HR4090
Hearing scheduled
Critical Mineral Dominance Act
- Federal
- House
- Introduced Jun 23, 2025
- Session 119
Bill Text
Version EHThis Act may be cited as the Critical Mineral Dominance Act.
It is the policy of the United States to establish the position of the United States as the leading producer of hardrock minerals, including rare earth minerals, which will—
create jobs and prosperity at home;
strengthen supply chains for the United States and the allies of the United States;
safeguard the national Security of the United States; and
reduce the global influence of malign and adversarial states.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate—
for each mineral commodity included in the document published by the United States Geological Survey titled Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 (Version 1.2; March 2025) for which the United States is reliant on imports, the dollar value associated with such reliance; and
the overall impact on the economy of the United States of imports and exports of mineral commodities listed in the document published by the United States Geological Survey titled Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 (Version 1.2; March 2025) for which the United States is reliant on imports.
Beginning in 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall include in each Mineral Commodity Summaries published by the United States Geological Survey the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a list of each mining project on Federal land for which a plan of operations, a permit application, or other application for approval has been submitted to the Department of the Interior.
Not later than 10 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the list required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to each mining project included on the list—
identify each priority mining project for which the Secretary can immediately approve or issue each plan of operations, permit application, and other application for approval submitted to the Department of the Interior; and
take all necessary and appropriate actions to expedite and approve or issue each such plan of operations, permit application, and other application for approval.
Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a list of each mining project on Federal land, whether active, inactive, or proposed, that has the potential to—
increase production of hardrock minerals or the byproducts of hardrock minerals;
expand operations to include the byproducts of hardrock minerals;
produce hardrock minerals from mine tailings; or
produce hardrock minerals from coal ash and other coal byproducts.
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate on the barriers to byproduct production from mining projects on Federal land, including recommendations to Congress on how to reduce those barriers.
The Secretary shall identify all Federal land managed by the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, which may be leased for the exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals or is open to location under the Act of May 10, 1872 (commonly known as the Mining Law of 1872), where—
hardrock mineral exploration is being conducted;
the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Geological Survey, determines hardrock minerals may be present but where thorough exploration has not been conducted; or
known economically recoverable hardrock minerals are present.
In identifying Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize identifying Federal land on which the exploration, construction, or operation of a mining project—
can most quickly be fully permitted and operational; and
would have the greatest potential effect on the robustness of the domestic mineral supply chain.
The Secretary shall annually submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a list of all Federal land identified under subsection (a).
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall—
review all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, public land withdrawals, and any other agency actions within the jurisdiction of the Secretary (in this section referred to collectively as agency action) to identify each agency action that imposes an undue burden on the exploration, identification, development, or operation of domestic mining projects;
solicit industry feedback on regulatory bottlenecks and recommended strategies to expedite approval of mining projects on Federal land; and
begin implementing an action plan—
to implement industry feedback received pursuant to paragraph (2); and
suspend, revise, or rescind, as applicable, each agency action identified as unduly burdensome under paragraph (1) as expeditiously as possible.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a report including—
recommendations for changes to law in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act necessary to accomplish the policy described in section 2; and
a nationwide review of State and local statutes, regulations, and ordinances the Secretary determines impede development of domestic mining and mineral exploration projects.
The Secretary shall prioritize efforts to accelerate the ongoing, detailed geologic mapping of the United States, with a focus on mapping previously unknown deposits of hardrock minerals.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report regarding the progress and estimated completion date of the comprehensive national modern surface and subsurface mapping and data integration effort of the Department of the Interior described in section 40201 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (43 U.S.C. 311).
In this Act:
The term Federal land means—
National Forest System land;
public lands; and
any land that may be leased for the exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals.
The term hardrock mineral—
includes deposits of—
minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks;
base metals;
precious metals;
industrial minerals; and
precious and semi-precious gemstones; and
does not include deposits of—
coal;
oil;
oil shale;
gas;
sodium;
potassium;
sulfur; or
mineral materials subject to disposition under the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
The term mining project means a project that involves the exploration for or development, extraction, or processing of a hardrock mineral.
The term public lands has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
It is the policy of the United States to establish the position of the United States as the leading producer of hardrock minerals, including rare earth minerals, which will—
create jobs and prosperity at home;
strengthen supply chains for the United States and the allies of the United States;
safeguard the national Security of the United States; and
reduce the global influence of malign and adversarial states.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate—
for each mineral commodity included in the document published by the United States Geological Survey titled Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 (Version 1.2; March 2025) for which the United States is reliant on imports, the dollar value associated with such reliance; and
the overall impact on the economy of the United States of imports and exports of mineral commodities listed in the document published by the United States Geological Survey titled Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 (Version 1.2; March 2025) for which the United States is reliant on imports.
Beginning in 2026, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall include in each Mineral Commodity Summaries published by the United States Geological Survey the information described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a list of each mining project on Federal land for which a plan of operations, a permit application, or other application for approval has been submitted to the Department of the Interior.
Not later than 10 days after the date on which the Secretary submits the list required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to each mining project included on the list—
identify each priority mining project for which the Secretary can immediately approve or issue each plan of operations, permit application, and other application for approval submitted to the Department of the Interior; and
take all necessary and appropriate actions to expedite and approve or issue each such plan of operations, permit application, and other application for approval.
Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a list of each mining project on Federal land, whether active, inactive, or proposed, that has the potential to—
increase production of hardrock minerals or the byproducts of hardrock minerals;
expand operations to include the byproducts of hardrock minerals;
produce hardrock minerals from mine tailings; or
produce hardrock minerals from coal ash and other coal byproducts.
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate on the barriers to byproduct production from mining projects on Federal land, including recommendations to Congress on how to reduce those barriers.
The Secretary shall identify all Federal land managed by the Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, which may be leased for the exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals or is open to location under the Act of May 10, 1872 (commonly known as the Mining Law of 1872), where—
hardrock mineral exploration is being conducted;
the Secretary, in consultation with the United States Geological Survey, determines hardrock minerals may be present but where thorough exploration has not been conducted; or
known economically recoverable hardrock minerals are present.
In identifying Federal land under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize identifying Federal land on which the exploration, construction, or operation of a mining project—
can most quickly be fully permitted and operational; and
would have the greatest potential effect on the robustness of the domestic mineral supply chain.
The Secretary shall annually submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a list of all Federal land identified under subsection (a).
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall—
review all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, public land withdrawals, and any other agency actions within the jurisdiction of the Secretary (in this section referred to collectively as agency action) to identify each agency action that imposes an undue burden on the exploration, identification, development, or operation of domestic mining projects;
solicit industry feedback on regulatory bottlenecks and recommended strategies to expedite approval of mining projects on Federal land; and
begin implementing an action plan—
to implement industry feedback received pursuant to paragraph (2); and
suspend, revise, or rescind, as applicable, each agency action identified as unduly burdensome under paragraph (1) as expeditiously as possible.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a report including—
recommendations for changes to law in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act necessary to accomplish the policy described in section 2; and
a nationwide review of State and local statutes, regulations, and ordinances the Secretary determines impede development of domestic mining and mineral exploration projects.
The Secretary shall prioritize efforts to accelerate the ongoing, detailed geologic mapping of the United States, with a focus on mapping previously unknown deposits of hardrock minerals.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report regarding the progress and estimated completion date of the comprehensive national modern surface and subsurface mapping and data integration effort of the Department of the Interior described in section 40201 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (43 U.S.C. 311).
In this Act:
The term Federal land means—
National Forest System land;
public lands; and
any land that may be leased for the exploration, development, or production of hardrock minerals.
The term hardrock mineral—
includes deposits of—
minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks;
base metals;
precious metals;
industrial minerals; and
precious and semi-precious gemstones; and
does not include deposits of—
coal;
oil;
oil shale;
gas;
sodium;
potassium;
sulfur; or
mineral materials subject to disposition under the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
The term mining project means a project that involves the exploration for or development, extraction, or processing of a hardrock mineral.
The term public lands has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
Legislative Timeline
27 actions-
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
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Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1032. (consideration: CR H1993-2002)
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Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 142 and H.R. 4090. The resolution provides for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 7148. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 142 and H.R. 4090 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 4090.
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 4090.
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The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
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Ms. Leger Fernandez moved to recommit to the Committee on Natural Resources. (text: CR H2002)
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The previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.
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POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 4090, the Chair put the question on motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Ms. Leger Fernandez demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
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Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2009-2010)
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On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 209 - 212 (Roll no. 54).
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Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 224 - 195 (Roll no. 55). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1994)
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On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 224 - 195 (Roll no. 55). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1994)
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Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
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Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1032 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 142 and H.R. 4090. The resolution provides for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 7148. Also, the resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 142 and H.R. 4090 under a closed rule and provides for one motion to recommit H.R. 4090.
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Rule H. Res. 1032 passed House.
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Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-387.
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Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-387.
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 337.
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Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
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Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
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Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 16.
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Subcommittee Hearings Held
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
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Introduced in House
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Introduced in House
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Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.