MINES Act of 2022
Bill: H.R.8911 | Sponsor: Rep. Calvert, Ken (R-CA)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Monitoring and Investigating Nations Exploiting States Act of 2022 or the MINES Act of 2022
This bill requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to prepare an annual report that describes the involvement of Chinese and Russian governments and entities in mining and processing facilities exporting minerals to the United States, including subsequent implications for national security. The bill also adds requirements for information on Chinese mining in Afghanistan and a review of critical mineral designations in other periodic USGS reports.

To require the Secretary of the Interior to produce a report on Russian 
and Chinese investments in mining and related industries, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Monitoring and Investigating Nations 
Exploiting States Act of 2022'' or the ``MINES Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. REPORT ON INVESTMENTS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE 
              PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN FOREIGN MINING AND 
              PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for 5 years, the 
Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Geological 
Survey, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary 
of State, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that--
            (1) describes the involvement of the Government of the 
        People's Republic of China, People's Republic of China state-
        sponsored companies, and companies incorporated in the People's 
        Republic of China and the involvement of the Government of the 
        Russian Federation, state-sponsored companies of the Russian 
        Federation, and companies incorporated in the Russian 
        Federation in the exploration, planning, development, 
        operation, production, financing, or ownership of mining or 
        processing facilities as identified in global investment trends 
        by the World Mineral Outlook, and in countries identified in 
        the United States Geological Survey's Annual Mineral Commodity 
        Summaries for which the United States imports minerals, metals, 
        and materials; and
            (2) evaluates strategic or security concerns and 
        implications for United States national security and economic 
        interests and the interests of the countries identified 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to the People's Republic 
        of China's involvement and influence in developing the 
        country's mining and processing industries.
    (b) Publication.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
published on the respective websites of the Department of State, the 
Department of Commerce, the Department of Homeland Security, and the 
United States Geological Survey.
    (c) Secretary.--In this section, the term ``Secretary'' means the 
Secretary of the Interior.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committee Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the 
        Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; 
        and
            (2) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Finance, and 
        the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of 
        the Senate.

SEC. 3. REPORT ON MINERAL EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFGHANISTAN.

    Section 7002(d)(1) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(d)(1)) 
is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) describes the involvement of the Government 
                of the People's Republic of China, state sponsored 
                enterprises of such Government, and companies 
                incorporated under the laws of such Government in the 
                exploration, planning, development, operation, 
                production, or ownership of mining or processing 
                facilities in Afghanistan with respect to such 
                mineral.''.

SEC. 4. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CRITICAL MINERAL DESIGNATIONS.

    Section 7002(c)(5)(A) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 
1606(c)(5)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation 
                with the Secretaries of Defense, Commerce, Agriculture, 
                and Energy and the United States Trade Representative, 
                shall review the methodology and list under paragraph 
                (3) and the designations under paragraph (4)--
                            ``(i) at least every 3 years;
                            ``(ii) with respect to a specific mineral, 
                        element, substance, or material, after any 
                        change in circumstances that has a substantial 
                        material effect on a factor described in 
                        paragraph (4)(A) relating to such mineral, 
                        element, substance, or material if such effect 
                        is likely to lead to a change in the listing 
                        status of such mineral, element, substance, or 
                        material under such paragraph; and
                            ``(iii) more frequently as the Secretary 
                        considers to be appropriate.''.
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