Minerals will contribute to State of the Union goals

In last night’s State of the Union, President Obama’s focus on creating jobs, allowing access to domestic resources and fostering U.S. innovation all reaffirmed our positive outlook for the future of minerals mining.

“We are pleased to hear the president’s determination to strengthen our economy, create high-wage jobs and re-build the infrastructure that is vital to our country’s future economic growth,” said Hal Quinn in a statement after the address. “U.S. mineral producers and their equipment suppliers provide resources that will make these aspirations a reality. If the American economy is to be rebuilt on a stronger footing, America’s miners will be an indispensable part of that effort.”

U.S. mining is one of only a handful of sectors that will add thousands of jobs at a fairly consistent rate over the next 20 years. Under current policies, mining will add between 11,000 and 13,000 jobs annually, but with new legislation those numbers could be even higher.

Quinn also said, “We welcome his call to reform a broken permit system, one that also stymies growth in our mining industry and denies Americans the full benefits of the nation’s mineral wealth. We urge him to expand these reforms to the mining sector.”

With a more efficient permitting process and access to public lands, minerals mining would also contribute to a stable supply chain for the manufacturing industry championed by the president.