HR7021-119

What This Bill Does

The Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026 responds to findings that the U.S. mining, mineral processing, refining, metallurgy, and downstream critical-mineral workforce faces shortages, that half the current mining workforce is expected to retire within five years, and that only 14 U.S. colleges had mining or mining engineering programs in 2023. The bill amends the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act with definitions for advanced degree, critical mineral, mining education program, mining industry, government-sponsored exchange, HBCU, institution of higher education, federal employee, and excess foreign currencies. It establishes a Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program, administered by the State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs under Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board guidelines. U.S. fellows must have a bachelor's degree, be enrolled in advanced STEM or mining-related study, or hold a recent postdoctoral degree, and must intend to work in a mining profession benefiting the U.S. mining industry. It also establishes a Visiting Mining Scholars Program bringing foreign mining professionals and academics to U.S. institutions, prioritizing allied or partner countries with relevant mining expertise, to expand mining education, workforce development, and research. The bill makes technical and conforming exchange-act amendments and authorizes $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 for both programs.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. mining students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, HBCUs, universities with mining programs, and U.S. mining employers benefit from international training and visiting scholar expertise. Critical mineral supply chains, domestic manufacturers, battery producers, defense suppliers, and energy technology companies benefit if the programs expand the skilled workforce for exploration, processing, refining, metallurgy, and permitting. Foreign mining scholars and allied-country institutions benefit from exchange opportunities. State Department exchange programs and Fulbright boards benefit from a dedicated mining education mission and funding.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, binational Fulbright Commissions, U.S. embassies, and congressional foreign affairs committees must administer selection, country priorities, consultations, compliance, and reporting. U.S. fellows must meet eligibility and employment-intent requirements. Visiting scholars, foreign governments, and host universities must coordinate placements. Federal taxpayers fund the $10 million annual authorization from fiscal years 2026 through 2035.

Key Provisions

• Finds that U.S. mining and mineral-processing employers face workforce shortages and a wave of retirements.
• Defines critical mineral to include Energy Act critical minerals plus gold, copper, and other State Department-designated vulnerable minerals.
• Establishes a Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program within the Fulbright exchange framework.
• Requires U.S. fellows to meet degree or postdoctoral criteria and intend mining employment that benefits the United States.
• Establishes a Visiting Mining Scholars Program for foreign mining academics and professionals.
• Requires consultation with Fulbright Commissions, mining industry leaders, higher education institutions, foreign governments, U.S. embassies, and Congress.
• Authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2035.