Bill > S3708

This bill, known as the MERICA Act of 2026, aims to expand the scope of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to include hardrock minerals. The Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands is a law that governs how certain minerals can be leased and extracted from lands owned by the U.S. government that were acquired through purchase or other means, not through original public domain designation. The MERICA Act proposes to amend this existing law by specifically defining "hardrock mineral" to encompass a broad range of materials like base metals, precious metals, industrial metals, and gemstones found in various rocks, while explicitly excluding substances such as coal, oil, gas, and materials already covered by the Materials Act of 1947. This change would allow for the leasing and extraction of these newly included hardrock minerals from acquired lands, potentially supporting industries reliant on these materials, such as renewable energy and critical applications.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3708/all-info