Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (September 18, 2013) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 761, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013, which was sponsored by Western Caucus member Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV). Congressman Amodei and Western Caucus Co-Chair Cynthia Lummis released the following statements in response to the passage of this important legislation:

"In the 2012 ranking of countries for mining investment, the United States ranked last in permitting delays.  Duplicative regulations, bureaucratic inefficiency, and lack of coordination between federal agencies unnecessarily threaten the economic recovery of my home state and jeopardizing our national security,” said Congressman Amodei.  “Nevada, which is rich in strategic and critical minerals, also has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Decade-long permitting delays stand in the way of high-paying jobs and revenue for local communities.  This bill would not change environmental regulations or public input.  It would streamline the permitting process to leverage our nation's vast mineral resources, while paying due respect to economic, national security, and environmental concerns."

“Right now, nearly all of our rare earth minerals are imported from countries like China,” added Congresswoman Lummis.  “These minerals are used in our everyday devices, from cell phones to medical equipment, and are also necessary for national defense and manufacturing.  This near total and dangerous dependence on others for our critical minerals is senseless.  We have much of the minerals we need right here in Wyoming.  Unfortunately we also have truckloads of red tape that we don’t need.  Among the top 25 mining countries in the world, the United States ranks last, right alongside Papua New Guinea in mine permit delays. The bi-partisan National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013 will help us cut through this red tape to restore the many mining jobs that have fled overseas, enhance our independence and national defense, and secure critical materials for U.S. manufacturing.”