U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT) recently cosponsored legislation that would ensure mining and mineral refining can swiftly and successfully be produced in the United States by American workers.
“The U.S. domestic mining industry is critical to our national security and energy dominance,” Rep. Moore said on Thursday. “As our mineral demand continues to grow, our permitting process must keep pace.”
The congressman introduced the Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025, H.R. 1501, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-IN) to amend Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), which establishes protocols and provides funding for infrastructure projects overseen by the federal government.
“In Utah alone, mining supports over 43,000 jobs and contributes over $5.2 billion to our state GDP annually,” said Rep. Moore, who said he wants to ensure these mining projects qualify for FAST-41 status.
In 2021, mining was added as a sector under FAST-41, and projects then could work through one of the 18 possible criteria to be expedited. Such projects range from renewable and conventional energy production to semiconductors and artificial intelligence, according to Rep. Moore’s statement.
In 2023, the Biden administration proposed a rule limiting the minerals eligible for expedited permitting in the United States. If enacted, H.R. 1501 would block that proposed rule and streamline the permitting process for critical minerals like copper and iron, the statement says.
The National Mining Association endorsed H.R. 1501, which has been referred to the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee for consideration.