Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Jacky Rosen
Introduced
Summary
Build U.S. mining education and workforce capacity for critical minerals. This bill would create two Fulbright-style programs to send U.S. students abroad and to bring foreign mining scholars to U.S. campuses to strengthen training, research, and industry links for minerals deemed critical to national and economic security.
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
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Funding for mining exchange programs
If enacted, the bill would authorize $10,000,000 a year to the State Department for each fiscal year 2026 through 2035. The money would be for both the student fellowship and the visiting mining scholars program. Congress would still need to appropriate the funds before they become available.
New mining fellowships for students
If enacted, the bill would create a Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship under the Fulbright program. Eligible U.S. students or recent postdocs could study or research at Bureau-approved foreign mining universities for at least one year. Fellows would receive allowances for tuition, living expenses, textbooks, visas, relocation, research travel, and other approved costs. Fellows would need to plan to seek U.S.-based mining employment after the program, and the Fulbright Board would select fellows with geographic representation.
Definitions for mining programs
If enacted, the bill would add program definitions to the law for the new mining exchange programs. It would define "critical mineral" (using the Energy Act of 2020 and explicitly including gold and copper) and terms like "advanced degree," "mining industry," and "mining education program." These definitions would take effect on enactment and would end when the Act sunsets ten years later.
Programs end after ten years
If enacted, the bill would cause the Act and the legal changes it makes to end ten years after enactment. That would stop the fellowship, visiting scholar program, and the added definitions unless Congress renews or extends them before the sunset date.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jacky Rosen
NV • D
Cosponsors
John Curtis
UT • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Timothy Kaine
VA • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Tim Scott
SC • R
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in