WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Burgess Owens’ (UT-04) amendment to prohibit funds from H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, from being used to implement, administer, or enforce the recommendations from the Biden Administration’s Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Mining. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. 

“The vast majority of the Biden Administration’s Interagency Working Group on Mining recommendations undermine our domestic mineral supply chain and national security,” said Rep. Owens. “The U.S. must recognize the importance of a strong minerals supply chain and the dangers of reliance on adversaries. Other countries are investing in domestic production, while we lack a long-term strategy. We should support our domestic producers and aim for global leadership in mineral mining, rather than reinforcing China’s dominance. Federal funds should not enforce these risky recommendations; we need a durable strategy to catch up.”

Background:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act required the Secretary of Interior to create recommendations to ensure domestic mining meets increasing demands. In September 2023, the White House’s Interagency Working Group on Mining Regulations, Laws, and Permitting released their report with 65 recommendations, many of which stifle domestic mineral production and ultimately help adversaries, like China. 

Full legislative text of the amendment is available here.

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