Clarifying mining research at the National Science Foundation

(a) In general Section 10359 of title III of division B of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19067; Public Law 117–167) is amended— (1) in the section heading, by striking minerals and inserting materials; (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in the subsection heading, by striking minerals and inserting materials; (B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) In general In order to support supply chain resiliency, the Director shall make awards, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or private entities (or consortia of such institutions, organizations, or entities) to support research and development that will accelerate innovation to advance critical materials mining strategies and technologies for the purpose of making better use of domestic resources and eliminating national reliance on critical materials that are subject to supply disruptions.; (C) in paragraph (2)— (i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: (A) advancing mining research and development activities to develop new mapping and mining technologies and techniques, including advanced critical material extraction and production, separation, alloying, or processing techniques and technologies that can decrease energy intensity to improve existing or develop new supply chains of critical materials, and yield more efficient, economical, and environmentally benign mining practices;; (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and redesignating subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), and (H), as subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), and (G), respectively; (iii) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking minerals and inserting materials; (iv) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking minerals and inserting materials; (v) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated, by striking minerals and inserting materials; and (vi) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated, by striking minerals and inserting materials; (D) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (E) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph: (3) Collaboration In carrying out this subsection, the Director shall collaborate with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Energy, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including facilities such as the National Laboratories, Manufacturing USA institutes, and other federally funded research and development centers, academia, industry, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, and international partners, as appropriate, to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (1).; and (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) Critical material defined In this section, the term critical material has the meaning given such term in section 7002(a)(2) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(a)(2)).. (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents in sections 1 and 10000 of Public Law 117–167 are amended by striking the items relating to section 10359 and inserting the following new items: Sec. 10359. Critical materials mining research and development..