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119th Congress Energy

H.R. 3872: MERICA Act of 2025

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

Passed HouseDec 15, 2025

  1. Introduced (completed)Jun 10, 2025
  2. Passed House (completed)Dec 15, 2025
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Reported to House, Oct 31, 2025

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.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

2

Who scored on this bill

70 points earned
  1. 1Patrick Fallon R-TX SponsorIntroduced, marked up, reported, passed House4 events+62
  2. 2Pat Harrigan R-NCCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
  3. 2Nathaniel Moran R-TXCosponsored; cosponsored bill passed2 events+4
See all scorers and every scoring event

Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Patrick Fallon

History

  1. Dec 15, 2025Passed the House by voice vote.
  2. Jun 10, 2025Introduced in the House by Patrick Fallon.
Show the full action history (20 actions)
  1. Sep 17, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
  2. Sep 17, 2026Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
  3. Jun 10, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
  4. Feb 12, 2026Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
  5. Dec 16, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  6. Dec 15, 2025Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  7. Dec 15, 2025Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5884-5885)
  8. Dec 15, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3872.
  9. 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)
  10. Dec 15, 2025On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
  11. Dec 15, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  12. Oct 31, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.
  13. Oct 31, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.
  14. Sep 17, 2025Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
  15. Sep 17, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  16. Sep 17, 2025Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  17. Sep 3, 2025Subcommittee Hearings Held
  18. Jul 2, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  19. Jun 10, 2025Introduced in House
  20. Jun 10, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.