Sens. Scott, Rosen, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen U.S. critical mineral mining workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in introducing the Critical Mineral Mining Education Act to strengthen American workforce development and STEM education in the critical mineral mining field through the creation of a mining Fulbright exchange program. This bipartisan legislation would enable the U.S. and its partners to better compete with China in the critical mineral sector, a crucial step in maintaining American leadership in advanced technology manufacturing.

Over the last three decades, U.S. efforts to compete with China in the global critical mineral supply chain have been complicated by a diminishing and aging mining workforce. Through the creation of this new program, the U.S. can leverage the expertise of its partners while enhancing our own academic and research capacity in the critical mineral sector. South Carolina has been a proven leader in its production of Fulbright recipients, and this program further expands opportunities for our students and scholars in fields essential to our national and economic security.

"By partnering with our allies to develop American talent in critical mining sectors, we are building the workforce needed to secure American access to critical minerals essential to defense, energy, and economic growth," said Sen. Scott."The Critical Mineral Mining Education Act takes a targeted, practical approach to closing workforce gaps by training U.S. students in advanced mining and processing."

"Nevada is a national leader in mining and critical mineral production, and supporting this industry will help grow Nevada's economy," said Sen. Rosen."We need to ensure we have the workers with the training and experience ready to fill good-paying mining jobs in our state. I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to help build the pipeline that will train our workers, bolster our economic and national security, and level the playing field with China all along the critical mineral supply chain.

"The University of South Carolina continues to distinguish itself as a national leader in producing Fulbright recipients, a testament to our academic excellence and global impact," said Dr. Michael Amiridis, president of the University of South Carolina. "I commend Senator Scott's leadership in expanding the Fulbright Program to meet emerging national priorities, particularly by strengthening education and research in key sectors."

Jason Czyz, president and chief executive officer, Institute of International Education (IIE) said, "IIE is proud to support the Critical Mineral Mining Education Act, which will harness Fulbright's global exchange network to strengthen domestic mining education and develop the skilled workforce essential to resilient, secure U.S. mineral supply chains."

"The American Critical Minerals Association applauds Senator Rosen, Senator Curtis, Representative Olszewski, Representative Huizenga and Representative Kim on the introduction of the Critical Mineral Mining Education Act of 2026. As the U.S. continues to invest in critical minerals projects, we must advance policies that will support growth and certainty for the sector and ensure a sophisticated and robust workforce to support those efforts," said the American Critical Minerals Association (ACMA). "This requires a focus on recruiting, training and preparing our workforce for careers in the production, processing, and recycling of minerals. The Department of Energy states that the future of the 'critical minerals and materials economy will require thousands of workers spanning all levels of operation.' To grow the critical minerals sector, we must be strategic and forward thinking in growing a domestic workforce that possesses the highly specialized skills and knowledge required for the production and processing of critical minerals and materials. The Critical Mineral Mining Education Act creates a pathway for fostering collaboration with our allies and ensuring opportunities for American students to benefit from the expertise of critical minerals experts across the globe. We applaud this effort and urge Congress to pass the Critical Mineral Mining Education Act."

Sens. Scott and Rosen are joined by Sens. John Curtis (R-UT) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in introducing this bill. Companion legislation is led in the House by Representatives Johnny Olszewski (D-MD-02), Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), and Young Kim (R-CA-40).

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