STRATA Act of 2026
Creates a State Department program to support critical-mineral technology partnerships with eligible countries and organizations.
In the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Critical minerals are materials used in technologies such as energy systems, semiconductors, and defense equipment. The STRATA Act would create a State Department program to support critical-mineral technology partnerships with eligible countries and organizations. It would also provide for international centers, a public project-opportunity platform, and assistance for cooperative science and technology work.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create a minerals innovation partnership
The bill would establish a program in the Department of State to support development and adoption of critical-minerals technologies with eligible countries and entities. Its stated aims are to strengthen U.S. security and economic competitiveness and diversify critical-mineral supply chains.
- Set rules for partnership participants
The Secretary of State would select eligible countries and entities, considering factors such as strategic importance, capacity, human and labor rights, and rule of law. The program could not partner with a country of concern or an entity of concern; each partnership would set objectives, responsibilities, benchmarks where appropriate, and a multiyear plan.
- Develop international centers and a digital platform
The Secretary would seek to establish centers to support research, demonstrations, training, and other work on critical-mineral supply chains. The Secretary would also establish a public platform where U.S. entities could find opportunities and submit project proposals.
- Allow assistance and transfers for cooperation
The bill would authorize foreign assistance, including grants, cooperative agreements, and technical assistance, for projects involving critical minerals, energy, and other listed science and technology areas. It would also allow transfers from amounts authorized under the National Security Investment Programs heading, including amounts authorized for the Economic Resilience Initiative; it specifies no dollar amount.
- End the authorities after ten years
The authorities created by the bill would terminate 10 years after enactment. Existing partnerships and related oversight or administrative work could continue, and funds obligated before termination could still be spent for their original purposes.
The bill cites critical minerals’ role in technologies including energy systems, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, and defense. It says innovation in extraction, processing, recycling, and substitute materials is not sufficient to meet projected U.S. demand, and that cooperation could help expand supply and move technologies toward commercial use.
The practical stakes include the resilience and diversification of supply chains, U.S. economic and national security, and the environmental and labor practices connected to mineral production. The bill also identifies a need to coordinate with existing critical-mineral and energy-security initiatives.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. CoonsReferred to Foreign Relations
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026FOREIGN RELATIONS NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
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