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This bill provides statutory authority for federal agencies to expedite the environmental review of certain mining infrastructure projects.
Specifically, the bill permanently makes certain mining infrastructure projects eligible for expedited environmental review under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). This provides statutory authority for similar authorities that were included in the rule titled Adding Mining as a Sector of Projects Eligible for Coverage Under Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and issued by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (Permitting Council) on January 8, 2021.
The bill also prohibits the Permitting Council from finalizing its proposed rule titled Revising Scope of the Mining Sector of Projects That Are Eligible for Coverage Under Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act and issued on September 22, 2023. Among other modifications, the rule proposes to limit the types of mining projects that are eligible for the expedited environmental review process. Specifically, the proposed rule limits the expedited process to critical minerals mining projects.
SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
House floor actionsConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1499. (consideration: CR H5452-5459)
Floor Vote
Passed the House
House floor actionsRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1499 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, H. Res. 1490 and H.R. 4795. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, H.Res. 1490, and H.R. 4795 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution provides for a motion to recommit on H.R. 1501, H.R. 9436, and H.R. 4795.
House floor actionsReported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-691.
House committee actionsSubcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
House committee actionsSubcommittee Hearings Held
House committee actionsReferred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Library of CongressIntroduced in House
House floor actionsReferred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced
Committee
Comments
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What Congress Said
Members who spoke about this bill on the floor, in their own words from the Congressional Record.
Republicans9 spoke
During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025, which extends FAST-41 eligibility to mining and mineral processing projects.
All of these depend upon reliable access to minerals and processed materials. Copper carries electricity. Iron ore and other inputs become the steel used in our vehicles, bridges, and buildings. Critical minerals support our military and advanced-manufacturing base, in Indiana and across our country.
I am very proud to co-lead this legislation, including this bill, with Representative Shreve and sincerely thank Chairman Westerman for his leadership on this issue.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act, which will ensure domestic mining projects are able to enjoy the benefits of title 41 of the bipartisan and wildly successful FAST Act.
This bill does something that is very simple and overdue: It makes mining and mineral processing permanently eligible for streamlined Federal permitting. Endless red tape does not protect a single acre of ground. It only protects China's monopoly and smothers American innovation before it can break ground.
I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act, to strengthen America's security, unlock economic investment, and support thousands of hardworking men and women.
This bill extends the streamlined, coordinated permitting process under FAST-41 to all mining and mineral processing projects and blocks a Biden-era proposal that would have narrowed eligibility and deepened our dependence on foreign adversaries for the minerals America needs.
How long should the American people have to wait for our prices to come down? Republicans promised that prices would come down on day one. That was 589 days ago, coming up on 2 years.
Now this brings us to H.R. 1501. This bill would codify mining and mineral processing as covered sectors under FAST-41. FAST-41, of course, creates an alternative permitting pathway for covered infrastructure projects.
At a time when we should be strengthening environmental protections, respecting Tribal sovereignty, and ensuring communities have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their land and water, this bill moves us in the wrong direction.
Congress must reject the attacks on vote-by-mail. I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question and support my Universal Right To Vote by Mail Act so every eligible American can cast their ballot safely, securely, and conveniently.
After 5 weeks of being out for the August district work period, a war is raging in the Middle East; the economy is in shambles; working people of this country cannot afford food, housing, and healthcare; the President is raiding the Venezuelan oil reserves and lining his own pockets; and what are we doing on the House floor after 5 weeks of break?
Representative Grijalva offered an amendment that would require the Secretary to ensure there is meaningful and robust Tribal consultation for any mining project to be eligible to be covered under FAST-41. This amendment was not accepted.
If my Republican colleagues truly oppose government ownership of private companies and truly condemn socialism, then I invite them to join us in denouncing Trump's own policies. Until then, save the gaslighting for the convention and miss me with this nonsense.
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