PSI Sci
New here? Follow the money and the votes · Not sure of your district? Find your U.S. House member · Find your state legislators

H.R. 2579: Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

Before you vote › Federal bills

H.R. 2579: Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

116th Congress · introduced 2019-05-08 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 374.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-05-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 374. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

Plain summary

Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019 This bill addresses mineral leasing, exploration, and development on federal land. Among other things, the bill prohibits the issuance of a patent for certain mining or millsite claims; establishes a permitting and leasing system for hardrock mining; establishes a 12.5% royalty on new mining operations and an 8% royalty on existing operations, with an exemption for small miners; protects special places, such as wilderness study areas, roadless areas, and wild and scenic rivers, from hardrock mining activity; requires consultation prior to undertaking any mineral activities that may have a substantial direct impact on the lands or interests of Indian tribes; establishes an environmental standard for mining activities to ensure that mining activities prevent undue degradation of public lands and resources; prescribes requirements for the exploration permit process and for operations permits, including financial assurances; and authorizes the use of amounts in the Hardrock Minerals Reclamation Fund for the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by past hardrock mineral activities and related activities.

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

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

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

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-3] · 27 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2579, Hardrock Leasing and Reclamation Act of 2019 (2020-07-27)

Cosponsors on this site

Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Darren Soto (D-FL), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)

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 (2)
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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr2579 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116