To oppose the permitting of deep seabed mining and exploration for deep seabed mining, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Case (for himself, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Norton, and Ms. …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill directs the United States to oppose deep seabed mining in international waters until a comprehensive regulatory framework is established. It requires the President to use U.S. influence in international organizations to call for a moratorium on deep seabed mining permits and oppose financing of such activities.
Who Benefits and How
Marine ecosystems and biodiversity benefit through protection from the harmful effects of deep seabed mining, including species loss, sediment plumes, noise pollution, and disruption of carbon sequestration. Indigenous peoples and coastal communities who depend on healthy ocean ecosystems for food, livelihoods, and cultural practices are protected from potential contamination of fish stocks and ecosystem degradation. Commercial fishing industries benefit from reduced risk of contamination to food fish species.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The deep seabed mining industry faces a de facto prohibition on mining operations in international waters until the International Seabed Authority establishes regulations satisfying the bill's environmental protection requirements. Companies seeking to finance or invest in deep seabed mining face U.S. opposition to their projects in international forums. The industry must wait for a comprehensive international regulatory framework before proceeding with any mining or exploration activities.
Key Provisions
- Directs the President to instruct U.S. representatives to call for a moratorium on deep seabed mining permits in relevant international organizations
- Requires U.S. opposition to investments in or financing of deep seabed mining until regulations are established
- Sets conditions that must be met before the moratorium can be lifted: International Seabed Authority must promulgate regulations informed by scientific consensus that ensure effective marine environment protection
- Requires Presidential certification and a report to Congress before any change in U.S. position
- Expresses Congressional sense that mining should only occur under a "clear and enforceable regulatory framework" consistent with UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Article 145
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
The bill aims to prevent deep seabed mining and exploration, advocating for a moratorium until an international regulatory framework is established that safeguards the marine environment.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_president"
- → President of the United States
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology