HR-7037 — Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies Act

YourVoice.Now Summary

Your MoneyWorkers & JobsCivil LibertiesCorporate BenefitsEnvironmentTransparency & Accountability

Creates a State Department bureau and 10-year mineral deals with allies to counter China — nothing changes in your own budget.

Your Money

New paid fellowships for U.S. mining students

Graduate students and recent postdocs in mining fields could study at a foreign mining school. A federal fellowship would pay tuition, housing, food, travel, and books. Most would run at least a year.

Workers & Jobs

Protection for U.S. jobs — big job losses barred

Energy deal money could not fund a project likely to cost many U.S. jobs. The same bar covers projects that move U.S. production overseas.

Rehiring priority for laid-off energy staff — those cut in 2025 come first

Workers cut from the State Department's energy bureau in a 2025 layoff go to the front of the line. Their skills must fit the new jobs.

Direct hiring at new energy offices — usual civil service rules skipped

For one year, the department could hire bureau staff without the usual exam steps. It could also set their pay outside the normal federal scale. The office running the energy deals gets the same power to hire directly.

Civil Liberties

Privacy of business data held by government — emergencies allow sharing abroad

Several laws now shield companies' geological data and trade secrets. In an international energy emergency, the Secretary of State could share it with partner countries anyway. The President can also approve sharing after certifying partners will guard the data.

Corporate Benefits

Federal money for mining companies abroad — insurance, loans, and part ownership

The department could help pay for mining and processing projects run by private firms abroad. Help could include cost sharing, political risk insurance, loans, part ownership, or bank co-financing.

Embassy help for U.S. mining firms abroad — a formal request process

U.S. firms chasing mining projects abroad would get a set way to ask embassies for help. The department would also press their case with foreign governments.

Environment

Block on funding for hazardous projects — risks that cannot be fixed

Energy deal money could not go to a project with a serious hazard that cannot be reduced. That covers harm to the environment, health, or safety.

Transparency & Accountability

Ban on aid to leaders' companies — President, Vice President, and family

No grant, contract, or loan could go to a business the President or Vice President owns part of. Their immediate family counts too, as does serving as an officer or board member.

Public access to new energy council meetings — open-meeting law applies

The Secretary of State would chair a new council with eight other agencies. Its meetings fall under the Government in the Sunshine Act. That law generally keeps such meetings open to the public.

Advance notice to Congress — 30 days before signing each energy deal

Before signing an energy deal, the department must send Congress the full text. It must also brief members in person, then wait 30 days.

Yearly watchdog reviews of the energy deals — first one within two years

The Government Accountability Office audits federal programs for Congress. It must judge how well the funded projects work, starting two years after passage.

Public reporting on energy deals — money blocked until rules are met

Each deal must meet the tracking and public reporting rules in the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act. If it does not, the money cannot be spent.

Built-in expiration date — the new energy office ends after 10 years

The office that runs the energy deals loses its power 10 years after passage. Congress would have to act again to keep it open.

More about this bill

Your own costs and taxes would not change under this plan. It is a foreign policy bill about the metals inside phones, cars, batteries, and weapons. The State Department would get a new bureau and a new senior official for energy and minerals. Their job would be to line up steadier supplies from allied countries. The stated goal is to cut U.S. reliance on China, Russia, and Iran. The department could sign energy and mineral deals with poorer partner countries. Each deal could run up to 10 years. Money set aside for national security investment could be moved to agencies such as the Export-Import Bank to pay for them. The department could also help fund mining and processing projects run by private firms. That help could include insurance against political risk, loans, and part ownership. No money could go to a project likely to cost many U.S. jobs. None could go to a project with a serious hazard that cannot be fixed. China, Russia, and Iran are shut out. Congress would see the text of each deal 30 days before it is signed. The council that steers the program would have to meet in public. No money could reach a firm owned in part by the President, the Vice President, or their family. A federal watchdog would review the projects each year. Two new Fulbright programs would also start. One would pay U.S. graduate students to study mining abroad. The other would bring foreign mining experts here, usually at least 10 a year.

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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