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Application of Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to Hardrock Minerals

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 15, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3872, a bill to amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands, clarifying that all lands acquired by the Federal Government are eligible for potential hardrock mineral leasing.

Most mining on Federal lands operates under a claims system, where U.S. citizens or U.S. subsidiaries of foreign companies can claim certain open areas of public land for their mineral rights. On most acquired lands, which are lands obtained through means other than the original public lands laws, like through a purchase or exchange, hardrock mineral rights are leased, similar to procedures for oil, gas, and coal. However, if the statute used to acquire that land doesn't explicitly authorize hardrock mineral leasing, then mineral leasing can't take place.

This is the case with the Department of Defense lands in Texas, specifically the Red River Army Depot, which was acquired under various statutes that did not specifically authorize hardrock leasing.

A lithium exploration company applied for a permit to explore at the Army Depot, but the Bureau of Land Management did not have the power the authorize exploration.

The company already has industrial leases on adjacent private lands, and this bill would not grant any specific permits but would give BLM the authority to issue permits and leases if appropriate.

This is a good bill. It is a technical fix that will help us potentially develop lithium resources which are essential for the clean energy transition.

I will add that this bill authorizes hardrock leasing, which is a far better and more responsible practice than the claims staking system we have across the rest of our Federal lands.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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