Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a full committee markup of 8 bills supporting domestic mineral production, resolving land claims and more. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"Today, we are taking important steps forward to unleash American mineral production and jumpstart domestic mining. These bills will provide domestic mining projects with the clarity and certainty needed to restore production in America. They also support President Trump's executive orders to increase mineral production to bolster national security and economic resilience. I want to thank my colleagues for their hard work on the bills we advanced today, and I look forward to working to help usher them through the legislative process."

Background

H.R. 1366, the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), will clarify longstanding precedent regarding mining permitting on federal lands. The bill responds to the Ninth Circuit's decision on the Rosemont Copper Mine that upended 40 years of mining regulatory precedent and impacted mining projects across western states, impeding U.S. ability to access mineral resources critical for supply chains and national security.

H.R. 2306, the Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), supports the creation of a memorial to the Adams family, one of America’s most influential founding families. The legislation extends the authorization of the commission supporting the memorial and authorizes a prominent location for the memorial in Washington, D.C., advancing the goals of President Trump's Executive Order (EO) 14252, "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful."

H.R. 2815, the Cape Fox Land Entitlement Finalization Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), will finalize a land conveyance to the Cape Fox Corporation, the Alaska Native Village Corporation for Saxman, Alaska, and help promote the development of a power generation facility at Mahoney Lake in Ketchikan, Alaska.

H.R. 2916, introduced by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), authorizes, ratifies and confirms the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim Settlement Agreement. This agreement addresses a longstanding land dispute in New York and is the product of significant mediation by all parties involved. It increases tribal autonomy and provides significant community benefits related to education and land use. 

H.R. 3872, introduced by U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas), will amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to clarify that all federally acquired lands are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing. It also supports President Trump's EO 14241, "Immediate Measures to Increase Mineral Production."

H.R. 4090, introduced by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), will address legal and regulatory bottlenecks to domestic mining by directing DOI to revise or rescind agency actions that hinder mining projects, recommend changes to streamline current mining laws and conduct a nationwide review of state and local laws impeding mineral exploration and development. It will also codify key parts of President Trump's EO 14154, "Unleashing American Energy," EO 14241, "Immediate Measures to Increase Mineral Production," and EO 14272, "Ensuring National Security and Economic Resilience Through Section 232 Action on Processed Critical Minerals and Derivative Products."

H.R. 3692, introduced by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), reauthorizes the Young Fishermen's Development Act, with all existing criteria and guardrails, through fiscal year 2031. 

H.R. 4256, the Digital Coast Reauthorization Act of 2025, introduced by U.S. Rep. Dave Min (D-Calif.) reauthorizes the Digital Coast Program, an online platform offering tools, training, and resources to help coastal communities make informed, data-driven decisions.