NAM to Senate: Pass the Protecting Domestic Mining Act
The NAM-backed Protecting Domestic Mining Act, which cleared the House on Wednesday, contains measures critical for unlocking America’s energy potential, and Senate lawmakers should pass it as soon as possible, the NAM said this week.
What’s going on: The Protecting Domestic Mining Act, which would amend the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to make mining and mineral processing activities covered projects under the existing Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s frameworks, “is “fundamental to support a thriving manufacturing base in the U.S.,” the NAM said.
Why it’s important: Manufacturers in the U.S. require minerals and mineral derivatives to produce “the most technologically advanced industrial and consumer products in the world,” the NAM continued. Currently, however, America relies heavily on foreign imports.
- “[D]ue to decades of underinvestment in our domestic mining and processing sectors, the U.S. is completely reliant on imports for 13 such substances on the 2025 U.S. Geological Survey List of Critical Minerals, as well as over 50% for an additional 20,” the NAM told the House.
How it would help: By “providing mining and mineral processing access to FPISC’s permit streamlining and transparency services,” the measure will make it easier and more affordable for companies to build critical projects and create jobs in the U.S.
The final say: The Senate should now move quickly to pass the act.
- “We look forward to working with the Senate to make sure this important legislation is enacted for the benefit of the U.S. manufacturing economy,” the NAM wrote in a social media post.
NAM in the news: Bloomberg Government highlighted the NAM’s support for the legislation in its coverage of the House vote.
