Mining Schools Act of 2025

HR 2457, the Mining Schools Act of 2025, establishes a competitive grant program to fund education and training programs for the U.S. mining industry. It directs the Secretary of Energy to award up to 10 annual grants to eligible "mining schools" - defined as accredited engineering programs (including Tribal Colleges) or specific geology/engineering departments at public universities in states with significant mining GDP - to recruit students and enhance curriculum. Grants must support education in critical areas like critical mineral extraction, environmental reclamation, rare earth element processing, and reducing reliance on foreign mineral supplies. The program requires geographic diversity in grant selection and mandates an advisory board (with industry and academic members) to review applications and ensure funds are used for specified educational purposes, with no new federal funds authorized.