Federal law would create a new U.S. strategy to secure supplies of critical minerals — materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements used in defense systems, electronics, and clean energy — by building international partnerships and reducing dependence on China and other strategic rivals. A new State Department bureau and senior diplomat would lead U.S. coordination with allied nations through a formal coalition called the Minerals Security Partnership, supporting American companies competing for mining and processing projects overseas. The bill also creates a new foreign assistance program called Energy Security Compacts, modeled on the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which would make multi-year investment agreements with lower-income partner countries to strengthen their energy and mineral infrastructure. American college students and researchers could receive Fulbright-style fellowships to study mining sciences at universities abroad, while foreign mining experts could come to U.S. universities to teach and collaborate. Energy Security Compact funds cannot go to projects likely to cause serious environmental harm, displace American workers, or benefit companies in which the President, Vice President, or their immediate family members hold a financial interest. Congress must receive 30 days' advance notice and a full briefing before any Compact takes effect, and the Government Accountability Office must annually review whether the program is working.
Corporate Benefits
- U.S. mining company support abroad — Diplomatic and commercial advocacy extended to private sector entities competing for overseas mineral projects
- U.S. commercial priority — MINVEST framework requires MSP-supported projects to prioritize U.S. companies for commercial offtake agreements
- Consortium bidding rights — U.S.-led group authorized to bid for critical mineral deposits in non-member countries, creating a coordinated competitive advantage
Environmental Concerns
- Environmental project bar — Energy Security Compact funds prohibited for projects with significant, unmitigable environmental, health, or safety hazards
- ESG project-selection criteria — Minerals Security Partnership required to use environmental, societal, and governance standards when selecting projects for support
Transparency & Accountability
- Anti-self-dealing restriction — Compact funds barred from entities where the President, Vice President, or immediate family hold ownership or leadership roles
- Congressional pre-notification — 30-day advance notice, full compact text, and in-person briefing required before any Energy Security Compact takes effect
- GAO annual review — GAO must evaluate Compact program efficiency and development impact every year starting two years after enactment
- FATAA compliance required — All Compact spending must meet the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act's monitoring, evaluation, and public reporting standards
- Annual director reports — Energy Security Compacts Director must submit annual program-status reports to Congress for five years
- Council meeting transparency — Energy Security Compacts Council meetings subject to the Government in the Sunshine Act (open-meeting requirements)
- Competitive hiring procedures — Director and new Bureau may appoint staff to competitive-service positions without standard merit-based hiring procedures
Congressional Summary
Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies Act or the DOMINANCE ActThis bill establishes a Bureau of Energy Security and Diplomacy in the Department of State and authorizes several programs to address access to energy and critical minerals.The bureau must formulate and implement policies related to international energy, energy technology, critical minerals, and related supply chains. An assistant secretary is authorized to lead the bureau.The bill authorizes the State Department to establish multi-year energy security compacts with partner countries. The purpose of such compacts is to increase reliable access to energy, electricity, or critical minerals for both parties to the compact.The bill also authorizes the State Department to lead U.S. participation in a Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), whose purpose includes supporting investment in critical mineral mining, processing, and refining projects that enable critical mineral supply chains. The United States must prioritize MSP projects that advance the national and economic security interests of the United States and U.S. allies and partners.Fellowships are authorized to support (1) U.S. citizens attending foreign mining institutions in order to build the capacity of the U.S. mining workforce; and (2) foreign mining academics and professionals being placed at U.S. institutions to help advance research and development initiatives in the U.S. mining industry and expand U.S. mining education and workforce development programs.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-01-13
- Date Added
- 2026-06-05
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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