House Advances Bill to Boost Domestic Mining

On Wednesday, House lawmakers made strides to solidify several executive orders from President Trump focused on expanding domestic mining operations on federal land.

The House of Representatives passed the Critical Minerals Control Act with a vote of 224-195, which instructs Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to identify and promote essential mining initiatives.

Particular emphasis is placed on minerals that the United States largely imports. This legislation, introduced by Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), also directs Burgum’s team to enhance the government’s geological mapping efforts across the country.

“This bill will boost domestic mining, generate high-paying union jobs, strengthen national security, and help position America to excel in the 21st-century economy,” Stauber stated.

He further noted that for too long, the U.S. has depended on imports, especially with China dominating approximately 60% of global critical mineral production, 90% of processing, and 75% of manufacturing—this reliance leaves the nation vulnerable.

“The Chinese Communist Party has made use of this advantage with export restrictions and trade leverage, creating uncertainty for key industries in the U.S. Previous administrations have only made things worse by halting project approvals and limiting access to millions of acres of public land,” he added.

The bill also requires Burgum to collaborate with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins in identifying federal lands available for mining leases.

Furthermore, his team is tasked with promoting critical mineral production on existing federal lands, which includes supporting expansions of current operations and revitalizing idle ones.

While the bill is still pending in the Senate, its passage reflects ongoing efforts within Congress to formalize President Trump’s executive order. This week, Trump announced a new $12 billion initiative for a critical minerals reserve, financed partly by the U.S. Export-Import Bank and private investments.

This initiative, named “Project Vault,” aims to decrease U.S. reliance on China and other nations for minerals vital to manufacturing and national security. It also seeks to buffer against price volatility in critical minerals and stabilize the market.

The focus includes minerals like gallium and cobalt, which are essential for various products, including iPhones, semiconductors, and jet engines.

Additionally, Trump’s team has been working to increase production of rare earth minerals, which, despite their name, are generally not that rare. From 2020 to 2023, about 70% of U.S. rare earth imports came from China, according to data from Statista.