Finding ORE Act
Sponsored By: Representative Wittman
In Committee
Summary
This bill would let the U.S. Geological Survey sign international agreements to _map critical minerals and rare earth elements_ with partner foreign countries for scientific and technical cooperation.
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- Partner countries would get technical help to map mineral reserves and build local geoscience capacity. The activities include data collection, prospectivity mapping, and training at higher education institutions.
- U.S. and allied private companies would be offered a right of first refusal to develop identified resources. The MOUs would aim to spur private investment and leverage preferential financing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of the United States that prioritize processing in the U.S. or allied countries.
- Researchers, federal agencies, and private labs would cooperate on acquiring and analyzing geologic, geophysical, geochemical, and remote sensing data and on creating derivative map products.
- The bill would require protecting cooperative mapping data from unauthorized access by non-parties or non-allied countries and directs collaboration with the Secretary of State and consultation with private-sector actors, with Congress notified at least 30 days before an MOU is signed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Agreements to map critical minerals
If enacted, this bill would let the Interior Secretary, through the U.S. Geological Survey, sign agreements with partner countries to map critical minerals and listed rare earth elements. Partner countries are those that are sources of those minerals, and an "allied foreign country" would mean a nation with a U.S. mutual defense treaty or agreement. The agreements would aim to help partner countries map reserves, provide training and higher-education collaboration, and teach environmental and workplace standards. The agreements would seek to protect mapping data from non-party or non-allied access and offer U.S. or allied-headquartered companies a right of first refusal to develop resources. The Secretary would work with the Secretary of State, notify Congress at least 30 days before signing, and seek to attract private investment using tools like the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank that prioritize processing in the United States or allied countries.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wittman
VA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
MI • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Gimenez, Carlos A. [R-FL-28]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/17/2025
Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6]
VA • R
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/7/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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