Horsford-Led Legislation Passes House of Representatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) today passed critical legislation through the U.S. House of Representatives that will diversify Nevada’s economy and create good paying jobs across the state.

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act (H.R. 1366) streamlines critical mineral production and creates the Abandoned Hardrock Mine Fund to support an abandoned hardrock mine cleanup program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

“The bill I passed in Congress today puts Nevada’s natural resources to work for Nevadans,” Rep. Horsford said. “Streamlining the hardrock mining process will create good jobs and strengthen our energy sector. At the same time, this legislation delivers more resources for the Silver State to clean up past mining-related contaminants in our environment. The result is more jobs, a stronger economy, and an opportunity for a cleaner Nevada moving forward.”

“Strengthening our domestic mineral supply chain isn’t optional, it’s demanded to ensure we don’t fall further behind China,”Rep. Amodei said. “Western states are sitting on a wealth of resources and a critical opportunity to break our dangerous reliance on foreign adversaries while powering our own economy. The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act restores decades of established precedent, repairs a permitting process undermined by the Rosemont decision, and gives domestic mining operations the certainty they need to compete aggressively and win. I’m glad to see the House pass this bill once again with bipartisan support, and I urge the Senate to act swiftly to get it signed into law.” 

“The bipartisan Mining Regulatory Clarity Act is foundationally important to ensuring the U.S. can use our vast domestic resources to build the mineral supply chains our economic and national security demand,” Rich Nolan, National Mining Association President and CEO said. “China has weaponized its mineral dominance and left no doubt about how untenable our import reliance has become. The urgency to address our minerals challenge has never been greater. This legislation ensures the fundamental ability to conduct responsible mining activities on federal lands. Regulatory certainty, or the lack thereof, will either underpin or undermine efforts to decisively confront our minerals crisis.”

“The Nevada Mining Association is in full support of the passage of the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act,” Amanda Hilton, Nevada Mining Association President said. “As the importance of strengthening domestic supply chains continues to grow, this legislation provides clear guidance for mine operations in Nevada and across the United States to responsibly produce the minerals needed here at home, support national security, and provide good-paying careers for American workers.”

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act now moves to the U.S. Senate where Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto introduced companion legislation. 

Full text of the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act is available here. 

Information about Rep. Horsford’s Apex Area Technical Corrections Law, which generates good jobs and diversifies Nevada’s economy much like the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act would as well, is available here. 

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