119th Congress · introduced in the House · Jun 10, 2025
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.
Official title from Congress.gov
Latest action (Sep 17, 2026): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
View on Congress.govPolicy area: Energy
Congressional Research Service summary, version: Reported to House (Oct 31, 2025)
This bill specifies that all federally acquired lands are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (MLAAL). The bill defines the term hardrock mineral to (1) include deposits of minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks, base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, and precious and semi-precious gemstones; and (2) exclude deposits of coal, oil, oil shale, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, or mineral materials subject to disposition under the Materials Act of 1947.
By way of background, hardrock minerals are not currently listed under the MLAAL as deposits subject to a lease, while mineral resources such as coal, phosphate, oil, gas, gilsonite, and sulfur are listed. As a result, federal lands may be leased for mining hardrock minerals only if the federal lands were acquired under a statute, such as the Weeks Act, that specifically authorizes the land to be used for hardrock mineral leasing.
Includes amendment, cloture, and procedural votes. Each is labeled with its exact question; only a passage question is a vote to pass the bill.
No recorded roll calls on this bill in coverage.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3872.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5884-5885)
Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.
Alaska · Land transfers · Licensing and registrations · Metals · Mining · Oil and gas
LD-2 reports whose issue descriptions explicitly cite this bill (bill type and number validated against Congress.gov records). A citation does not establish the client's position or any contact with a member.
Loading lobbying reportsOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Actions from Congress.gov, newest first.
Coverage: reports for 2025 onward, posted Jan 1, 2025 through Oct 23, 2026.
10 citations.
NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$700,000
Spent on own lobbying
…4, American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act, All Titles S. 4795, Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act, All Titles H.R. 3872 / S. 3708, MERICA Act of 2025, All Titles S. 5587, National Critical Minerals Council Act, All Titles S. 5653, Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act o…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
TROUT UNLIMITED · lobbying firm or registrant: TROUT UNLIMITED
2026 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) · posted Oct 18, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$120,000
Spent on own lobbying
…ediation Technology Assessment Initiative Authorization Act, H.R.9616; Legacy Mine Cleanup Act, H.R.3713/S.2741; Local Input Act, H.R. 9924/S.5118; MERICA Act, H.R.3872; Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, H.R.1366/S.544; Stop Orphaned Wells Act, H.R.10721/S.5630. Legislation to reauthorize a federal highway bill, the BUILD America…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES · lobbying firm or registrant: ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Aug 7, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
HR 3872 MERICA Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION · lobbying firm or registrant: NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$820,000
Spent on own lobbying
…, All Titles S. 4795, Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets (FREEDOM) Act, All Titles American Mineral Strategy & Security Act (Draft) H.R. 3872, MERICA Act of 2025, All Titles
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
TROUT UNLIMITED · lobbying firm or registrant: TROUT UNLIMITED
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$120,000
Spent on own lobbying
…9; Environmental Monitoring and Remediation Technology Assessment Initiative Authorization Act, H.R.9616; Legacy Mine Cleanup Act, H.R.3713/S.2741; MERICA Act, H.R.3872; Mining Regulatory Clarity Act, H.R.1366/S.544. Legislation to reauthorize a federal highway bill, the BUILD America 250 Act, H.R.8870; particularly programs t…
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE, INC · lobbying firm or registrant: CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.
2026 Q2 report (Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2026) · posted Jul 16, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
Amount not reported
H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, critical minerals policy. H.R.3872 - MERICA Act of 2025. CHIPS Program
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. View filing
ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES · lobbying firm or registrant: ENERGY EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted May 26, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$10,000
Paid to lobbying firm
HR 3872 MERICA Act
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE, INC · lobbying firm or registrant: CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.
2026 Q1 report (Jan 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2026) · posted Apr 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$80,000
Paid to lobbying firm
H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, critical minerals policy. H.R.3872 - MERICA Act of 2025. CHIPS Program
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE, INC · lobbying firm or registrant: CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.
2025 Q4 report (Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025) · posted Jan 20, 2026 · issue area: Natural Resources
$110,000
Paid to lobbying firm
H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, critical minerals policy. H.R.3872 - MERICA Act of 2025. CHIPS Program
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing
NYRSTAR CLARKSVILLE, INC · lobbying firm or registrant: CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC.
2025 Q3 report (Jul 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2025) · posted Oct 20, 2025 · issue area: Natural Resources
$60,000
Paid to lobbying firm
H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, critical minerals policy. H.R.3872 - MERICA Act of 2025.
Congress inferred from the report year; bill number and the title cited with it match Congress.gov records, and the bill predates the report. The amount is lobbying spending for every issue on this report, not this bill alone, and none of it is paid to any member of Congress. View filing