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S4521119th Congress

Army Organic Industrial Base Mineral Partnerships Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Authorizes Army partnerships to let private entities extract minerals from Army industrial base sites under strict environmental and financial rules. It creates a new legal framework for non‑Army mineral extraction using Army land, facilities, waste streams, or byproducts and sets rules on compensation, environmental responsibility, and reporting.

Show full summary
  • Army managers gain authority to accept cash or in‑kind consideration from partners for mineral recovery. Cash tied to facilities financed through the Army Working Capital Fund is credited to that fund and can fund operations, modernization, environmental remediation, or capital investments including military construction.
  • Private partners can recover strategic or critical minerals, including rare earths, lithium, titanium, and nickel. They must comply with federal, state, and local environmental laws including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Air Act, indemnify the United States to the maximum extent permitted by law, and provide financial assurance, bonds, or insurance for cleanup and liability.
  • Local communities and regulators get clear assignment of environmental responsibility because partners are liable for mitigation, remediation, post‑termination contamination, and cross‑boundary impacts. The Secretary of the Army must report to the armed services committees within 1 year and annually thereafter on contracts and the types of strategic or critical minerals involved.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Army can keep extraction payments

If enacted, contracts for mineral extraction would have to provide reasonable consideration to the Army. Consideration could be cash or in‑kind items like minerals, equipment, infrastructure improvements, or services. Cash payments received could be retained and used without further appropriation for operation, maintenance, modernization, environmental remediation, or mission support. Cash tied to facilities financed through the Army Working Capital Fund would be credited to that fund and could be used for capital investments, including military construction that supports Army industrial facilities.

Contractors cover environmental cleanup costs

If enacted, non‑Army contractors would have to follow all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws, including NEPA and the Clean Air Act. Contractors would be responsible for mitigation, remediation, cleanup, response, natural resource damages, and related liabilities, even for contamination found after a contract ends or that migrates offsite. Contractors would have to indemnify the United States to the maximum extent permitted by law and provide financial assurance like bonds or insurance. These requirements would take effect upon enactment.

Private mineral extraction on Army sites

If enacted, the bill would allow non‑Army companies to remove, process, and handle minerals at Army industrial facilities. It would apply to land, facilities, infrastructure, waste streams, and byproducts under Army control. The bill would say the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands does not apply and would let the Secretary exempt some deals from certain surplus‑property sale rules when in the Army's best interest. The bill would not let Army personnel directly perform extraction or change existing subsurface‑rights agreements.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cruz, Ted [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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