H.R. 520: National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-13 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 482.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-13 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 482. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act

Plain summary

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act This bill addresses the mine permitting process. Under the bill, projects that provide minerals vital to job creation, energy infrastructure, American economic competitiveness, and national security must be considered to be "infrastructure projects" as described in Executive Order 13604, entitled "Improving Performance of Federal Permitting and Review of Infrastructure Projects" dated March 22, 2012.This order directed federal agencies to significantly reduce the time required to make permitting and review decisions on infrastructure projects. The bill sets forth general requirements for an existing mineral exploration or mine permit application. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM)or the Forest Service shall appoint a project lead for the mine permitting process to coordinate with other agencies to ensure that the agencies: minimize delays, set and adhere to timelines for completion of the permitting process, set clear permitting goals, and track progress against goals. The requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969are satisfied if the BLM or the Forest Service determines that the agency issuing the permit will address specified factors, such as environmental impact, alternatives to issuance of the permit, or any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of resources that would be involved in the proposed action. The time period for completion of the mine permitting review process shall not exceed 30 months, except by mutual agreement. Projects on National Forest System land shall be exempt from regulations that prohibit timber tree cutting and road construction in areas without roads. The bill does not apply to oil, gas, and potash leasing and development within the designated potash areas of Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s)), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

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If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] · 36 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 520, National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act (2018-03-28)

Cosponsors on this site

Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Michael K. Simpson (R-ID), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Andy Barr (R-KY), Charles J. "Chuck" Fleischmann (R-TN), Sam Graves (R-MO), Harold Rogers (R-KY), Robert E. Latta (R-OH)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2] reported raising $525,368 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Exemption: A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House with amendment(s))
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr520.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr520 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115