Rep. Mark Amodei’s (R-Nev.) Minerals Bill Moves to U.S. House Floor

A bill to reform the current mine permitting process will move to the House floor on Thursday, Oct. 22. Rep. Mark Amodei’s (R-Nev.) bill, the “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015,” will create a more efficient mine permitting process. It is critical that our representatives pass this bill and allow greater access to its $6.2 trillion worth of mineral resources.

Minerals are the essential building blocks of America’s key industries—like manufacturing—that promote economic growth, job creation and U.S. global competitiveness. When the bill was introduced in April, National Mining Association president and CEO, Hal Quinn, praised Rep. Amodei for putting forward legislation that will help the nation, “address current and future challenges for the country’s future economic growth and manufacturing revival.”

A recent manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. has increased the demand for homegrown mineral and metal resources. Unfortunately, due to current mine permitting delays, the U.S. isn’t able to meet the needs of the domestic manufacturers. Currently, the U.S. is more than 50 percent import reliant on 43 minerals despite being a mineral rich nation. A survey found that most manufacturing executives believe that the demand for mineral resources will continue to grow in the next five to 10 years. And among these executives, 91 percent are worried about relying on non-domestic resources.

Rep. Amodei’s bill will address these concerns by modernizing the permitting process with improved collaboration between federal and local government agencies and by removing unnecessary delays that discourage investment. This will cumulatively result in a more reliable process, allowing America’s industries to have timely access to U.S.-sourced minerals.

It is imperative that U.S. industries have access to the resources they need. This bill will help make our country more prosperous and competitive, leading to a stronger economy and job growth. Take action TODAY to urge your policymakers to support Rep. Amodei’s bill here.