U.S. Congress legislation · 119th Congress
HB10346: Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act
Status: In committee, September 16, 2026
To ensure that goods made using or containing cobalt extracted or processed with the use of child or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not enter the United States market.
What the bill says
To ensure that goods made using or containing cobalt extracted or processed with the use of child or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not enter the United States market.
From the introduced text, September 10, 2026:
A BILL To ensure that goods made using or containing cobalt extracted or processed with the use of child or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not enter the United States market. SECTION 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop China's Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act . SECTION 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Cobalt is an essential component of most lithium-ion batteries, which are key components in many smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles, among other electronic devices. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), worldwide demand is expected to increase over 1,000 percent for lithium and 600 percent for cobalt by 2040, as demands for alternative energy systems and battery storage are expected to grow significantly during this period. (2) More than one-half of the world's cobalt resources are in the DRC, which supplied approximately 73 percent of the global cobalt mine production in 2025. (3) Fifteen of the DRC's 19 cobalt mines are reportedly owned wholly or in part by companies located in the People's Republic of China. (4) Numerous analysts report significant concerns with forced labor, including forced or indentured child labor, in the DRC mining industry. Militias in the DRC engage in these illicit mining activities to finance and …
Sponsors
- Christopher Smith (R, HD-NJ-4) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 8.
- : Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- : Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- : Introduced in House
Subjects: Africa, Foreign Trade and International Finance, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Civil actions and liability, Mining, Youth employment and child labor, Metals, Customs enforcement
Common questions
- What is HB10346?
- HB10346 is a bill in Congress (119th Congress): Stop China’s Exploitation of Congolese Children and Adult Forced Labor through Cobalt Mining Act.
- What does HB10346 do?
- In its own words: To ensure that goods made using or containing cobalt extracted or processed with the use of child or forced labor in the Democratic Republic of the Congo do not enter the United States market.
- What is the status of HB10346?
- In committee as of September 16, 2026. Latest action: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 32 - 8. (September 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB10346?
- Christopher Smith (R, HD-NJ-4).
- Where is the official record for HB10346?
- On the Congress website: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10346
Source: official Congress record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.