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H.R. 664119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Feb 4, 2025Decoded by AI · checked against the record
The plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 664 would ban all U.S. ocean floor mining permits except for scientific research and require a federal environmental study.
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HR 664 would prohibit the U.S. government from issuing permits or licenses for mining or exploring minerals on the deep ocean floor or the Outer Continental Shelf. Scientific research would remain permitted. The bill also directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to partner with the National Academies of Sciences on a study of the environmental effects of ocean floor mining.
Companies currently seeking permits to mine the ocean floor for minerals such as manganese, cobalt, and nickel would be directly affected. Commercial fishermen, indigenous coastal communities, and environmental researchers would also be affected, as would industries that rely on those minerals, including electric vehicle and technology manufacturers.
If enacted, the ban would halt any new ocean floor mining permits while the environmental study is completed, potentially disrupting supply chains for battery and electronics minerals. The required study would examine effects on deep-sea species, sediment disturbance, greenhouse gas emissions, impacts on edible fish, and whether recycling or alternative materials could replace ocean-sourced minerals.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E86-87)