1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Saving America’s Mines Act”.
Saving America’s Mines Act
A BILL
To prohibit a moratorium on mineral development on Bureau of Land Management and National Forest System land, and for other purposes.
2. Protecting the extraction of critical minerals in the United States
Findings— Congress finds the following:
It is the policy of the United States Forest Service to foster and encourage mineral development on National Forest System lands in an ecologically sound manner.
Mineral development is an important land use within the multiple-use mandate of the Bureau of Land Management.
Development of the minerals of the United States is necessary for batteries, energy production, national security, and health care technology.
Unilateral mineral withdrawals on Federal lands increases the reliance of the United States on countries with horrific labor and environmental standards, including Russia, China, and the Congo.
In general— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President or Secretary concerned may not declare a moratorium on or reverse any existing lease, permit, or claim, on the mining and extraction of any critical mineral or common varieties of sand, stone, and gravel on National Forest System or Bureau of Land Management land unless specifically authorized by an Act of Congress, or upon the lessee, permittee, or claimant’s failure to comply with any of the provisions of its agreement.
Definitions— In this section the following definitions apply:
Critical mineral—
In general— The term critical mineral means any mineral, element, or substance of material—
that is essential to the economic or national security of the United States;
the supply chain of which is vulnerable to disruption, including—
restrictions associated with foreign political risk;
abrupt demand growth;
military conflict;
violent unrest;
anti-competitive or protectionist behavior; and
any other risk throughout the supply chain; and
that serves an essential function in the manufacturing of a product, the absence of which would have significant consequences for the economic or national security of the United States.
Exception— The term critical mineral shall not include—
any fuel; or
water, ice, or snow.
Secretary concerned— The term Secretary concerned means—
the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to matters concerning lands administered by the Department of the Interior; and
the Secretary of Agriculture, with respect to matters concerning lands administered by the Department of Agriculture.