# 119-hr-2969: Finding ORE Act

119-hr-2969, Finding ORE Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-26).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2969
- As of: 2026-06-26
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-2969
- Congress: 119
- Title: Finding ORE Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2025-04-17
- Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (R-VA)
- Cosponsors: 12
- Policy area: Energy
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-06-26

## Summary

**Maps critical mineral and rare earth resources overseas to strengthen U.S. supply chains.** This bill would let the U.S. Geological Survey sign memoranda of understanding with partner countries for scientific and technical cooperation on mapping critical minerals and rare earth elements and set rules to guide private investment and data protection. - U.S. and allied companies and investors: U.S. and allied-headquartered companies would be offered a right of first refusal to develop mapped resources. The bill pushes private investment and seeks financing through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank to favor projects that process minerals in the U.S. or allied countries. - Partner countries, researchers, and workers: Partner countries would get mapping assistance, prospectivity studies, remote sensing analysis, and training at universities and local institutions. The bill also supports training on environmental and workplace standards for government and private-sector officials. - Federal coordination and supply-chain protection: The Interior Secretary would work with the State Department and consult private sector actors when choosing partners. Mapping data must be protected from unauthorized access by non-allied entities and the Secretary must notify Congress at least 30 days before any MOU.

## Cosponsors (12)

- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] (D-FL), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2] (R-MI), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28] (R-FL), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2025-04-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6] (R-VA), 2025-05-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7] (D-VA), 2025-08-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10] (R-NC), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Key definitions for mapping program: benefit, low. This bill would define terms the mapping agreements use. It would say the 'Secretary' means the Interior Secretary acting through the USGS Director. An 'allied foreign country' would be one with a U.S. mutual defense treaty or agreement. A 'partner foreign country' would be a source of a critical m…
- U.S. agreements to map critical minerals: benefit, low. This bill would let the Interior Department, through the USGS Director, make agreements with foreign agencies to map critical minerals and rare earths. It would require the Secretary to notify Congress at least 30 days before signing any agreement. The Secretary would work with the Secretary of Sta…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
- 119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025
- 119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-2969 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2969)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262)
- [119-hr-842: Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage A…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-842)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-3514: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3514)
- [119-hr-909: Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-909)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2969 (as of 2026-06-26).