Congressional Hearing Considers Problematic Mining Legislation
Public Citizen criticizes proposed “SECURE Minerals Act” and the “Finding ORE Act” for lacking safeguards to protect human rights and environmental safety
WASHINGTON — At a hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources today, Public Citizen condemned two proposals, the so-called “SECURE Minerals Act” and the “Finding ORE Act” for potentially perpetuating the longstanding polluting practices and human rights abuses endemic to the mining industry.
Testimony from Chelsea Hodgkins, senior EV policy advocate with Public Citizen’s Climate Program voiced deep concerns with President Donald Trump’s mineral policy, specifically citing the administration’s moves to enact policies that enrich corporations and Trump’s political allies at the expense of our public lands, health, and wellbeing.
“The mining industry’s lobbying efforts have resulted in a profit bonanza with public dollars,” said Hodgkins in written testimony. “Since the beginning of the President’s second term, the federal government has made sizable investments in six mining and minerals processing projects in exchange for equity stakes. These equity stakes have resulted in increased stock values and generous payouts for Trump’s billionaire allies and mining executives.”
Under the proposed “SECURE Minerals Act,” the U.S. Government would create the “Strategic Resilience Reserve Corporation” with the power and authority to shape and control the U.S. critical minerals market. The Reserve would be financed with an initial $2.5 billion investment of U.S. taxpayer dollars and managed by a President-appointed Board.
“This framework, especially under this administration, makes the Reserve ripe for fraud, corruption, and partisan political agendas,” said Hodgkins. “As written, there is too much opportunity for partisanship and Presidential profit motives to drive choices about public national resources using public dollars. This will have negative consequences on present and future generations without any real guarantees of tangible public benefits.”
The “Finding ORE Act” would allow the U.S. Geological Survey to enter into agreements with partner and allied foreign countries to collaborate on mineral mapping and resource assessment to jointly map and develop critical minerals and rare earth elements. But the agreements come with strings attached.
“The bill establishes a ‘right of first refusal’ for U.S.-headquartered companies and foreign allied companies to exploit discovered mineral resources in ‘partner nations,’” said Hodgkins. “This appears to be a warping of existing United States Geological Service authorities that typically foster international cooperation to instead codify Trump’s bullying of other nations into signing away their mineral resource rights.”
The livestream or recording of the hearing can be found here.
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