain Technologies.
Sec. 202. Digital platform.
Sec. 203. Sense of Congress provisions.
Sec. 204. Assistance for science and technology cooperation;
limitations.
TITLE III--SUNSET
Sec. 301. Termination of authority.
Sec. 302. Continuation of existing agreements.
Sec. 303. Use of funds after termination.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) critical minerals are essential inputs for a wide range
of advanced and emerging technologies, including energy
systems, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and defense
applications, and continued innovation in their use and
production is vital to United States technological leadership;
(2) innovation in critical minerals extraction, separation,
processing, refining, recycling, and substitution technologies
remains insufficient to meet projected United States demand and
requires accelerated research, development, and
commercialization efforts;
(3) cooperation with United States partner countries
possessing complementary scientific, technological, and
industrial capabilities enhances the ability of the United
States to advance innovation across the critical minerals value
chain;
(4) joint research and development initiatives with partner
countries can accelerate breakthroughs in cost-effective,
sustainable, and scalable approaches to critical minerals
production and use;
(5) allied collaboration in materials science, mineral
production and extraction technologies, mineral processing
technologies, and advanced manufacturing can reduce dependence
on legacy methods and enable the development of next-generation
technologies;
(6) innovation in recycling, recovery, and reuse approaches
for critical minerals presents a significant opportunity to
expand supply while reducing environmental impact and resource
constraints;
(7) the development of substitute materials and alternative
technologies can mitigate reliance on scarce or supply-
constrained critical minerals and enhance long-term
technological resilience;
(8) shared research infrastructure, data, and scientific
expertise among partner countries can improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of innovation efforts related to critical
minerals;
(9) public-private partnerships involving governments,
research institutions, and industry are essential to advancing
innovation and scaling new technologies in order to bridge the
``valley of death'' in the critical minerals sector;
(10) strengthening collaboration among universities,
national laboratories, and private-sector entities across
partner countries enhances talent development and supports a
robust, market-responsive innovation ecosystem;
(11) establishing formal bilateral and multilateral
mechanisms for cooperation in critical minerals innovation
enables sustained, long-term collaboration and more rapid
response to emerging technological challenges;
(12) dedicated funding and streamlined authorities for
joint innovation initiatives reduce barriers to collaboration
and enable more agile development and deployment of critical
minerals technologies so as to accelerate the transition of
technologies in research and development phases to operational
deployment, government integration, and commercial application;
(13) advancing innovation in critical minerals technologies
is essential to maintaining United States leadership in
critical and emerging technologies and supporting long-term
economic and national security; and
(14) activities under this Act should be aligned with
existing critical mineral and energy security initiatives.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate;
(2) the term ``country of concern'' means--
(A) the Russian Federation;
(B) the Republic of Cuba;
(C) Burma;
(D) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
(E) the Islamic Republic of Iran; and
(F) the People's Republic of China;
(3) the term ``country of concern entity'' means--
(A) a foreign entity subject to the jurisdiction
of, or organized under the laws of, a country of
concern;
(B) a foreign entity that is more than 25 percent
owned, directed, controlled, financed, or influenced
directly or indirectly by the Government of the
People's Republic of China, the Chinese Communist
Party, or the Chinese military, including any entity
for which the Government of the People's Republic of
China, the Chinese Communist Party, or the Chinese
military has the ability, through ownership of a
majority or a dominant minority of the total
outstanding voting interest in the entity, board
representation, proxy voting, a special share,
contractual arrangements, formal or informal
arrangements to act in concert, or other means, to
determine, direct, or decide for the entity in an
important manner; or
(C) a foreign entity owned, directed, or controlled
by a foreign entity described in subparagraph (A) or
(B);
(4) the term ``critical mineral''--
(A) means any mineral on the list of critical
minerals required by section 7002(c)(3) of the Energy
Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(c)(3)) on or after January
1, 2026; and
(B) includes--
(i) Helium-3; and
(ii) Helium-4;
(5) the term ``Director'' means the head of the program
appointed under section 101(b);
(6) the term ``program'' means the Critical Minerals
Innovation Partnership Program established under section
101(a); and
(7) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State.
TITLE I--CRITICAL MINERALS INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) In General.--There is established in the Department of State a
program, to be known as the ``Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership
Program'', to support the development and adoption of critical minerals
innovative technologies with countries and entities, through the
establishment of partnerships with such countries and entities, in
order to enhance the national security, support the economic
competitiveness, and diversify the critical supply chains of the United
States.
(b) Director.--The Secretary--
(1) shall appoint an individual to be the Director of the
program, who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary of
Economic Affairs for--
(A) matters pertaining to the administration and
implementation of the program, including coordinating
with the Federal agencies listed in section 105(a)(3);
and
(B) such other related duties as the Secretary may
from time to time designate; and
(2) if the Secretary determines that it is appropriate, may
appoint the Director from among officers and employees of the
Department of State.
SEC. 102. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Countries.--The Secretary may take into account any
considerations in the Secretary's discretion when considering whether a
country is eligible to participate in the program, which may include--
(1) the country is an allied or partner country as
described in section 2350a(a)(2) of title 10, United States
Code;
(2) the Secretary determines that the country is
strategically or commercially important to the United States;
and
(3) the Secretary determines that the country has the
capacity and commitment to participate in the program.
(b) Entities.--The Secretary may take into account any
considerations in the Secretary's discretion when considering whether
an entity is eligible to participate in the program if the entity--
(1) is--
(A) an institution of higher education (as such
term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)));
(B) a nonprofit institution;
(C) a federally funded research and development
center;
(D) a private sector entity; or
(E) a consortia of entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D); and
(2) is not a foreign entity of concern (as such term is
defined in section 10612(a)(2) of the CHIPS Act of 2022 42
U.S.C. 19221(a)(2)).
(c) Country Preference.--In selecting countries under subsection
(a) to participate in the program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum
extent practicable, give preference to countries that--
(1) are a party to a trade or economic cooperation
agreement with the United States; or
(2) participate in other bilateral or multilateral
initiatives, frameworks, or agreements that are identified by
the President as promoting United States foreign policy,
economic security, or national security objectives, including
normalization agreements, regional integration efforts, or
strategic economic partnerships.
(d) Countries of Concern and Entities.--The Secretary may not
establish partnerships with any country of concern or country of
concern entity.
SEC. 103. NOTIFICATION AND BRIEFING.
Not later than 30 days before entering into a partnership with a
country or entity under the program, the Director shall--
(1) notify the appropriate congressional committees
regarding the proposed partnership;
(2) transmit to the appropriate congressional committees
the text of the partnership; and
(3) provide to the appropriate congressional committees an
in-person briefing regarding the partnership.
SEC. 104. ELEMENTS.
Each partnership with a country or entity participating in the
program shall include the following elements:
(1) Specific objectives that the country or entity and the
United States expect to achieve.
(2) The responsibilities of the country or entity and the
United States in the achievement of such objectives.
(3) Regular, quantitative benchmarks to measure, where
appropriate progress towards achieving such objectives.
(4) A multiyear plan that--
(A) estimates the amount of contributions,
commitments, and other participation to be provided by
the United States and the country or entity;
(B) identifies proposed mechanisms to implement the
plan and provide oversight; and
(C) describes how the such objectives will be met,
including the role of the private sector or third
countries in the achievement of the objectives.
(5) As appropriate, a description of the current and
potential participation of other donor countries or entities in
the achievement of such objectives.
(6) A preferred method of dispute resolution, unless
already covered under a related Science and Technology
Agreement, with the country or entity.
(7) A preferred method of intellectual property allocation,
unless already covered under a related Science and Technology
Agreement, with the country or entity.
(8) General terms governing notification of the discovery
of potentially classifiable or otherwise controlled
information, unless already covered under a related Science and
Technology Agreement, country or entity.
(9) As appropriate, a process or processes for
considering--
(A) solicited proposals; and
(B) unsolicited proposals by national, regional,
and local government and private corporations,
including, where applicable, the use of the digital
platform established under section 202 to facilitate
submission, review, and coordination of such proposals.
SEC. 105. RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTOR.
(a) In General.--The Director shall be responsible for--
(1) establishing dialogue with the representatives of
countries and entities participating in the program to--
(A) evaluate proposals submitted through national
coordinators; and
(B) recommend joint funding, coordinated
procurement, or other joint efforts, as appropriate;
(2) developing and maintaining multinational strategy and
roadmaps identifying vulnerabilities, capacity gaps, and
priority investment areas across emerging technology for
critical mineral supply chains;
(3) directing the program, which may include the Centers of
Excellence established under title II, in consultation with
such Federal departments and agencies as the Secretary
determines relevant, to issue joint or coordinated
solicitations, including calls for proposals, grant challenge
programs, and co-funded initiatives, to address cross-cutting
challenges, which may include--
(A) identifying high-impact priorities, providing
technical assistance, and identifying priority
innovation, research, and development needs, and in
carrying out such activities the Director shall consult
with, as appropriate--
(i) the White House Office of Science and
Technology policy; and
(ii) the Department of Energy with respect
to the development of National Laboratory
partnerships and identification of priority
critical minerals innovation activities;
(B) aligning with the capabilities, constraints,
and priorities of United States financing agencies, and
in carrying out such activities the Director shall
consult with, as appropriate--
(i) the United States International
Development Finance Corporation with respect to
development finance support including
feasibility funding, technical assistance,
debt, equity, and political risk assurance for
eligible projects;
(ii) the Export-Import Bank of the United
States with respect to export credit and
related financing for resulting United States
export opportunities; and
(iii) the United States Trade and
Development Agency with respect to project
preparation, feasibility studies, pilot
projects and technical assistance; and
(C) consulting with any other Federal agency that
the Secretary determines is appropriate, including--
(i) the National Science Foundation;
(ii) the Department of Defense;
(iii) the Department of Commerce;
(iv) the Department of Transportation;
(v) the National Security Council;
(vi) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; and
(vii) the Department of the Treasury;
(4) convening and coordinating governments of such
countries, international institutions, development agencies,
and trusted industry partners to align technical standards to
enable interoperable technology ecosystems consistent with
shared security and economic interests;
(5) establishing mechanisms to aggregate and coordinate
demand for critical minerals and associated technologies among
domestic agencies, allied governments, and private sector
entities to enhance market certainty, enable long-term offtake
arrangements, and support investment in diversified and secure
supply chains;
(6) articulating and recommending priority project areas
for execution by other relevant Federal departments and
agencies;
(7) serving as the recipient for unsolicited proposals for
projects to be considered for inclusion in any partnership, by
national, regional, and local governments and private
companies;
(8) coordinating safeguards and trust mechanisms,
including--
(A) eligibility criteria for such countries and
entities;
(B) establish data governance and security
protocols;
(C) supply chain transparency requirements;
(D) protections for sensitive technologies; and
(E) create monitoring, reporting and verification
approaches; and
(9) monitoring outcomes and reporting on progress,
including metrics related to--
(A) supply chain resilience; and
(B) deployment timelines.
(b) Contracts, Grants, and Cooperative Agreements.--The Director
may--
(1) enter into contracts for required technical support
related to partnerships with countries and entities
participating in the program; and
(2) make grants and enter into cooperative agreements with
such countries and entities that are designated by the
Secretary as eligible to receive assistance under this
paragraph to increase the administrative and technical capacity
of such countries and entities to facilitate the development
and implementation of the partnerships.
(c) Country Teams.--The Director is authorized to establish at
United States overseas posts ``Country Teams'' with a designated lead
to implement the partnerships with countries and entities participating
in the program.
SEC. 106. STAFF.
(a) Appointments.--The Director may make appointments, without
regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5,
United States Code, of candidates directly to positions in the
competitive service, as defined in section 2102 of that title,
including experts and highly qualified personnel to support deployment,
integration, and commercialization of technology activities, to carry
out the program.
(b) Detailees.--The Director may--
(1) request from heads of relevant Federal departments and
agencies, on a reimbursable basis, the detail of personnel to
the program, who--
(A) shall have relevant sectoral, financial,
technical, or regional expertise; and
(B) shall remain, for the purpose of preserving
such employee's allowances, privileges, rights,
seniority, and other benefits, an employee of the
agency from which the employee is detailed; and
(2) further detail personnel of the program to relevant
Federal departments and agencies that are assisting in carrying
out the program.
TITLE II--RELATED MATTERS
SEC. 201. INTERNATIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR INNOVATIVE CRITICAL
MINERALS SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGIES.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall seek to establish centers,
to be known as ``International Centers of Excellence for Innovative
Critical Minerals Supply Chain Technologies'', in entities
participating in the program.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Centers shall be to--
(1) advance the development, demonstration, and deployment
of innovative, responsible, and resource-efficient critical
minerals extraction, processing, and recycling technologies;
(2) strengthen technical, regulatory, and institutional
capacity in such countries and entities;
(3) promote transparency, traceability, and adherence to
internationally recognized environmental, labor, and human
rights standards; and
(4) support secure, diversified, and resilient critical
minerals supply chains aligned with United States national and
economic security interests.
(c) Activities.--The Centers may provide support for--
(1) applied research, pilot projects, and demonstration
activities for innovative extraction and processing
technologies, including low-impact and non-traditional methods;
(2) technical assistance and training to government
entities, academic institutions, and private sector partners;
(3) cooperation among United States entities and country
institutions, including universities, national laboratories,
and industry;
(4) the development and implementation of regulatory
frameworks that protect public health and safety, prevent
significant environmental harm, prevent the use of forced or
child labor, and improve mine site remediation and closure
practices; and
(5) data-driven tools and digital systems to enhance
monitoring and reporting, including with respect to--
(A) supply chain traceability;
(B) operational resource and energy usage
efficiency metrics and lifecycle emissions accounting;
(C) measurements relating to air quality, water
quality, land use, and site remediation;
(D) identification and mitigation risks related to
labor or practices, community impact, or ecological
stewardship; and
(E) promoting beneficiation, value addition, and
the recycling and reuse of critical minerals.
(d) Administration.--The Centers shall be administered by the
Director of the Critical Minerals Innovation Partnership Program in
coordination with relevant partner nations and the Federal agencies
listed in section 105(a)(3).
SEC. 202. DIGITAL PLATFORM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish and maintain a
publicly accessible digital platform to facilitate participation by
United States entities in activities carried out under the program.
(b) Purpose.--The platform shall--
(1) serve as a centralized clearinghouse of opportunities
for participation in the program, including solicitations,
funding opportunities, pilot projects, and collaborative
research initiatives;
(2) provide a list of priority capability gaps, technical
challenges, and needs identified under paragraph (1);
(3) enable United States entities, including early-stage
companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, venture-backed
firms, research institutions, and consortia, to identify, apply
for, and propose participation in such opportunities for
participation; and
(4) support the submission of both solicited and
unsolicited project proposals on a rolling basis.
(c) Startup and Emerging Technology Engagement.--In carrying out
this section, the Secretary should--
(1) ensure that early-stage and venture-backed companies
are actively considered for participation in partnerships and
funding opportunities;
(2) develop mechanisms, as appropriate, to facilitate
matchmaking between United States entities and partner country
stakeholders, including industry, research institutions, and
government entities;
(3) coordinate, as appropriate, with private sector
investors, accelerators, and innovation hubs to increase
awareness of opportunities under the program; and
(4) as appropriate, consult with--
(A) the Foreign and Commercial Service;
(B) the United States Trade and Development Agency;
and
(C) the Deal Team Initiative.
SEC. 203. SENSE OF CONGRESS PROVISIONS.
(a) Regarding the National Science and Technology Council.--It is
the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Director should serve as a liaison to the National
Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on International
Science and Technology Coordination for the purpose of--
(A) determining primary areas of cooperation that
are mutually beneficial to both the United States and
countries and entities participating in the program;
and
(B) when appropriate, creating an action plan to
carry out the implementation of the program; and
(2) in carrying out paragraph (1), the Director and the
National Science and Technology Council are encouraged to
consult, as appropriate, with the National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and other relevant
scientific and technical organizations to inform the
identification and selection of priority areas of cooperation.
(b) Regarding Coordination With National Defense Technology and
Industrial Base Council.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Department of State, in coordination with the
countries and entities participating in the program, should
submit technologies supported under the program for
consideration to the National Defense Technology and Industrial
Base Council to accelerate the transition of commercial
technologies developed under the program from research and
development to operational deployment, government integration,
and commercial application; and
(2) technologies should be considered by the Council if
they have been--
(A) created through the program and approved for
council submission by the United States and countries
and entities participating in the program; or
(B) determined to be eligible and submitted for
consideration by an allied country (as such term is
defined in section 2350a(a)(2) of title 10, United
States Code).
SEC. 204. ASSISTANCE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION;
LIMITATIONS.
(a) Assistance for Science and Technology Cooperation.--Chapter 4
of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 536. ASSISTANCE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION.
``(a) In General.--The President may furnish assistance under this
part to countries and organizations, including national and regional
institutions, to advance innovation, science, and technologies which
advance scientific knowledge, enhance national security, support the
commercial competitiveness of the United States.
``(b) Scope.--Assistance under this section may include financing
for projects that demonstrate, deploy, and scale science and technology
projects related to critical minerals and energy that result from
cooperation, including--
``(1) advanced extraction technologies;
``(2) processing and refining technologies;
``(3) energy technologies;
``(4) materials science and mineral substitution;
``(5) recycling and recovery technologies;
``(6) advanced manufacturing integration;
``(7) data, mapping, and geological intelligence;
``(8) environmental and resource management technologies;
``(9) biotechnologies;
``(10) pilot and demonstration projects;
``(11) the development, construction, or operation of
shared pilot or demonstration facilities in coordination with
allied and partner countries;
``(12) activities that support the scale-up and
commercialization of technologies, including engineering,
testing, and integration into existing industrial systems;
``(13) partnerships with private sector entities to
accelerate the transition from pilot and demonstration phases
to full commercial deployment; and
``(14) other critical and emerging technologies, or
industry enabling science and technology which pertain to
critical mineral supply chains and that are central to the
economic prosperity, national security, and global leadership
of the United States.
``(c) Administration.--The President shall delegate responsibility
for the implementation and management of assistance under this section
to the Secretary of State.
``(d) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 15 days before
the date on which funds are obligated for assistance under this
section, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives a notification that includes the amount
and nature of the proposed assistance in accordance with the annual
report pursuant to section 634A.''.
(b) Authorization of Transfers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to make
available, from amounts authorized to be appropriated under the
heading ``National Security Investment Programs'' in Acts
making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign
operations, and related programs or Acts making appropriations
for National Security, Department of State, and Related
Programs (including amounts authorized to be appropriated to
the Economic Resilience Initiative), amounts for the purpose of
establishing partnerships under the program with allied and
partner countries to promote allied research, innovation, and
rapid deployment of critical and emerging technologies in
support of United States and allied economic and national
security.
(2) Consultation and notification.--The transfer authority
provided by this subsection is in addition to any other
transfer authority provided by law, and is subject to the
notification procedures under section 634A of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961.
(3) Limitations.--
(A) Limitation relating to countries of concern.--
The Secretary of State may not make transactions with
countries of concern under this subsection.
(B) Limitation relating to a country of concern
entities.--The Secretary of State may not make
transactions with or acquisitions of countries of
concern entities under this subsection.
(C) Limitation relating to the president and vice
president.--None of the funds authorized to be
appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act to
carry out this subsection may be obligated or expended
to provide any grant, contract, loan, other financial
assistance, or acquisition to an entity in which the
President, or an immediate family member (as such term
is defined in section 1128(j) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(j))) of the President or Vice
President holds, directly or indirectly, any ownership
interest or serves in any managerial, officer,
director, or board capacity.
TITLE III--SUNSET
SEC. 301. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.
The authorities provided under this Act and amendments made by this
Act shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 302. CONTINUATION OF EXISTING AGREEMENTS.
The termination under section 301 shall not apply to--
(1) any bilateral or multilateral partnership, agreement,
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement entered into before
the termination date; or
(2) any administrative or oversight activities necessary to
close out such agreements.
SEC. 303. USE OF FUNDS AFTER TERMINATION.
Funds obligated before the termination date may continue to be
expended after such date for the purposes for which they were
originally authorized.
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