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Extending Mineral Leasing Act to Include Hardrock Minerals on Acquired Lands

This bill expands the scope of the federal Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to include hardrock minerals. This means that leasing and extraction rules previously applied mainly to oil, gas, or sulfur will now also cover precious metals, base metals, and gemstones on federal lands. This change could impact the availability and cost of raw materials, as well as environmental regulations for their extraction.
Key points
Hardrock minerals (including gold, silver, copper, and gemstones) are now subject to the federal leasing system for lands acquired by the U.S.
The extraction of these minerals on federal lands will now follow the same leasing regulations as oil, gas, and other energy minerals.
The definition of hardrock minerals explicitly excludes coal, oil, gas, sodium, potassium, and sulfur, which are covered by separate laws.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Passed House
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 119_HR_3872
Sponsor: Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4]
Process start date: 2025-06-10
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Summarized by: gemini-flash-latest
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

MERICA Act of 2025

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 119_HR_3872.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2025-06-10.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Hardrock minerals (including gold, silver, copper, and gemstones) are now subject to the federal leasing system for lands acquired by the U.S.
  • The extraction of these minerals on federal lands will now follow the same leasing regulations as oil, gas, and other energy minerals.
  • The definition of hardrock minerals explicitly excludes coal, oil, gas, sodium, potassium, and sulfur, which are covered by separate laws.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Passed House.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-31.

CATEGORIES

Environment Economy