MINING AND MINERAL RESOURCES

Amendments

Power resources: increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), H1483 [28MR], H1561, H1584, H1585, H1586, H1587, H1588, H1589, H1590, H1591, H1592, H1593, H1595, H1596, H1602, H1603, H1604, H1605, H1606, H1607, H1608, H1609, H1610, H1611, H1612, H1613, H1615 [29MR], H1662, H1663, H1665, H1666, H1668, H1669, H1670 [30MR]

Bills and resolutions

Air pollution: reduce methane emissions from flaring and venting natural gas during oil and natural gas production activities (see H.R. 5964), H5020 [17OC]

Arctic Ocean: prohibit drilling (see S. 3201), S5338 [2NO] (see H.R. 4031), H2808 [12JN]

Arizona: repeal land exchange with Resolution Copper Mining (company) (see H.R. 1351), H1112 [3MR]

BLM: withdraw certain land in Sandoval County, NM, from mineral development and maintain authority to sell, lease, or exchange surface rights (see S. 534), S506 [27FE] (see H.R. 1221), H915 [27FE]

——— withdraw proposed rule relating to fluid mineral leases and leasing process (see H.R. 6009), H5038 [20OC]

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement: update regulations for offshore oil and gas pipelines to address limitations regarding ability to ensure pipeline integrity and address risks relative to decommissioning (see H.R. 1441), H1205 [8MR]

Business and industry: require national strategy to secure U.S. supply chains involving critical minerals sourced from Democratic Republic of the Congo (see H.R. 4548), H3204 [11JY]

California: withdraw certain Federal land in San Bernardino National Forest from location, entry, and patent under mining laws (see H.R. 6869), H6997 [19DE]

Chaco Culture National Historical Park: withdraw certain surrounding Federal land from further mineral development to protect Chaco ruins and landscape (see S. 1404), S1463 [2MY] (see H.R. 3062), H2125 [2MY]

China: combat U.S. reliance on China and certain other countries for critical minerals and rare earth metals (see S. 1871), S2028 [8JN]

Courts: prescribe judicial review requirements for certain energy, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure projects (see S. 3170), S5257 [31OC]

Dept. of Defense: establish intergovernmental taskforce to identify opportunities to decrease reliance on critical minerals from China and other adversarial nations (see S. 2031), S2123 [15JN]

Dept. of Energy: establish program to incentivize investment in facilities that carry out metallurgy of rare earth elements and production of finished rare earth products (see S. 44), S74 [24JA] (see H.R. 2888), H2047 [26AP]

——— prioritize education and training for energy and manufacturing-related jobs to increase skilled workers for such jobs (see H.R. 3699), H2637 [25MY]

——— provide technology grants to strengthen domestic mining education (see S. 912), S909 [22MR] (see H.R. 2685), H1845 [18AP]

——— secure supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials (see H.R. 1068), H852 [17FE]

Dept. of Justice: extend compensation provided under Radiation Exposure Compensation Program relative to claims related to uranium mining (see S. 1681), S1743 [18MY] (see H.R. 3497), H2453 [18MY]

——— improve compensation under Radiation Exposure Compensation Program for workers involved in uranium mining (see S. 1751), S1745 [18MY] (see H.R. 4426), H3158 [30JN]

Dept. of Labor: ease benefits process for survivors of miners whose deaths were due to pneumoconiosis (see S. 2416), S3458 [20JY] (see H.R. 6761), H6941 [13DE]

——— ensure that claims for benefits under Black Lung Benefits Act are processed in fair and timely manner and protect miners from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) (see S. 3304), S5540 [15NO] (see H.R. 6461), H5901 [21NO]

——— limit funding for Mine Safety and Health Administration salaries and expenses (see H.R. 1943), H1625 [29MR]

——— provide for timely payment of black lung benefits pending liability determinations (see H.R. 6644), H6208 [6DE]

Dept. of State: establish and implement multi-year Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy to reduce negative environmental and social impacts of illicit gold mining in Western Hemisphere (see S. 797), S772 [14MR] (see H.R. 5570), H4407 [19SE]

Dept. of the Interior: authorize partnerships between States and nongovernmental entities to reclaim and restore land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining activities before certain date (see H.R. 6233), H5465 [6NO]

——— clarify effect of civil actions on processing of applications, require courts to remand certain lease sale environmental impact statements, and establish term limits for permits to drill (see H.R. 1067), H852 [17FE]

——— conduct all oil and gas lease sales described in 2023-2028 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (see H.R. 5616), H4454 [21SE]

——— disapprove withdrawal of lands in Railroad Valley of Nye County, NV, from all forms of mineral entry (see H. Res. 478), H2779 [7JN]

——— disapprove withdrawal of National Forest System lands in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis Counties, MN, from disposition under U.S. mineral and geothermal leasing laws (see H. Con. Res. 34), H1947 [25AP]

——— eliminate patenting of Federal lands, impose Federal minerals royalty, establish fund for cleanup of abandoned mines, and review certain lands to determine availability for future mining (see S. 1742), S1745 [18MY] (see H.R. 3495), H2453 [18MY]

——— establish critical mineral environmental processing and mining cleanup program (see S. 2965), S4759 [28SE]

——— extend moratorium on drilling off coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina (see S. 49), S74 [24JA] (see H.R. 583), H428 [26JA]

——— include Sec. of HHS in consultations on designations of critical minerals, elements, substances, and materials (see H.R. 6395), H5855 [14NO]

——— limit funding for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (see H.R. 2176), H1633 [29MR]

——— limit funding for Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement regulation and technology (see H.R. 2175), H1633 [29MR]

——— nullify withdrawal of lands in Railroad Valley of Nye County, NV, from all forms of mineral entry (see H.R. 3883), H2777 [7JN]

——— nullify withdrawal of lands in San Juan County, NM, from all forms of mineral entry (see H.R. 4374), H3150 [27JN]

——— prohibit from issuing energy and mineral leases to certain entities affiliated with Chinese Communist Party (see H.R. 1569), H1279 [10MR]

——— reimburse fee for expression of interest in mineral leasing if expression of interest becomes inactive (see H.R. 6481), H5936 [28NO]

——— rescind Public Land Order to withdraw Superior National Forest lands from mineral leasing, reinstate mineral leases and permits, and ensure timely review of Mine Plans of Operations (see H.R. 3195), H2244 [10MY]

——— take certain actions relative to certain qualified coal applications (see H.R. 1457), H1205 [8MR]

Dept. of Transportation: include certain mineral production activities as covered project (see H.R. 6862), H6997 [19DE]

Depts. of Agriculture and the Interior: prohibit from issuing moratoriums on issuing new oil and gas leases and drill permits on certain Federal lands (see H.R. 1362), H1113 [3MR]

Depts. of Commerce and the Interior: prevent from issuing maritime rules related to Rice’s whale that would impede offshore energy development and military activities (see S. 2986), S4760 [28SE]

EPA: establish pilot program that promotes cleanup of abandoned hardrock mines by good samaritans (see S. 2781), S4440 [13SE]

——— require testing of underground sources of drinking water in connection with hydraulic fracturing operations (see H.R. 4811), H3888 [20JY]

Federal agencies and departments: prohibit from issuing moratoriums on leasing and permitting energy and minerals on certain Federal land (see S. 319), S310 [9FE] (see H.R. 923), H824 [9FE]

Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission: limit funding (see H.R. 2040), H1628 [29MR]

Foreign countries: prohibit sale or transfer of certain critical minerals to foreign entities of concern (see H.R. 5021), H4139 [27JY]

Foreign trade: ensure goods made using or containing cobalt refined in China do not enter U.S. market under presumption that cobalt is extracted or processed with child and forced labor in Democratic Republic of Congo (see H.R. 6909), H7020 [29DE]

——— ensure goods made with child labor or forced labor in Democratic Republic of the Congo do not enter U.S. market and counter control of strategic metals and minerals by China (see H.R. 4443), H3159 [30JN]

Government regulations: improve permitting process for mining on Federal land (see H.R. 209), H105 [9JA]

——— prohibit moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (see H.R. 150), H103 [9JA] (see H.R. 1121), H864 [21FE]

Health: place moratorium on issuance and renewal of certain Federal authorizations for mountaintop removal coal mining until health study is conducted (see H.R. 5022), H4139 [27JY]

International economic relations: influence international financial institutions to advance transition to global clean energy economy and prohibit U.S. assistance to countries or entities to support fossil fuel activity (see S. 3455), S5852 [7DE]

Minnesota: withdraw from mineral exploration Federal lands and waters in Rainy River Watershed, including in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, and Superior National Forest (see H.R. 668), H575 [31JA]

New Mexico: withdraw certain Federal land in Pecos Watershed area from mineral entry and designate Thompson Peak Wilderness Area (see S. 3033), S4948 [4OC] (see H.R. 5943), H5007 [12OC]

Nuclear weapons: designate national day of remembrance for workers of U.S. nuclear weapons program (see S. Res. 452), S5360 [6NO]

Oceans: oppose permitting of, and exploration for, deep seabed mining (see H.R. 4536), H3204 [11JY]

——— prohibit certain mining activities on deep seabed and Outer Continental Shelf (see H.R. 4537), H3204 [11JY]

Oregon: withdraw certain land in Curry and Josephine Counties from coverage under public land laws, mining laws, and mineral and geothermal leasing laws (see S. 440), S425 [15FE] (see H.R. 5004), H4138 [27JY]

Power resources: achieve domestic energy independence by empowering States to control development and production of all forms of energy on all available Federal land (see S. 20), S54 [23JA] (see H.R. 98), H101 [9JA]

——— clarify that States have sole authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on Federal land within their boundaries (see S. 19), S54 [23JA]

——— establish program to reduce reliance of allied and partner nations on natural gas, petroleum, nuclear fuel, and minerals produced in Russia (see S. 458), S426 [15FE]

——— expedite permitting for oil, natural gas, and mineral development, increase energy production, and ensure Federal lands remain open to productive uses (see S. 1456), S1534 [4MY]

——— increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (see S. 947), S910 [22MR] (see H.R. 1), H1284 [14MR]

——— increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), consideration (see H. Res. 260), H1526 [28MR]

——— modify disposition of certain outer Continental Shelf revenues and open Federal financial sharing to heighten opportunities for renewable energy (see S. 373), S312 [9FE] (see H.R. 913), H823 [9FE]

——— remove regulatory favoritism of certain renewable energy sources over oil and natural gas (see H.R. 6530), H6049 [30NO]

——— support safe and responsible development of hydrocarbons via drilling (see H. Res. 127), H840 [14FE]

Public lands: discourage speculative oil and gas leasing and promote enhanced multiple use management of public land and National Forest System land (see S. 1622), S1678 [16MY] (see H.R. 3377), H2376 [16MY]

——— provide for security of tenure for use of mining claims for ancillary activities (see S. 1281), S1340 [25AP] (see H.R. 2925), H2083 [27AP]

Space policy: direct NASA and Dept. of Commerce to submit report to Congress on merits of, and options for, establishing institute relative to space resources (see H.R. 4152), H2956 [15JN]

Strategic materials: provide for inclusion of uranium on list of critical minerals (see H.R. 3514), H2454 [18MY]

U.S. Geological Survey: include copper on list of critical minerals (see H.R. 3885), H2777 [7JN]

——— include phosphate and potash on final list of critical minerals (see H.R. 4059), H2883 [13JN]

Letters

Lower Energy Costs Act: several environmental organizations, H1481H1483 [28MR]

Motions

Power resources: increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), H1561 [29MR], H1677 [30MR]

Remarks in House

Biden, President: evaluation of administration relative to energy policy, H120 [10JA]

BLM: prohibit funding to implement, administer, or enforce withdrawal of certain Federal land surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from further mineral development, H5320, H5321 [2NO]

Dept. of Energy: secure supply of critical energy resources, including critical minerals and other materials, H1552 [29MR]

Dept. of Labor: Office of Inspector General funding through reductions in Mine Safety and Health Administration salary and expense account funding, H5771 [14NO]

——— prohibit funding for Mine Safety and Health Administration proposed rule entitled ‘‘Lowering Miners Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection’’, H5841, H5842 [14NO]

Dept. of the Interior: adjust royalty rate for leases for onshore oil and gas extraction on Federal land, H1662, H1663 [30MR]

——— clarify effect of civil actions on processing of applications, require courts to remand certain lease sale environmental impact statements, and establish term limits for permits to drill, H1504 [28MR]

——— ensure public right to challenge any oil and gas lease sale, H1605 [29MR]

——— prohibit foreign nationals associated with China from acquiring interest in any oil or gas leases on public lands, H1664 [30MR]

——— prohibit funding to implement Interagency Working Group on Mining Regulations, Laws, and Permitting recommendations to improve mining on public lands, H5354, H5355 [2NO]

Depts. of Agriculture and the Interior: prohibit funding contributions for environmental reviews from non-Federal entities owned by Chinese Communist Party or any entity or individual acting on their behalf, H1665 [30MR]

——— submit report relative to funding contributions to expedite energy permit processing from non-Federal entities, H1666 [30MR]

EPA: submit report to Congress identifying and assessing existing regulations that negatively affect domestic energy independence and increase energy costs, H1589, H1590 [29MR]

Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council: prohibit funding to develop, finalize, or implement proposed rule to revise scope of mining projects eligible for expedited process, H5627 [8NO]

Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act: expand permitting eligibility for projects related to extraction, recovery, or processing of critical minerals from coal waste, H1596 [29MR]

Government regulations: improve permitting process for mining on Federal land, H1490, H1518 [28MR]

——— prohibit moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, H1546 [29MR]

National Miners Day: observance, H6198 [6DE]

Power resources: ensure certain proposed energy regulations will lower costs for consumers, and prohibit additional oil and gas leasing on certain public lands, H1560 [29MR]

——— increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), H1441, H1454, H1455 [27MR], H1468, H1469, H1473, H1485H1516, H1517H1521 [28MR], H1537, H1541, H1542H1615 [29MR], H1661, H1662H1678, H1680, H1681, H1682 [30MR], H1883 [19AP], H3010 [21JN], H3486 [13JY], H4018 [26JY], H4046, H4053 [27JY], H4356 [18SE], H5067 [25OC], H5997 [30NO], H6930 [13DE], E285 [30MR]

——— increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), consideration (H. Res. 260), H1474H1485 [28MR]

——— increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), corrections in enrollment, H1678 [30MR]

West Mineral, KS: anniversary of Bucyrus-Erie 1850–B (Big Brutus) electric shovel, H4411 [20SE]

Remarks in Senate

EPA: decision to prohibit development of proposed Pebble Mine project, S157 [31JA]

Graphite One Inc.: tribute, S2303 [11JY]

National security: secure supply of critical minerals including graphite, S2302S2304 [11JY]

Nuclear weapons: designate national day of remembrance for workers of U.S. nuclear weapons program (S. Res. 452), S5366 [6NO]

Power resources: expedite permitting for oil, natural gas, and mineral development, increase energy production, and ensure Federal lands remain open to productive uses (S. 1456), S1523 [4MY]

——— increase energy production, exports, infrastructure, and critical minerals processing, promote transparency, accountability, and permitting, and improve water quality certification (H.R. 1), S782 [15MR], S810 [16MR], S840 [21MR], S946 [27MR], S976 [28MR], S1030 [29MR], S1062 [30MR], S1221 [19AP], S1483 [3MY], S2017 [8JN]

Radiation Exposure Compensation Program: reauthorize, expand areas eligible for those exposed to atmospheric nuclear testing, and improve compensation for workers involved in uranium mining, S3723, S3728 [27JY], S5912S5915 [12DE], S5942 [13DE]

Reports filed

Buffalo Tract Protection Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 534) (S. Rept. 118–63), S3147 [19JY]

Consideration of H.R. 1, Lower Energy Costs Act: Committee on Rules (House) (H. Res. 260) (H. Rept. 118–30), H1526 [28MR]

Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (Senate) (S. 1871) (S. Rept. 118–93), S3894 [5SE]

Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 440) (S. Rept. 118–51), S2309 [11JY]

Protecting American Energy Production Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1121) (H. Rept. 118–19), H1407 [23MR]

Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act: Committee on Energy and Commerce (House) (H.R. 1068) (H. Rept. 118–22), H1407 [23MR]

Technology Grants To Strengthen Domestic Mining Education (Mining Schools) Act: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Senate) (S. 912) (S. Rept. 118–139), S6022 [18DE]

U.S. Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act: Committee on Foreign Relations (Senate) (S. 797), S1533 [4MY]

Texts of

H. Res. 260, consideration of H.R. 1, Lower Energy Costs Act, H1474 [28MR]

H.R. 1, Lower Energy Costs Act, H1565H1583 [29MR]

S. Res. 452, national day of remembrance for workers of U.S. nuclear weapons program, S5362 [6NO]