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119-s-799119th CongressWALLET

United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Combat illicit gold mining and its financial networks across the Western Hemisphere. This bill would create a State Department‑led, cross‑agency Strategy to stop illicit gold flows and to promote legal, traceable, and environmentally responsible gold supply chains.

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  • Would help artisanal and small-scale miners and local communities by supporting licensing, formalization, technical assistance, and mercury‑free refining to reduce pollution and deforestation while lowering barriers to legal markets.
  • Would require stronger due diligence, tracing, and certification for gold supply chains and build a public‑private partnership so U.S. buyers and banks can favor responsibly sourced gold and limit market access for illicit actors.
  • Would strengthen partner countries’ customs, financial intelligence, and law enforcement capacity, authorize U.S.-led financial investigations and intelligence sharing, and support targeted measures against officials and networks tied to illicit mining.

*Would authorize up to $10.0 million from State Department funds for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to implement the Strategy, subject to annual appropriations.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Fight illicit gold finance and trade

This bill would have the U.S. help train police, customs, and financial agencies in Latin America to fight money laundering tied to illegal gold mining. It would direct coordinated international financial investigations and intelligence sharing to track assets from illicit mining. The bill would also seek to stop foreign people who control illicit gold trading chains from using U.S. territory, markets, or the U.S. financial system.

Plan to support legal gold miners

This bill would require the Secretary of State to make a multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy and give it to Congress within 180 days. The Secretary (or a designee) would brief committees within 180 days after submission and then every six months for three years. It would push a public-private partnership and programs to formalize artisanal and small-scale miners, including training, business help, access to financing, mercury-free refining, traceability, and certification. Up to $10,000,000 from State Department funds could be used in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to carry out the plan.

Classified briefing on Venezuela gold

This bill would require a classified briefing within 90 days after enactment on illicit gold mining inside Venezuela and trade links with countries such as Turkey and Iran. The Secretary of State would prepare the briefing with the Director of National Intelligence and give it to congressional oversight and intelligence committees.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cornyn, John [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/27/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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