Critical Minerals Workforce Enhancement Act

This bill creates two main pathways to build expertise in critical minerals. First, it allows immigration waivers for foreign engineers working full-time in U.S. businesses or government agencies focused on critical minerals extraction, processing, or recycling (defined by the 2020 Energy Act). Second, it establishes new educational exchange programs, including funding for U.S. students studying abroad in this field, foreign students studying in the U.S., and international partnerships for research and training. The bill directly affects engineers in the critical minerals supply chain and educational institutions developing specialized curricula. It aims to strengthen domestic workforce capacity through targeted immigration and international education initiatives.