Welcome 119th Congress; Prioritizing Permitting Reform

What you need to know

• Permitting reform and minerals mining legislation must be on the front burner
• Supply chain concerns rise as China proposes additional restrictions on critical minerals
• Stay up to date on key legislation and get regular updates on minerals mining related news by following the Minerals Make Life Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) pages

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO

January 17, 2025

Dear Friend,

Welcome to the newest members of the 119^th Congress and welcome back all returning members. The National Mining Association (NMA) is the national trade organization that serves as the voice of the U.S. mining industry. We advocate for public policies that will help America build secure and reliable supply chains, strengthen U.S. manufacturing and economic security, and support the adoption of advanced energy technologies through domestic minerals mining.

We saw some legislative progress in 2024, such as the bipartisan passage of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, which has been decades in the making. However, there is still a great deal of work to be done. The United States is facing a mineral supply challenge unlike anything we’ve seen before. New and emerging technologies require a variety of metals and minerals in manufacturing, and our domestic demand for energy is continuously increasing as our country continues to innovate. Despite the crucial role of the manufacturing and technology sectors to our economy, we are dependent on China for essential materials. A recent report from The Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and The Chinese Communist Party found that China currently supplies more than 50 percent of U.S. demand for 24 critical minerals, including more than 90 percent of demand for rare earth elements. Growing our domestic mineral production and reducing our dependence on China should be a top priority for the new Congress and administration.

We urge every member of Congress to prioritize legislation such as The Energy Permitting Reform Act, which would address multiple inefficiencies facing the mining industry. Currently the United States has the second-longest lead time in the world for developing a new mine, only behind Zambia, at 29 years. Effective permitting reform would help to mitigate these long wait times, encourage investment, and make the United States more competitive and less reliant on adversaries like China. The future of America’s manufacturing, energy and infrastructure will depend on a secure and stable supply of minerals. Simply put, if it’s made in America, it should be mined in America.

I look forward to working with you to support our country—what’s Made in America should also be mined in America.

Thank you,

Rich Nolan
NMA President and CEO