United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]
In Committee
Summary
combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere. This bill would require the Secretary of State to develop a multi-year Strategy to combat illicit gold mining in the Western Hemisphere and coordinate law enforcement, finance, and private partners. It pairs mining formalization and environmental protections with anti-money-laundering and sanctions tools.
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- Communities and the environment: Aims to deter mining in protected areas and reduce mercury and cyanide contamination, deforestation, water and soil harm, and dust-related health impacts.
- Artisanal miners and local economies: Promotes formalization through licensing, reduced compliance costs, training, technical help, access to financing, mercury-free refining technologies, and measures to help miners disentangle from violent illicit actors.
- Financial system, governments, and enforcement: Directs steps to block foreign actors tied to illicit gold from U.S. markets and the financial system. It adds precious-metals checks to beneficial-ownership reviews and calls for coordinated financial investigations, sanctions capacity building, and international cooperation focused on Venezuela and regional partners.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Track and sanctions for Venezuelan gold
If enacted, the Secretary of State would lead a regional effort with Treasury and Justice to track gold-linked illicit finance tied to Venezuela. The United States would share financial intelligence, as permitted by law, to identify and trace assets taken from Venezuelan people and institutions. The U.S. would also provide technical help so partner governments can build legal and regulatory frameworks to impose targeted sanctions on officials and foreign persons involved in illicit mining and gold laundering.
Add metals to anti‑money‑laundering checks
If enacted, the bill would change federal anti‑money‑laundering guidance to require consideration of how jurisdictions and banks facilitate transactions in precious metals subject to U.S. sanctions. Agencies would have to assess the extent financial institutions are used for precious‑metal trades tied to sanctions. This would likely raise monitoring and compliance expectations for banks and could affect access to financial services for firms in targeted jurisdictions or sectors.
A U.S. strategy to fight illicit gold
If enacted, the Secretary of State would develop a multi-year "Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy." The President would submit the strategy to specified congressional committees within 180 days of enactment. The Secretary or a designee would brief those committees within 180 days after submission and then every six months for three years on implementation and needed changes.
No new military use authorized
If enacted, the bill would say clearly that nothing in the act authorizes the use of U.S. military force or sending U.S. forces into hostilities. This would keep the act focused on diplomacy, finance, and law enforcement rather than military action. It would not change existing wartime or military authorities.
Block illicit traders from U.S. markets
If enacted, the strategy would include rules to deny U.S. territory, market access, or use of the U.S. financial system to foreign people who control commodity trading chains tied to illicit actors. The goal would be to stop those actors from using U.S. markets and services to sell or launder illicit gold. This would be a market‑access restriction aimed at bad actors, not ordinary businesses.
Help small artisanal gold miners
If enacted, the Secretary of State would set up public‑private programs with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and other chosen democracies to help artisanal and small‑scale miners go legal. The programs would give training, technical help, and better access to financing. They would promote mercury‑free refining, low‑impact mining methods, traceability, and certification so miners can sell responsibly sourced gold.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cornyn, John [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov