Bill · 119th Congress
H.R. 3872
MERICA Act of 2025
To amend the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make that Act applicable to hardrock minerals.
- 01 Introduced
- 02 Committee
- 03 Passed House
- 04 Passed Senate
- 05 To President
- 06 Law
Latest action · Sep 17, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
What this bill does
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.
Congressional Research Service · Reported to House · Oct 31, 2025
How Congress voted
No recorded votes yet. Many bills pass by voice vote or unanimous consent, where no one's individual vote is written down.
Timeline
- Sep 17, 2026Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
- Sep 17, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
- Jun 10, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- Feb 12, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
- Dec 16, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Dec 15, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Dec 15, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
- Dec 15, 2025Passed/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, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3872.
- Dec 15, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5884-5885)
- Dec 15, 2025Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Oct 31, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.
- Oct 31, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.
- Sep 17, 2025Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 17, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Sep 17, 2025Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
- Sep 3, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Jul 2, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- Jun 10, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Jun 10, 2025Introduced in House
Cosponsors
2 members
- Nathaniel MoranR-TX-1
- Pat HarriganR-NC-10
Details
Related bills
None listed
Cost estimates · Congressional Budget Office
Subject tags · 6