H.R. 3872 · 119th Congress
MERICA Act of 2025
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Passed the House without a recorded vote. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record how each member voted. Its text can still change before it becomes law.
R
FallonSponsor2 cosponsors · 2 R
1 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
- House Introduced Jun 10, 2025
- House Passed Dec 15, 2025
This bill specifies that all federally acquired lands are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (MLAAL).
What it does: CRS summary · Reported to House · Oct 31, 2025
This bill specifies that all federally acquired lands are eligible to be considered for hardrock mineral leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (MLAAL). The bill defines the term hardrock mineral to (1) include deposits of minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks, base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, and precious and semi-precious gemstones; and (2) exclude deposits of coal, oil, oil shale, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, or mineral materials subject to disposition under the Materials Act of 1947.
By way of background, hardrock minerals are not currently listed under the MLAAL as deposits subject to a lease, while mineral resources such as coal, phosphate, oil, gas, gilsonite, and sulfur are listed. As a result, federal lands may be leased for mining hardrock minerals only if the federal lands were acquired under a statute, such as the Weeks Act, that specifically authorizes the land to be used for hardrock mineral leasing.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.
Also known as: Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act of 2025
Latest action (Sep 17, 2026): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
Policy area: Energy · Origin: House · Introduced: Jun 10, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
- House Introduced Jun 10, 2025
- House Passed Dec 15, 2025
No recorded floor vote found.