Finding ORE Act: US Seeks Global Mineral Mapping, Prioritizing American Companies for Development

The newly proposed Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration Act, or the Finding ORE Act, is all about securing the supply chain for critical minerals and rare earth elements—the stuff that powers everything from your phone to defense systems. This bill cuts right to the chase: it authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, working through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Director, to sign formal agreements (Memoranda of Understanding, or MOUs) with foreign countries to map out where their valuable minerals are hidden.

The Geopolitical GPS: Mapping for Self-Reliance

Think of this as Uncle Sam investing in a global treasure map. The goal of these MOUs, outlined in Section 3, is to lock down reliable sources of materials like lithium, cobalt, and the 17 rare earth elements (the bill lists them all out, from cerium to yttrium). The cooperative work is highly technical, involving data gathering, geological analysis, and creating new maps to evaluate mineral potential. The U.S. will also provide training and education in geoscience and safety standards to personnel in the partner countries—a clear benefit for those nations.

The Fine Print: Who Gets First Dibs?

Here’s where the policy gets real for the corporate world. The MOUs aren't just about sharing science; they are explicitly designed to give U.S.-based companies or companies from “Allied Foreign Countries” (those with a mutual defense treaty with the U.S.) the first opportunity to develop any critical minerals found in the partner country. This is a massive corporate advantage written directly into international agreements, essentially prioritizing U.S. corporate access over competitors from non-allied nations.

Furthermore, if U.S. agencies like the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) or the Export-Import Bank are going to finance these development projects, the bill mandates that the financing must prioritize projects where the minerals are processed either in the U.S. or in an allied country. For the average person, this means the government is actively trying to bring the entire supply chain—from dirt to finished product—closer to home, which could stabilize prices and reduce reliance on volatile foreign sources down the line. It’s a direct move to onshore or “ally-shore” industrial processing.

The Trade-Off: Local Control vs. Global Access

While this bill promises supply security for the U.S. and technical training for partner nations, it raises a key question about fairness and sovereignty. By requiring partner countries to give U.S. or allied companies the first crack at development, the bill could be seen as limiting the ability of the host country’s own businesses—or those from countries the U.S. doesn't deem an ally—to develop their own resources. This setup could discourage local development and prioritize U.S. corporate interests, potentially leading to accusations of resource extraction that bypasses local economic growth.

Another point is data security. The agreements require protecting the mapping data so that governments or private groups in countries not part of the agreement can’t access it without permission. This is good for protecting U.S. strategic interests, but it means that if you’re a company or a researcher outside of the MOU loop, you’re locked out of valuable geological information.

In short, the Finding ORE Act is a strategic play to secure the raw materials needed for modern technology and defense. It offers a clear benefit to U.S. companies and the nation’s supply chain stability, but it does so by explicitly weaving corporate priority and processing requirements into international agreements, which could complicate relationships with countries seeking more control over their own natural resources.