National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015

H.R. 1937 · 114th Congress · Oct 26, 2015 · Lineage

AN ACT

To require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of the minerals and mineral materials of strategic and critical importance to United States economic and national security and manufacturing competitiveness.

Section 1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015”.

Sec. 2 Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

The industrialization of developing nations has driven demand for nonfuel minerals necessary for telecommunications, military technologies, healthcare technologies, and conventional and renewable energy technologies.

(2)

The availability of minerals and mineral materials are essential for economic growth, national security, technological innovation, and the manufacturing and agricultural supply chain.

(3)

The exploration, production, processing, use, and recycling of minerals contribute significantly to the economic well-being, security, and general welfare of the Nation.

(4)

The United States has vast mineral resources, but is becoming increasingly dependent upon foreign sources of these mineral materials, as demonstrated by the following:

(A)

Twenty-five years ago the United States was dependent on foreign sources for 45 nonfuel mineral materials, 8 of which the United States imported 100 percent of the Nation’s requirements, and for another 19 commodities the United States imported more than 50 percent of the Nation’s needs.

(B)

By 2014 the United States import dependence for nonfuel mineral materials increased from 45 to 65 commodities, 19 of which the United States imported for 100 percent of the Nation’s requirements, and an additional 24 of which the United States imported for more than 50 percent of the Nation’s needs.

(C)

The United States share of worldwide mineral exploration dollars was 7 percent in 2014, down from 19 percent in the early 1990s.

(D)

In the 2014 Ranking of Countries for Mining Investment (out of 25 major mining countries), found that 7- to 10-year permitting delays are the most significant risk to mining projects in the United States.

Sec. 3 Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Strategic and critical minerals— The term strategic and critical minerals means minerals that are necessary—

(A)

for national defense and national security requirements;

(B)

for the Nation’s energy infrastructure, including pipelines, refining capacity, electrical power generation and transmission, and renewable energy production;

(C)

to support domestic manufacturing, agriculture, housing, telecommunications, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure; or

(D)

for the Nation’s economic security and balance of trade.

(2)

Agency— The term agency means any agency, department, or other unit of Federal, State, local, or tribal government, or Alaska Native Corporation.

(3)

mineral exploration or mine permit— The term mineral exploration or mine permit includes—

(A)

Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service authorizations for pre-mining activities that require environmental analyses pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and

(B)

plans of operation issued by the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service pursuant to 43 CFR 3809 and 36 CFR 228A or the authorities listed in 43 CFR 3503.13, respectively, as amended from time to time.

Lineage

Oct 26, 2015viewing Referred in Senate Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources See what changed
Oct 21, 2015 Engrossed in House See what changed
Apr 22, 2015 Reported in House Mr. Amodei (for himself, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Tipton, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Flores, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Cook, Mr. Heck of Nevada, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Stivers, Mr. Labrador, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Salmon, Mr. LaMalfa, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Latta, Mr. Barr, Mr. Cole, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Mooney of West Virginia, and Mr. Newhouse) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned See what changed
Apr 22, 2015 Introduced in House Mr. Amodei (for himself, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Zinke, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Tipton, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Flores, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Cook, Mr. Heck of Nevada, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Lummis, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Stivers, Mr. Labrador, Mr. Hardy, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. Salmon, Mr. LaMalfa, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Latta, Mr. Barr, Mr. Cole, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Mooney of West Virginia, and Mr. Newhouse) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015

Section 1 Short title

Sec. 2 Findings

Sec. 3 Definitions

Cite this provision

Incoming references