Require monetary reporting on minerals and increase mining on federal lands?
The Critical Mineral Dominance Act would require the Secretary of the Interior to report the monetary value of US reliance on and the overall economic impact of imported minerals within 90 days of the bill’s enactment. Additionally, the bill mandates the Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, to expedite the approval of mining projects on federal land, review previous mining regulations, and to identify areas where there is additional mining potential within federal lands. The bill also requires an increased geological mapping project to locate new mineral deposits. Sponsor: Rep. Pete Stauber (Republican, Minnesota, District 8)
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Opponents say
• "This bill does very little to secure our critical mineral supply chains while setting up a regulatory system by, and for, the mining industry, which would endanger the environment and public health. Mining alone cannot secure our critical mineral supply chains because the United States lacks processing and manufacturing capabilities. Almost all American-mined minerals are shipped abroad for processing, mainly to China, and then enter the global market. This bill would prioritize the mining industry over environmental and public health protections." Source: Rep. Jared Huffman (Democrat, California, District 2), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources
• "NPCA opposes this legislation, which would codify some provisions of Executive Order (EO) 14241: Immediate Measures To Increase American Mineral Production. The EO directs the Secretary of the Interior to identify public lands with high mineral potential and prioritize mineral development activities. When combined with other actions taken by the administration regarding mineral development on public lands, this EO provides significant benefits for the mining industry in the short term at great risk to our national parks and public lands, while doing little to provide for long-term, sustainable and low-conflict domestic mineral supply-chains." Source: National Parks Conservation Association
Proponents say
• "While the United States is blessed with an abundance of natural resources capable of securing our mineral and energy future, our burdensome permitting process and restrictive policies implemented by previous anti-mining administrations have left these critical resources untapped. During today’s hearing, we examined six bills that will help this nation achieve mineral and energy dominance and support President Trump’s domestic mining agenda. These bills codify many of President Trump’s executive orders that support mining, as well as open federal lands for production and provide the certainty necessary for good projects to move forward." Source: Rep. Pete Stauber (Republican, Minnesota, District 8), Subcommittee Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources
• "The efforts codified by H.R. 4090 support the responsible development of our natural resources, the creation of high paying jobs that support rural economies, and the strengthening American energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources and minerals. The Department appreciates the bill’s recognition of the role the USGS has in supporting domestic minerals initiatives. The USGS is making progress on these activities through development of the annual Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS), the current effort to produce an updated whole-of-government List of Critical Minerals, and the acceleration of mapping through the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative." Source: Adam Suess, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior
- Stauber Leads Subcommittee Hearing on Series of Pro-Mining Bills, Including His Legislation to Codify Trump’s Mining Executive Orders (Press Release)
- Natural Resources Committee OKs land, pro-mining bills (E&E News by POLITICO)
- What are rare earths and why are they so important? (Reuters)
- The global race for rare earth materials is on, and the U.S. is losing it (NPR)
- From Gold Rush to Rot—The Lasting Environmental Costs and Financial Liabilities of Hardrock Mining (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
- Rep. Pete Stauber’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
