A Republican bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 8 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 759.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026. It updates and extends the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative found in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation allows the initiative to use modern sensing technologies and data-driven methods to better study critical minerals, geothermal resources, geologic hydrogen, and other subsurface resources. It also integrates data from the 3D Hydrography Program of the United States Geological Survey. Furthermore, the bill authorizes $84,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Finally, it requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey to give contract preference to United States-owned and United States-controlled entities while requiring full disclosure of contractor and subcontractor ownership.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into scientific research?
Authorizes 84 million dollars to update and expand geological mapping and scientific data collection methods.
- Scored +6
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Integrates the 3D Hydrography Program and modern sensing technologies for better geological and resource mapping.
- Scored +5
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?
Supports the mapping of geothermal and natural hydrogen resources to advance clean energy development.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
How the text last changed
Reported in House (10/29/2026), compared with Introduced in House. Each change is on the Text tab.
The newer version of the bill updates the types of technologies and data methods that can be used for mapping resources, replacing "natural" hydrogen with "geologic" hydrogen and adding airborne gravity gradiometry. It adds a requirement that the Director of the United States Geological Survey give preference to United States-owned and United States-controlled entities when entering into contracts for the initiative, while still considering specialized expertise. Additionally, entities seeking these contracts must now disclose the ownership of both the primary contractor and each subcontractor.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2(d) requires the Director of the United States Geological Survey to give preference to United States-owned and United States-controlled entities when entering into contracts, while also requiring the disclosure of ownership for primary contractors and subcontractors. This is positive because it helps keep taxpayer dollars working within domestic businesses and ensures transparency regarding who is getting the work.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline potential negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Integrates the 3D Hydrography Program and modern sensing technologies for better geological and resource mapping. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — Supports the mapping of geothermal and natural hydrogen resources to advance clean energy development.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — Authorizes 84 million dollars to update and expand geological mapping and scientific data collection methods.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Improves data availability for industries relying on critical minerals and subsurface resources.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Provides multi-year funding to improve subsurface resource mapping and critical mineral characterization.
A committee approved it and sent it to the floor
What changed from Introduced in House
The newer version of the bill updates the types of technologies and data methods that can be used for mapping resources, replacing "natural" hydrogen with "geologic" hydrogen and adding airborne gravity gradiometry. It adds a requirement that the Director of the United States Geological Survey give preference to United States-owned and United States-controlled entities when entering into contracts for the initiative, while still considering specialized expertise. Additionally, entities seeking these contracts must now disclose the ownership of both the primary contractor and each subcontractor.
Each change
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Section 2(a) added airborne gravity gradiometry as an example of modern sensing technologies and changed "natural" hydrogen to "geologic" hydrogen.
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Section 2(b) added a reference to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
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Section 2(d) added requirements for contracts, directing the Director of the United States Geological Survey to give preference to United States-owned and United States-controlled entities where practicable while considering specialized expertise, and requiring the disclosure of ownership for primary contractors and subcontractors.
Written by an AI model from a comparison of this version’s text with the one before it, not by a person. .
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- 10/29/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-862.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 759.
- 10/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/17/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/15/2026
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Unanimous Consent.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/14/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 7/14/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- 7/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Stephanie BiceRepublican · Oklahoma
Jeff CrankRepublican · Colorado
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Gabe EvansRepublican · Colorado
Sarah ElfrethDemocrat · Maryland
Charles FleischmannRepublican · Tennessee
Susie LeeDemocrat · Nevada
Gabe VasquezDemocrat · New Mexico