Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
Introduced
Summary
Boost U.S. critical-mineral workforce through international education and scholar exchanges. This bill would create two State Department exchange programs to send U.S. students to foreign mining programs and bring foreign mining scholars to U.S. campuses.
Show full summary
- Creates fellowships for U.S. students and early-career researchers to study, research, intern, and build mining skills abroad. Fellowship periods are generally at least one year and may be renewed.
- Brings foreign mining academics and professionals to U.S. institutions to expand curricula, mentor students, and drive collaborative research. Visiting scholar placements run three months to one year and aim to select at least 10 scholars per year when feasible.
- Prioritizes placements and partnerships with Minerals Security Partnership countries, U.S. embassies, Fulbright commissions, industry leaders, and higher education to align training with critical mineral supply-chain needs.
*If funded, the bill would authorize up to $10.0 million per year from 2026 through 2035 to support these exchange programs.*
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Fellowships for U.S. mining students
If enacted, the bill would create a Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship for U.S. students and recent postdocs. You would be able to apply if you already have a bachelor’s, are a U.S. advanced degree student in STEM or mining, or had a postdoc in the last five years. Fellowships would generally last at least one year and may be renewed for a second year. Fellows would get an allowance for tuition, housing, food, visa and relocation, research costs, and other approved expenses. The program would require fellows to show intent to seek U.S. mining jobs after the fellowship and the State Department would report to Congress after the first cohort and annually.
Funding and rules for mining exchanges
If enacted, the bill would authorize $10,000,000 a year for FY2026 through FY2035 for two State Department mining exchange programs. It would add those two programs to the list of exchange activities eligible for State funding. The bill also defines key terms like "critical mineral" (explicitly including gold and copper), "advanced degree," and a broad "mining industry" scope so eligibility and program work plans are clear. These changes would let the Department run and fund the fellowship and visiting scholar placements described in the bill.
Foreign mining scholars at U.S. colleges
If enacted, the bill would create a Visiting Mining Scholars Program to bring foreign mining academics and professionals to U.S. colleges. The Fulbright Board would select scholars and the Bureau would try to bring at least 10 scholars per year when feasible. Host schools would need to show they will use scholars to build or expand mining curriculum, research, and workforce training. Visits would generally be three months to one year, and scholars would get an allowance to cover reasonable living costs. The State Department would report to Congress after the first cohort and annually.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40]
CA • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Huizenga
MI • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in