Sponsors (3)
The bill boosts domestic critical‑mineral mapping and accelerates quantum sensing development—improving data, industry capability, and policymaking—while raising risks of increased local development pressure, environmental harm, upfront federal costs, and reduced flexibility or perceived favoritism in data access.
Taxpayers, state governments, and domestic industry will gain higher-quality data on likely locations and economic potential of critical mineral deposits, helping inform policy and reduce reliance on foreign supplies.
Scientists, national labs, and exploration companies will get federal support to test, validate, and adopt quantum sensing (e.g., quantum gravity gradiometry), improving subsurface mapping accuracy and depth penetration.
State governments and local communities will have publicly accessible, standardized 'Earth MRI' survey data that improves transparency and supports informed land-use and economic planning.
Rural communities and local governments will face increased development pressure and greater risk of environmental harm, land-use conflict, and speculative claims if detailed survey and prospective-deposit data are publicly released.
Rural communities, local governments, and recreational economies will experience accelerated mining activity and infrastructure strain if critical-mineral zones are prioritized and permitting is sped up, with attendant environmental and local economic disruptions.
Taxpayers and state governments will bear fiscal and staffing costs to establish, run, and report on new quantum survey programs, potentially diverting resources from other agency priorities.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Requires USGS to run quantum gravity gradiometry surveys and integrate results into the Earth MRI database, with a 24-month report to Congress.
Official title: To require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a quantum-enhanced critical minerals survey, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 13, 2026 by Jeff Hurd · Last progress July 13, 2026
Creates a USGS program to run quantum gravity gradiometry surveys to find and better characterize critical mineral and rare earth element deposits on or near Federal lands, integrate those results into the Earth MRI national minerals database, and share data with state surveys and private-sector explorers. The Secretary must set up the program within 180 days, prioritize at least three Earth MRI focus areas (with priority for western rare-earth zones), coordinate with DOE labs and private quantum sensing firms, and deliver a detailed program report to congressional committees within 24 months that includes technical findings, comparisons to classical methods, cost–benefit analysis, and recommendations for scaling and permitting reforms.