MERICA Act of 2025

This bill would make it so that all land owned by the federal government that was purchased or otherwise acquired could be opened up for leasing to mine certain minerals like base metals, precious metals, gemstones, and industrial minerals. Right now, these types of minerals — called "hardrock minerals" — can only be mined on federal land if the specific law used to acquire that land allows it. This bill would change that by making all federally acquired lands eligible for hardrock mineral leasing, similar to how those lands can already be leased for things like coal, oil, and gas. The bill does not cover coal, oil, gas, or certain other materials, which are handled under existing laws.

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