HR 3872 — To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.

Summary

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.

Bill Text

Published by the reporting committee Not generated — this is the committee's own “Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported”.

Text to be removed appears in [brackets]. Newly inserted text is italicised in the official report and cannot be marked in this plain-text rendition — read the official PDF ↗ for the authoritative formatting.

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

 MINERAL LEASING ACT FOR ACQUIRED LANDS

 * * * * * * *
 Sec. 2. As used in this [Act ``United States''] Act:
 (1) United states._The term ``United States'' 
 includes [Alaska. ``Acquired lands''] Alaska.
 (2) Acquired lands; lands acquired by the united 
 states._The term ``acquired lands'' or ``lands 
 acquired by the United States'' include all lands 
 heretofore or hereafter acquired by the United States 
 to which the ``mineral leasing laws'' have not been 
 extended, including such lands acquired under the 
 provisions of the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961, 
 16 U.S.C., sec. [552). ``Secretary''] 552).
 (3) Secretary._The term ``Secretary'' means the 
 Secretary of the [Interior. ``Mineral leasing laws'' 
 shall mean] Interior.
 (4) Mineral leasing laws._The term ``mineral leasing 
 laws'' means the Act of October 20, 1914 (38 Stat. 
 741, 48 U.S.C., sec. 432); the Act of February 25, 1920 
 (41 Stat. 437, 30 U.S.C., sec. 181); the Act of April 
 17, 1926 (44 Stat. 301, 30 U.S.C., sec. 271); the Act 
 of February 7, 1927 (44 Stat. 1057, 30 U.S.C., sec. 
 281), and all Acts heretofore or hereafter enacted 
 which are amendatory of or supplementary to any of the 
 foregoing [Acts. ``Lease''] Acts.
 (5) Lease._The term ``lease'' includes ``prospecting 
 permit'' unless the context otherwise [requires. The 
 term] requires.
 (6) Oil._The term ``oil'' shall embrace all 
 nongaseous hydrocarbon substances other than those 
 leasable as coal, oil shale, or gilsonite (including 
 all vien-type solid hydrocarbons).
 (7) Hardrock mineral.--The term ``hardrock 
 mineral''--
 (A) includes deposits of--
 (i) minerals found in sedimentary or 
 other rocks;
 (ii) base metals;
 (iii) precious metals;
 (iv) industrial minerals; and
 (v) precious and semi-precious 
 gemstones; and
 (B) does not include deposits of--
 (i) coal;
 (ii) oil;
 (iii) oil shale;
 (iv) gas;
 (v) sodium;
 (vi) potassium;
 (vii) sulfur; or
 (viii) mineral materials subject to 
 disposition under the Act of July 31, 
 1947, commonly known as the Materials 
 Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).
 Sec. 3. Except where lands have been acquired by the United 
States for the development of the mineral deposits, by 
foreclosure or otherwise for resale, or reported as surplus 
pursuant to the provisions of the Surplus Property Act of 
October 3, 1944 (50 U.S.C., sec. 1611 and the following), all 
deposits of coal, phosphate, oil, oil shale, gilsonite 
(including all vein-type solid hydrocarbons), gas, sodium, 
potassium, [and sulfur] sulfur, and hardrock minerals which are 
owned or may hereafter be acquired by the United States and 
which are within the lands acquired by the United States 
(exclusive of such deposits in such acquired lands as are (a) 
situated within incorporated cities, towns and villages, 
national parks or monuments, or (b) tidelands or submerged 
lands) may be leased by the Secretary under the same conditions 
as contained in the leasing provisions of the mineral leasing 
laws, subject to the provisions hereof. Coal or lignite under 
acquired lands set apart for military or naval purposes may be 
leased by the Secretary, with the concurrence of the Secretary 
of Defense, to a governmental entity (including any corporation 
primarily acting as an agency or instrumentality of a State) 
which produces electrical energy for sale to the public if such 
governmental entity is located in the State in which such lands 
are located. The provisions of the Act of April 17, 1926 (44 
Stat. 301), as heretofore or hereafter amended, shall apply to 
deposits of sulfur covered by this Act wherever situated. No 
mineral deposit covered by this section shall be leased except 
with the consent of the head of the executive department, 
independent establishment, or instrumentality having 
jurisdiction over the lands containing such deposit, or holding 
a mortgage or deed of trust secured by such lands which is 
unsatisfied of record, and subject to such conditions as that 
official may prescribe to insure the adequate utilization of 
the lands for the primary purposes for which they have been 
acquired or are being administered: Provided, That nothing in 
this Act is intended, or shall be construed, to apply to or in 
any manner affect any mineral rights, exploration permits, 
leases or conveyances nor minerals that are or may be in any 
tidelands; or submerged lands; or in lands underlying the three 
mile zone or belt involved in the case of the United States of 
America against the State of California now pending on 
application for rehearing in the Supreme Court of the United 
States; or in lands underlying such three mile zone or belt, or 
the continental shelf, adjacent or littoral to any part of the 
land within the jurisdiction of the United States of America.

 * * * * * * *

Source: H. Rept. 119-357 · govinfo

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

Also cites: 30 U.S.C. § 352

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill clarifies definitions and expands the applicability of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to include hardrock minerals.

• 30 U.S.C. § 351

  As used in this chapter “United States” includes Alaska. “Acquired lands” or “lands acquired by the United States” include all lands heretofore or hereafter acquired by the United States to which the “mineral leasing laws” have not been extended, including such lands acquired under the provisions of the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 961, 16 U.S.C., sec. 552). “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior, “Mineral leasing laws” shall mean the Act of October 20, 1914 (38 Stat. 741, 48 U.S.C., sec. 432); the Act of February 25, 1920 (41 Stat. 437, 30 U.S.C., sec. 181); the Act of April 17, 1926 (44 Stat. 301, 30 U.S.C., sec. 271); the Act of February 7, 1927 (44 Stat. 1057, 30 U.S.C., sec. 281), and all Acts heretofore or hereafter enacted which are amendatory of or supplementary to any of the foregoing Acts. “Lease” includes “prospecting permit” unless the context otherwise requires. The term “oil” shall embrace all nongaseous hydrocarbon substances other than those leasable as coal, oil shale, or gilsonite (including all vein-type solid hydrocarbons). → Act: (1) United States.--The term 'United States'; (2) Acquired lands; lands acquired by the united states.--The term 'acquired lands'; (3) Secretary.--The term 'Secretary'; (4) Mineral leasing laws.--The term 'mineral leasing laws' means; (5) Lease.--The term 'lease'; (6) Oil.--The term 'oil'; (7) Hardrock mineral.--The term 'hardrock mineral'-- (A) includes deposits of-- (i) minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks; (ii) base metals; (iii) precious metals; (iv) industrial minerals; and (v) precious and semi-precious gemstones; and (B) does not include deposits of-- (i) coal; (ii) oil; (iii) oil shale; (iv) gas; (v) sodium; (vi) potassium; (vii) sulfur; or (viii) mineral materials subject to disposition under the Act of July 31, 1947, commonly known as the Materials Act of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

  The definition sections are restructured and expanded to include a specific definition for hardrock minerals.

• 30 U.S.C. § 352

  sodium, potassium, and sulfur → sulfur, and hardrock minerals

  The scope of mineral deposits that may be leased is expanded to explicitly include hardrock minerals.

Action History

1. June 10, 2026

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

2. February 12, 2026

   Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

3. December 16, 2025

   Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

4. December 15, 2025

   Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

5. December 15, 2025

   Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5884-5885)

6. December 15, 2025

   DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3872.

7. December 15, 2025

   Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)

8. December 15, 2025

   On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)

9. December 15, 2025

   Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

10. October 31, 2025

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.

11. October 31, 2025

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.

12. October 31, 2025

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.

13. September 17, 2025

    Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged

14. September 17, 2025

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

15. September 17, 2025

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.

16. September 03, 2025

    Subcommittee Hearings Held

17. July 02, 2025

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

18. June 10, 2025

    Introduced in House

19. June 10, 2025

    Introduced in House

20. June 10, 2025

    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Sponsors

• Nathaniel Moran · Cosponsor
• Pat Harrigan · Cosponsor
• Pat Fallon · Primary

Subjects