H.R. 3872

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3872 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3872

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 16, 2025

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

AN ACT

To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act 
applicable to hardrock minerals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. APPLICATION OF MINERAL LEASING ACT FOR ACQUIRED LANDS TO 
HARDROCK MINERALS.

The Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.) 
is amended--
(1) in section 2 (30 U.S.C. 351)--
(A) by striking ``Act `United States''' and 
inserting the following: ``Act:
``(1) United states.--The term `United States''';
(B) by striking ``Alaska. `Acquired lands''' and 
inserting the following: ``Alaska.
``(2) Acquired lands; lands acquired by the united 
states.--The term `acquired lands''';
(C) by striking ``552). `Secretary''' and inserting 
the following: ``552).
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary''';
(D) by striking ``Interior. `Mineral leasing laws' 
shall mean'' and inserting the following: ``Interior.
``(4) Mineral leasing laws.--The term `mineral leasing 
laws' means'';
(E) by striking ``Acts. `Lease''' and inserting the 
following: ``Acts.
``(5) Lease.--The term `lease''';
(F) by striking ``requires. The term'' and 
inserting the following: ``requires.
``(6) Oil.--The term''; and
(G) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) Hardrock mineral.--The term `hardrock mineral'--
``(A) includes deposits of--
``(i) minerals found in sedimentary or 
other rocks;
``(ii) base metals;
``(iii) precious metals;
``(iv) industrial minerals; and
``(v) precious and semi-precious gemstones; 
and
``(B) does not include deposits of--
``(i) coal;
``(ii) oil;
``(iii) oil shale;
``(iv) gas;
``(v) sodium;
``(vi) potassium;
``(vii) sulfur; or
``(viii) mineral materials subject to 
disposition under the Act of July 31, 1947, 
commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.).''; and
(2) in section 3 (30 U.S.C. 352), by striking ``and 
sulfur'' and inserting ``sulfur, and hardrock minerals''.

Passed the House of Representatives December 15, 2025.

Attest:

KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,

Clerk.