Supporting minerals legislation

At the onset of 2013, we set our focus on supporting policies that will keep U.S. mining competitive with the rest of the world and provide U.S. manufacturers with a robust supply chain of raw materials. From streamlining the permitting process to obtaining better access to federal lands, the National Mining Association will continue to support proposals that will spur investment, not only in mining but also in our communities.

One of the first policy initiatives we are supporting this year is the re-introduction of the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 by Sen. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.). This bill would require the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of strategic and critical minerals and mineral materials, including rare earth elements.

The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 defines strategic and critical minerals as those necessary for national defense and national security requirements; for the nation’s energy infrastructure including pipelines, refining capacity, electrical power generation and transmission and renewable energy production; to support domestic manufacturing, agriculture, housing, telecommunications, healthcare and transportation infrastructure; and for the nation’s economic security and balance and trade.

Katie Sweeney, general counsel at NMA, calls the current permitting process the “highest hurdle” for new mining projects. Streamlining the process would stimulate investment in the U.S. mining sector, creating jobs, securing our supply chains of numerous raw materials for domestic manufacturers and contributing to our economy, while keeping our environmental standards high.

Watch the video above to hear more from NMA’s Katie Sweeney, on the 2013 outlook for minerals mining. We look forward to your continued support and keeping you updated on the most current minerals mining information.