H.R. 9640 — Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026, as amended
Executive Summary
H.R. 9640 reauthorizes the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) through fiscal year 2031, providing $84 million to map critical minerals and subsurface resources. The bill modernizes the initiative by explicitly including advanced sensing technologies like airborne gravity gradiometry and digital geochemistry, and integrates the USGS 3D Hydrography Program. Crucially, it mandates a contracting preference for U.S.-owned and controlled entities and requires strict ownership disclosures for contractors and subcontractors, aiming to secure the domestic critical mineral supply chain against foreign influence and espionage.
Arguments For
- Argument 1: Secures the domestic supply chain for critical minerals, reducing reliance on foreign adversaries (like China) for materials essential to defense and clean energy technologies.
- Argument 2: Provides a clear 'America First' contracting preference, ensuring federal mapping dollars support U.S. businesses and preventing foreign entities from accessing sensitive geological data.
- Argument 3: Modernizes mapping capabilities by explicitly authorizing advanced technologies, ensuring the U.S. remains at the cutting edge of resource discovery (including emerging resources like geologic hydrogen).
Likely Supporters
Arguments Against
- Argument 1: The strict U.S.-ownership preference and disclosure requirements could limit the pool of qualified contractors, potentially increasing costs or delaying mapping projects if specialized foreign expertise is excluded.
- Argument 2: Fiscal conservatives might object to the $84 million reauthorization price tag, arguing that private industry should bear the costs of resource exploration rather than the federal government.
Likely Opponents
📋 Key Provisions
- Authorizes $84 million for FY 2027 through FY 2031 for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative.
- Expands the initiative's scope to include modern sensing technologies (e.g., airborne gravity gradiometry, digital geochemistry) for mapping critical minerals, geothermal, and geologic hydrogen resources.
- Integrates the USGS 3D Hydrography Program into the initiative's data sources.
- Establishes a contracting preference for U.S.-owned and U.S.-controlled entities.
- Requires primary contractors and subcontractors to disclose their ownership structures to the USGS.
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Expands mapping to include modern sensing technologies like airborne gravity gradiometry.
"from modern sensing technologies, including advanced geo"
Authorizes $84 million for FY 2027 through 2031.
"amended by inserting “and $84,000,000 for the period of"
Requires preference for U.S.-owned and controlled entities in contracting.
"ticable, give preference to United States-owned and"
Mandates ownership disclosure for contractors and subcontractors.
"ty shall disclose the ownership of the primary con"