Bill > S3612

This bill, titled the "Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026," aims to address a significant shortage of skilled workers in the United States mining industry by establishing two new educational exchange programs under the existing Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The first program, the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program, will send U.S. students with bachelor's degrees or those pursuing advanced degrees in STEM or mining-related fields to foreign universities with mining education programs to gain experience and build capacity in the U.S. mining workforce, with fellows intending to seek employment in the U.S. mining industry upon completion. The second program, the Visiting Mining Scholars Program, will bring foreign mining professionals, practitioners, operators, and academics to U.S. institutions of higher education to help expand U.S. mining education programs, bolster workforce development, and advance research and development. Both programs are intended to strengthen the domestic critical mineral supply chain, reduce dependency on foreign supplies, and enhance U.S. competitiveness, with $10 million authorized for appropriation annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2035 for their implementation, and the act will expire 10 years after its enactment.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3612/all-info