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HR7021119th CongressWALLET

Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative 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.

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  • 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.*

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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.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

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

  • Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]

    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.

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