H.R. 3198

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To create intergovernmental coordination between State, local, Tribal, and territorial jurisdictions, and the Federal Government to combat United States reliance on the People’s Republic of China and other covered countries for critical minerals and rare Earth metals, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · May 5, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Obernolte · Committee: Committee on Natural Resources

Table of contents

• H.R. 3198
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Findings
  • SEC. 3. Intergovernmental critical minerals task force

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act.

SEC. 2. Findings

• Congress finds that—
  • current supply chains of critical minerals pose a great risk to the national security of the United States;
  • critical minerals are necessary for transportation, technology, renewable energy, military equipment and machinery, and other relevant sectors crucial for the homeland and national security of the United States;
  • in 2022, the United States was 100 percent import reliant for 12 out of 50 critical minerals and more than 50 percent import reliant for an additional 31 critical mineral commodities classified as by the United States Geological Survey, and the People’s Republic of China was the top producing nation for 30 of those 50 critical minerals;
  • as of July 2023, companies based in the People’s Republic of China that extract critical minerals around the world have received hundreds of charges of human rights violations; and
  • on August 29, 2014, the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body adopted findings that the export restraints by the People's Republic of China on rare Earth metals, which harmed manufacturers and workers in the United States, violated obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and China’s Protocol of Accession to the World Trade Organization.

SEC. 3. Intergovernmental critical minerals task force

• (a) In general
  • Section 5 of the National Materials and Minerals Policy, Research and Development Act of 1980 () is amended by adding at the end the following: 30 U.S.C. 1604
    • (g) Intergovernmental critical minerals task force
      • (1) Purposes
        • The purposes of the task force established under paragraph (3)(B) are—
          • to assess the reliance of the United States on the People’s Republic of China, and other covered countries, for critical minerals, and the resulting national security risks associated with that reliance;
          • to make recommendations to the President for the implementation of this Act with regard to critical minerals, including—
            • (i) the congressional declarations of policies in section 3; and
            • (ii) revisions to the program plan of the President and the initiatives required under this section;
          • to make recommendations to secure United States supply chains for critical minerals;
          • to make recommendations to reduce the reliance of the United States, and partners and allies of the United States, on critical mineral supply chains involving covered countries; and
          • consistent with ongoing efforts of other Federal departments, agencies, and other entities, to facilitate cooperation, coordination, and mutual accountability among each level of the Federal Government, Indian Tribes, and State, local, and territorial governments, on a holistic response to the dependence on covered countries for critical minerals across the United States.
      • (2) Definitions
        • In this subsection:
        • (A) Appropriate committees of Congress
          • The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
            • (i) the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Energy and Natural Resources, Armed Services, Environment and Public Works, Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Finance, and Foreign Relations of the Senate; and
            • (ii) the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Natural Resources, Armed Services, Ways and Means, Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
        • (B) Chairperson; Co-Chairperson
          • The terms and , respectively, mean the Chairperson or Co-Chairperson of the task force designated by the President pursuant to paragraph (3)(A). Chairperson,Co-Chairperson
        • (C) Covered country
          • The term covered country means—
            • (i) a covered nation (as defined in section 4872(d) of title 10, United States Code); and
            • (ii) any other country determined by the task force to be a geostrategic competitor or adversary of the United States with respect to critical minerals.
        • (D) Critical mineral

• The term critical mineral,critical material has the meaning given the term in section 7002(a) of the Energy Act of 2020 (). 30 U.S.C. 1606(a)