Like many other critical U.S. industries, policies being debated in Washington could have a major impact on mining. As policymakers consider how to get our nation’s economy back on track, two different paths have emerged for mining.

One path opens us to the possibility of increased domestic production of critical minerals, much-needed job creation and enhanced national security.

Recently, Congressman Mark Amodei of Nevada has brought forth legislation that would inject new life into the American mining sector—and consequently the American economy. In April of this year, Rep. Amodei introduced the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2012 (H.R. 4402), legislation to address the length, complexity and uncertainty of our mining permitting process. The outdated and overly burdensome permitting process is one of the biggest hurdles facing U.S. minerals mining today, as current policies slow domestic mining projects down for seven—even ten—years. Rep. Amodei’s legislation gets to the heart of the problem: an inefficient permitting process stops investment in the American minerals, threatens shortages of critical minerals and jeopardizes our economic growth.

H.R. 4402 would help increase our production of mineral materials right here at home and lend a much-needed hand to our struggling economy. This common-sense legislation’s time has come.

The other path that has emerged leads to higher taxes and product costs, the loss of well-paying jobs, slowed economic growth, increased reliance on foreign suppliers, and restrictions on American innovation.

At the core of this path is the administration’s proposed $1.8 billion tax on mining. This tax would disrupt domestic production and cut off opportunities for future growth. This isn’t a tax on profits or even minerals extracted; it’s a massive tax on every rock and pound of dirt moved in the mining process. This would not only threaten thousands of good American jobs, but also make U.S. mining less attractive, driving investment and mining jobs overseas, and forcing us to import more of the minerals on which our country relies.

The path that leads America to a stronger economy and more secure future is clear.