Cotton Introduces Bill to Reduce Burdensome Government Regulations on Hardrock Mineral Leasing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
January 28, 2026

Cotton Introduces Bill to Reduce Burdensome Government Regulations on Hardrock Mineral Leasing

Washington, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today introduced legislation to make all federally acquired lands eligible for hardrock mineral leasing. The Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications ('MERICA) Act will reduce bureaucratic red tape that limits mining on federally acquired lands.

"America's natural resources are critical for our national security and shouldn't be limited by burdensome government regulations. My bill will open federally acquired lands so we can boost domestic mineral production," said Senator Cotton.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Mineral Extraction for Renewable Industry and Critical Applications Act would:

• Make all federally acquired lands eligible for hardrock mineral leasing under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (MLAAL).
• List hardrock minerals in the same group with other minerals such as coal, phosphate, oil, gas, gilsonite, and sulfur, which are leasable deposits under the MLAAL.

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