National Mining Association (NMA) President and CEO Hal Quinn issued the following statement today on the introduction today of the “National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2013,” (H.R. 761) by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.):
“The U.S. mining industry applauds Rep. Amodei for re-introducing this important legislation, which enjoys bi-partisan support and addresses a key issue for the country’s future economic growth and manufacturing revival. The U.S. is blessed with abundant mineral wealth essential for our basic industries, our national defense and the consumer products we use. Yet we are burdened by a painfully slow permitting process for the mines that produce these critical minerals.
“The result places the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage and forces our economy to become increasingly reliant on foreign producers for minerals we can produce domestically. Our dependence on foreign minerals has doubled in the past 20 years. Today, less than half of the mineral needs of U.S. manufacturing are met from domestically mined minerals, a trend that will only worsen unless we reform the permitting process responsible for it. Our broken permitting process also slows creation of high-wage jobs supported by mineral mining.
“Similar to the bill introduced in the 112th Congress, the Amodei bill carefully addresses the deficiencies of our outdated and underperforming permitting system. It provides for efficient, timely and thorough permit reviews and incorporates best practices for coordination between state and federal agencies.
“Using our country’s minerals responsibly and efficiently is a bi-partisan priority for strengthening our manufacturing base and the jobs it provides. Other countries are boldly acting to secure use of these minerals. NMA urges Congress to support American minerals and this far-sighted legislation.”