The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held an Environment Subcommittee hearing titled “Beneath the Waves: The Science and Technology of Deep-Sea Mining” on March 27. U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren of California delivered her opening statement as the ranking member, addressing the need for more research before moving forward with commercial deep-sea mining.
Lofgren said that understanding the deep ocean is important for national security, resource management, economic health, and cultural identity. She noted that only about 27% of the global seafloor has been mapped and just 1% explored, making it difficult to fully grasp potential impacts from mining activities.
She highlighted a gap in research capacity between China and the United States. “Just this week, Reuters reported that the Chinese Government supports more than 40 research vessels… In comparison, NOAA has 15 research vessels with only one being able to conduct deep-sea research,” Lofgren said. She warned that this imbalance could affect U.S. national security since civilian ocean and climate research also supports military operations.
According to Lofgren, most exploration contracts have focused on the Clarion-Clipperton Zone—considered well-studied—but scientists still lack enough data even there to address uncertainties around mining activities. The situation is worse in U.S.-controlled waters like offshore American Samoa or parts of Alaska where little baseline environmental data exists.
She expressed reservations about proposals from the current administration to advance commercial-scale deep-sea mining without sufficient scientific knowledge: “If we are committed to responsible development of deep-sea resources, then we must first commit to the science.” Lofgren called for long-term independent studies funded by federal sources rather than industry groups alone.
Lofgren represents California’s 18th district in Congress after replacing Don Edwards in 1995 according to congressional records. She previously served on Santa Clara County’s Board of Supervisors from 1981 through 1994 as detailed by her official biography. Born in San Mateo in 1947 and now residing in San Jose according to public information, she holds a BA from Stanford University (1970) and a JD from Santa Clara University (1975) according to congressional records.
