US Congress · 119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 3872Passed Second Chamber Committee

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

Source of recordUS Congress · congress.govLast synced Sep 3, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became Law

Overview

This bill, the MERICA Act of 2025, amends the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to broaden the types of federally acquired lands eligible for hardrock mineral leasing. Specifically, it clarifies that ‘hardrock minerals’ include deposits found in various rock types, base metals, precious metals, and gemstones, while excluding coal, oil, and other resources. The bill also modifies the definitions within the Mineral Leasing Act to align with these changes.

Key provisions

Expands the definition of ‘hardrock mineral’ to include a wider range of minerals.
Clarifies that all federally acquired lands are potentially eligible for hardrock mineral leasing.
Excludes coal, oil, oil shale, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, and materials subject to the Materials Act of 1947 from being considered ‘hardrock minerals’.
Modifies definitions within the Mineral Leasing Act to align with the expanded scope of ‘hardrock mineral’.

Who is affected

Federal Government
Mining Companies
Landowners (Federal)
Environmental Groups
Energy Industry

Notable changes

Previously, hardrock mineral leasing was limited to lands acquired under specific statutes. This bill removes that restriction.
The definition of ‘hardrock mineral’ is significantly expanded to include previously excluded minerals.

Bill text

Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.

Jun 10, 2025XMLView source

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Legislative history

19 recorded actions · showing the most recent 12

Oct 31, 2025House

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.

Oct 31, 2025House

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

Oct 31, 2025

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

Dec 15, 2025House

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

Dec 15, 2025House

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

Dec 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)

Dec 15, 2025House

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

Dec 15, 2025House

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

Dec 15, 2025House

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

Dec 16, 2025Senate

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

Feb 12, 2026Senate

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

Jun 10, 2026Senate

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

Votes

Recorded roll calls and chamber actions on this bill.

Passage without roll call

The official record shows passage by unanimous consent or voice vote where no roll call was taken. No member-level tally is available for these steps, and the district map does not apply.

12/15/2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
12/15/2025Voice vote
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)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Passage without roll call

Dec 15, 2025HouseVoice vote
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.
Dec 15, 2025Voice vote
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)
No roll-call vote on record for this action.

Geography

Recorded positions across the country.

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments

Reasons offered for and against this legislation.

Arguments in favor

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Arguments opposed

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

Progress

Overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Bill text

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Legislative history

Votes

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call

Geography

Arguments

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Fiscal impact

Geography

Legislative history

Votes

Passage without roll call

Floor votes and chamber actions

Passage without roll call