As US Competes With China, Critical Mining Bill Heads to Senate

The House passed new legislation to accelerate permitting and domestic hard rock mining on federal land as America looks to compete with China on mining critical minerals.

The Critical Mineral Dominance Act passed on Wednesday and now heads to the Senate.

“In order for our domestic mining industry to grow, the industry needs policy, regulatory, and permitting certainty to make long-term investment decisions,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., told The Daily Signal.

The Bill Heads to the Senate

It is now up to the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, chaired by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to advance this legislation in the upper chamber.

“The security of the U.S. mineral supply is a vital part of Senator Lee’s agenda on the [Energy and Natural Resources] committee, as is American energy dominance,” Lee Communications Director Billy Gribbin told The Daily Signal. “Senator Lee supports efforts to strengthen reliable access to minerals essential for American industry and technology.”

What’s in the Bill?

The bill would direct the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture to select and prioritize potential federal lands to be mining sites. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is directed to take “all necessary and appropriate actions to expedite and approve or issue each such plan of operations, permit application, and other application for approval.” 

“Currently, our nation relies on China for our mineral needs while domestic mining is hindered by burdensome regulations,” House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., shared in a press release.  

China dominates the industry controlling roughly 90% processing, 75% of manufacturing, and 60% of production globally. 

“The Critical Mineral Dominance Act will make it easier to responsibly mine in America, creating jobs for American workers and ending our reliance on foreign sources of minerals,” Westerman continued.  

Trump has been extremely vocal about America unleashing energy and rare mineral dominance. Mineral dominance is one of the driving forces behind the president wanting to purchase Greenland. 

‘President Trump Is the Most Pro-Mining President in Our Nation’s History’

“President Trump is the most pro-mining President in our nation’s history, and by codifying the President’s pro-mining policies into law, we will ensure these pro-mining policies will remain in place, even after he leaves office,” Stauber continued.  

“This is something understood by both Republicans and Democrats, as exemplified in the House’s bipartisan passage of my legislation,” continued Stauber. The bill passed in the House by a vote of 224 to 195. Ten Democrats voted in favor of the GOP congressman’s bill.

Stauber is encouraging the Senate to take up the legislation.

“I encourage the Senate to take up this legislation to ensure we have the right policies in place to ensure the United States is not only critical mineral independent, but also critical mineral dominant,” Stauber concluded. 

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