Sec. 4. Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program
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The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended by section 3, is further amended by adding at the end the following: There is authorized to be established the Critical Mineral Mining Fellowship Program (referred to in this section as the Fellowship Program ) within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program. The purposes of the Fellowship Program are— to advance foreign policy priorities of the United States by promoting studies, research, and international exchange in the mining industry; to send United States students to mining institutions abroad to build the capacity of the United States mining workforce; to develop a robust and skilled workforce that can support and fill the gaps of the United States’ growing domestic critical mineral supply chain; and to reduce dependency on foreign energy and critical mineral supplies and enhance competitiveness of the United States within the global critical mineral marketplace.
The Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State (referred to in this section as the Bureau ) shall administer the Fellowship Program in accordance with policy guidelines established by the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (referred to in this section as the Board ), in consultation with binational Fulbright Commissions, mining industry leaders, institutions of higher education, foreign governments, and United States embassies in eligible countries. The Bureau shall determine the number of fellows selected for the Fellowship Program each year.
The Board shall select qualified individuals to participate in the Fellowship Program. In selecting the fellows, the Board should ensure geographic representation to ensure region-specific specialties are developed. All fellows shall meet one of the following criteria: Have a conferred bachelors degree, or equivalent degree, before the start of the Fellowship period. Be a student who is currently enrolled in a United States institution of higher education completing an advanced degree in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics or a field related to the mining industry.
Have had a conferred postdoctoral degree during the 5-year period immediately preceding the Fellowship period. Upon completing the Fellowship Program, each fellow shall demonstrate their intent to seek employment in a mining profession that directly benefits the growth, progress, and development of the United States mining industry— in the United States Government; or at a United States-based nongovernmental organization, academic institution, private sector company, or other organization that has been approved by the Bureau.
United States students shall attend universities approved by the Bureau, in consultation with the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, that have a mining program and are located in a foreign country. To the extent practicable, the Bureau should prioritize enrollment in higher education mining programs in— member countries in the Minerals Security Partnership; or any additional countries identified by the Bureau, in consultation with the congressional committees referred to in this paragraph, as containing sufficiently qualified mining programs .
To the extent practicable, the Bureau shall conduct outreach at United States undergraduate and graduate higher education institutions the Bureau determines are likely to produce a range of qualified applicants to be sent abroad. To carry out the purposes described in subsection (b)— each fellow selected pursuant to subsection (d)(1) shall be encouraged to arrange placement in a mining education program at an eligible foreign university; each fellow shall— participate in advanced coursework, research projects, and practical training opportunities, including internships, offered by the host institution; engage with faculty advisors and industry partners to gain hands-on experience through internships, laboratory work, and field studies relevant to the mining industry; serve as a cultural and academic ambassador of the United States by fostering mutual understanding within the host country’s academic and professional mining community; participate in professional development activities, such as conferences, workshops, and seminars, to expand knowledge of global best practices in mining engineering and related fields; and build and strengthen networks with international peers, faculty, and industry professionals to facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange; and the Bureau shall, for each fellow, approve a work plan that identifies the target objectives for the fellow, including specific duties and responsibilities relating to such objectives.
Each fellowship under this section shall continue for a period determined by the Bureau, which, whenever feasible, shall not be shorter than 1 year. The Bureau may grant a renewal for a second year, in consultation with the relevant United States embassy or the Fulbright Commission. The Bureau shall provide each fellow under this section with an allowance equal to the amount needed for the fellow’s reasonable costs during the fellowship period, including— mandatory university fees, including tuition, associated with his or her studies; living expenses, including housing, basic food costs, and daily transportation; essential textbooks and other academic materials; mandatory visa application, immigration fees, and other essential pre-departure requirements; relocation expenses, including travel by air or by rail; a research allowance, including essential travel to field sites and laboratory work; and other reasonable costs approved by the Bureau.
Not later than 1 year after the completion of the Fellowship Program by the initial cohort of fellows selected pursuant to subsection (d), and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that includes information regarding the implementation of the Fellowship Program, including— the demographics and geographical origins of the cohort of fellows who completed a fellowship during the reporting period; a description of academic placements selected and their relation to the development of the United States region-specific specialties under the Fellowship Program, including participant feedback on program implementation and lessons learned; and a plan for factoring lessons learned and acquired skills based knowledge into future programming. .