The U.S. House of Representatives has approved H.R. 4090, known as the Critical Mineral Dominance Act. The legislation was introduced by Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. The bill aims to strengthen domestic hardrock mining by incorporating several executive orders from former President Donald Trump that focus on expanding mineral production in the United States.
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) stated, "Securing our domestic critical mineral supply chains is a matter of national and economic security. Currently, our nation relies on China for our mineral needs while domestic mining is hindered by burdensome regulations. The Critical Mineral Dominance Act will make it easier to responsibly mine in America, creating jobs for American workers and ending our reliance on foreign sources of minerals. I thank Representative Stauber for his leadership on unleashing American mineral dominance."
Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber added, “H.R. 4090 passing the House is a major step toward ensuring our domestic critical mineral dominance and breaking China's control of global critical mineral supply chains. By codifying the Trump Administration's executive orders into law, we will help ensure the United States is a place where we can mine, process, and refine the critical minerals needed to compete and win in the 21st Century, regardless of future administrations. I thank my colleagues for their support—this bill sets the stage for Senate action and a stronger, more self-reliant America.”
Hardrock minerals are essential to sectors such as defense, aerospace, energy, and manufacturing in the United States. China currently holds significant influence over these resources worldwide—controlling about 60% of global production, 90% of processing capacity, and 75% of manufacturing related to critical minerals.
The Critical Mineral Dominance Act seeks to advance U.S. interests by making permanent several Trump-era executive orders: EO 14154 (“Unleashing American Energy”), EO 14241 (“Immediate Measures to Increase Mineral Production”), and EO 14272 (“Ensuring National Security and Economic Resilience Through Section 232 Actions on Processed Critical Minerals and Derivative Products”). The legislation directs the Department of the Interior to revise or rescind policies that restrict domestic mining activities, prioritize permitting for existing mines on public lands, identify areas with high mineral potential, expand geological mapping efforts, and report back to Congress with recommendations for reducing barriers to U.S.-based mining.
A full text version of H.R. 4090 is available online.
