This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior (working with the Secretary of Agriculture and the USGS in some tasks) to prioritize increasing domestic production of hardrock minerals, including rare earths. It sets the policy goal of making the United States a leading producer of these minerals and lists aims such as creating jobs, strengthening supply chains, protecting national security, and reducing influence of hostile states.
Key actions required by the bill include: within 90 days, reporting the dollar value of net import reliance for each mineral listed in the USGS "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025" and the overall economic impact of those imports and exports; beginning in 2026, adding that information to future USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries. The Interior Secretary must provide lists (within 10 days of enactment and annually) of mining projects on Federal land that have pending plans, permits, or applications, and identify projects that can be immediately approved and expedite those approvals. The Secretary must also list projects on Federal land that could increase hardrock mineral production, include byproduct recovery, or recover minerals from mine tailings.
The bill requires the Secretary to identify all Federal land where hardrock mining exploration or known deposits exist or where minerals may be present, prioritizing lands that can be permitted quickly and would most improve domestic supply chains, and to report this list annually. The Secretary must review existing agency actions within 90 days to find those that impose an undue burden on domestic mining, solicit industry feedback, begin an action plan to address bottlenecks, and within 180 days submit a report to Congress with recommended legal changes and a nationwide review of state and local laws that impede mining. The bill also directs accelerating detailed geologic mapping and requires a report within one year on mapping progress and an estimated completion date. Definitions in the bill clarify terms such as "Federal land" and "hardrock mineral," and exclude coal, oil, gas, certain salts, sulfur, and materials covered by the Materials Act of 1947.
No publicly available information.
According to the bill text, proponents say the actions will create jobs and prosperity at home, strengthen supply chains for the United States and its allies, safeguard national security, and reduce the global influence of malign and adversarial states.
No publicly available information.