[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 114 (Wednesday, July 10, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4504-S4505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2232. Mr. HAWLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in subtitle H of title X, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. 10____. LIMITATION ON MINERAL WITHDRAWALS AFFECTING 
                   CRITICAL MINERALS FOR DEFENSE SUPPLY CHAIN.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral''has the 
     meaning given the term in section 7002(a) of the Energy Act 
     of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)).
       (2) Withdrawal.--The term ``withdrawal'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
       (b) Limitation on Mineral Withdrawals.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may not 
     make a withdrawal

[[Page S4505]]

     of Federal land containing critical minerals, as identified 
     by the Director of the United States Geological Survey, if 
     the Secretary of Defense determines that the withdrawal would 
     result in an adverse effect on the domestic supply of 
     critical minerals required for the defense supply chain of 
     the United States.
       (2) Determination.--In making a determination under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall consider--
       (A) the current and projected domestic requirements of 
     critical minerals for the Armed Forces;
       (B) the extent to which a withdrawal would restrict 
     exploration, development, or production of critical minerals 
     on Federal land; and
       (C) the availability of reliable alternative sources of the 
     affected critical minerals.
                                 ______