SECURE Minerals Act

Summary#

This bill creates a new, wholly owned government corporation called the Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation. The Reserve will buy, store, finance, and sell specified critical minerals and materials. A seven-member Board of Governors will run the Reserve, set bylaws, approve budgets, and oversee operations. The Reserve must publish and update a list of eligible critical minerals, collect market and transaction data, run risk and vulnerability assessments, and set production standards that include environmental and labor considerations. Financing tools include loans to approved private "authorized intermediaries," acquisitions, non-recourse project loans, and limited equity investments. The Reserve may store materials in government or audited private facilities and may sell stored materials when shortages or price instability threaten national or economic security. The Reserve may not support or sell to foreign entities of concern. The Act requires audits, public reporting, and a public database of transactions with some national-security exceptions. The bill authorizes $2,500,000,000 for the Reserve.

What it means for you#

  • If you work in mining, processing, recycling, or reuse of critical minerals, you or your company could be eligible for loans, contracts, or other financial support through the Reserve or through approved intermediaries.
  • Partner countries may choose to make capital contributions and get a seat on an international advisory council if approved.
  • The Reserve will publish annual reports, market assessments, and a transaction database, though some information may be withheld for national security.
  • The Board will set production standards that consider environmental, labor, and transparency practices; projects that meet those standards may be prioritized.
  • Meetings of the Board will generally be open to the public, and Board members must follow conflict-of-interest rules.

Expenses#

The bill authorizes $2,500,000,000 to be appropriated to the Reserve, to remain available until expended. No publicly available information on additional budgetary effects or long-term costs beyond this authorization is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

The bill text states that critical minerals and materials are essential for many sectors (manufacturing, technology, defense, energy, health, and transportation) and that global demand is rising. It says the People's Republic of China controls significant parts of global supply chains for these materials and can manipulate prices, creating risks for U.S. industry and national security. Proponents in the bill argue the United States needs a stable supply, more domestic and partner-country production, better recycling and reuse, and government support to build resilient and diversified supply chains that follow responsible production standards.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.