I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4018 
To unleash America’s offshore critical minerals and resources. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 17, 2025 
Mr. EZELL (for himself and Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in 
addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To unleash America’s offshore critical minerals and 
resources. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States has a core national secu-
rity and economic interest in maintaining leadership 
in deep sea science and technology and seabed min-
eral resources. 
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(2) The United States faces unprecedented eco-
nomic and national security challenges in securing 
reliable supplies of critical minerals independent of 
foreign adversary control. 
(3) Vast offshore seabed areas hold critical min-
erals and energy resources. 
(4) These resources are key to strengthening 
our economy, securing our energy future, and reduc-
ing dependence on foreign suppliers for critical min-
erals. 
(5) The United States also controls seabed min-
eral resources in one of the largest ocean areas of 
the world. 
(6) Our Nation can, through the exercise of ex-
isting authorities and by establishing international 
partnerships, access potentially vast resources in 
seabed polymetallic nodules, other subsea geologic 
structures, and coastal deposits containing strategic 
minerals such as nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, 
titanium, and rare earth elements, which are vital to 
our national security and economic prosperity. 
(7) Our Nation must take immediate action to 
accelerate the responsible development of seabed 
mineral resources, quantify the Nation’s endowment 
of seabed minerals, reinvigorate American leadership 
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in associated extraction and processing technologies, 
and ensure secure supply chains for our defense, in-
frastructure, and energy sectors. 
(8) It is the policy of the United States to ad-
vance United States leadership in seabed mineral de-
velopment by— 
(A) rapidly developing domestic capabilities 
for the exploration, characterization, collection, 
and processing of seabed mineral resources 
through streamlined permitting without com-
promising 
environmental 
and 
transparency 
standards; 
(B) supporting investment in deep sea 
science, mapping, and technology; 
(C) enhancing coordination among execu-
tive departments and agencies with respect to 
seabed mineral development activities described 
in this Act; 
(D) establishing the United States as a 
global leader in responsible seabed mineral ex-
ploration, development technologies, and prac-
tices, and as a partner for countries developing 
seabed mineral resources in areas within their 
national jurisdictions, including their exclusive 
economic zones; 
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(E) creating a robust domestic supply 
chain for critical minerals derived from seabed 
mineral resources to support economic growth, 
reindustrialization, and military preparedness, 
including through new processing capabilities; 
and 
(F) strengthening partnerships with allies 
and industry to counter China’s growing influ-
ence over seabed mineral resources and to en-
sure United States companies are well-posi-
tioned to support allies and partners interested 
in developing seabed minerals responsibly in 
areas within their national jurisdictions, includ-
ing their exclusive economic zones. 
SEC. 2. STRATEGIC SEABED CRITICAL MINERAL ACCESS. 
(a) EXPEDITING ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN AUTHORIZA-
TIONS
UNDER
DEEP
SEABED
HARD
MINERAL
RE-
SOURCES ACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion and in consultation with the Secretary of State 
and Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
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shall expedite the process for reviewing and issuing 
licenses for exploration and permits for commercial 
recovery under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Re-
sources Act (30 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In expediting the process 
described in paragraph (1), the entities described in 
that paragraph shall ensure efficiency, predictability, 
and competitiveness for United States companies. 
(b) EXPEDITING ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN AUTHORIZA-
TIONS UNDER OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS 
ACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of the Interior shall establish an expedited process 
for reviewing and approving permits for prospecting 
and granting leases under the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The expedited process es-
tablished under paragraph (1) shall ensure effi-
ciency, predictability, and competitiveness for United 
States companies. 
(c) SEABED MAPPING PLAN.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary 
of State, Secretary of Commerce, and heads of other rel-
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evant Federal agencies, and in cooperation with commer-
cial and other nongovernmental organizations, shall de-
velop a plan to map priority areas of the seabed United 
States outer Continental Shelf, to include extended areas 
of the outer Continental Shelf, such as those with abun-
dant or accessible seabed mineral resources, to accelerate 
data collection and characterization. 
(d) IDENTIFICATION
OF CERTAIN CRITICAL MIN-
ERALS.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior— 
(1) shall identify which critical minerals may be 
derived from seabed mineral resources; and 
(2) in coordination with the Secretary of De-
fense and Secretary of Energy, determine which crit-
ical minerals derived from seabed mineral resources 
are essential for applications such as defense infra-
structure, manufacturing, and energy. 
(e) ENGAGEMENT WITH KEY PARTNERS AND AL-
LIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of 
State, Secretary of the Interior, and Secretary of 
Energy, shall engage with key partners and allies to 
offer support for seabed mineral resource explo-
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ration, extraction, processing, and environmental 
monitoring in areas within the jurisdictions of such 
key partners and allies, including by— 
(A) seeking scientific collaboration and 
commercial 
development 
opportunities 
for 
United States companies; and 
(B) developing a prioritized list of foreign 
countries for engagement. 
(2) KEY PARTNER OR ALLY DETERMINATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State 
shall determine whether an entity is a key part-
ner or ally for the purposes of this Act, based 
on factors such as— 
(i) existing agreements with the 
United States; 
(ii) alignment with strategic interests 
of the United States; and 
(iii) participation in joint initiatives. 
(B) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary of 
State shall notify the Secretary of Commerce, 
Secretary of the Interior, and Secretary of En-
ergy of any determination made under subpara-
graph (A). 
(f) REPORTS.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act— 
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(1) the Secretary of the Interior, in coordina-
tion with the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary 
of Energy, and in consultation with the heads of 
other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives and the Committees on Energy and 
Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report that identifies 
private sector interest in and opportunities for sea-
bed mineral resource exploration and mining on the 
outer Continental Shelf, in areas beyond national ju-
risdiction, and in areas within the jurisdiction of a 
foreign country that expresses interest in partnering 
with United States companies with respect to seabed 
mineral resource development; and 
(2) the Secretary of the Interior, jointly with 
the Secretary of State, Secretary of Commerce, and 
Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committees on Energy and Natural 
Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report regarding the feasi-
bility of an international benefit-sharing mechanism 
for seabed mineral resource extraction and develop-
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ment that occurs in an area beyond the jurisdiction 
of any country. 
SEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
(a) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the au-
thority granted by law to an executive department or agen-
cy, or the head thereof. 
(b) NO CREATION OF RIGHT OR BENEFIT.—This Act 
does not create any right or benefit, substantive or proce-
dural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
the United States, its departments, agencies, entities, offi-
cers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMERCIAL RECOVERY.—The term ‘‘com-
mercial recovery’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 4 of the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Re-
sources Act (30 U.S.C. 1403). 
(2) CRITICAL
MINERAL.—The term ‘‘critical 
mineral’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
7002(a)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 
1606(a)(3)). 
(3) EXPLORATION.—The term ‘‘exploration’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
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Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 
U.S.C. 1403). 
(4) LEASE.—The term ‘‘lease’’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 2 of the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331). 
(5) MINERAL.—The term ‘‘mineral’’ means— 
(A) a critical mineral; 
(B) uranium; 
(C) copper; 
(D) potash; 
(E) gold; and 
(F) any other element or compound the 
Chair of the National Energy Dominance Coun-
cil determines appropriate. 
(6) OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.—The term 
‘‘outer Continental Shelf’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331). 
(7) PROCESSING.—The term ‘‘processing’’ in-
cludes the concentration, separation, refinement, 
alloying, and conversion of minerals into usable 
forms. 
(8) PROSPECTING.—The term ‘‘prospecting’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘geological and geo-
physical (G&G) prospecting activities’’ in section 
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580.1 of title 30, Code of Federal Regulations (or a 
similar successor regulation). 
(9) SEABED
MINERAL
RESOURCE.—The term 
‘‘seabed mineral resource’’ means a mineral-bearing 
material located in the seabed of the outer Conti-
nental Shelf, including— 
(A) a polymetallic nodule; 
(B) a cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust; 
(C) a polymetallic sulfide; 
(D) a heavy mineral sand; and 
(E) a phosphorite. 
(10) UNITED
STATES
COMPANY.—The term 
‘‘United States company’’ has the meaning given the 
term ‘‘United States citizen’’ in section 4 of the 
Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (30 
U.S.C. 1403). 
Æ 
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