PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
Congressional Research Service
Version 07 · 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.
People & committees
Rep. Fallon, Pat [R-TX-4] · R–TX
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 669.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-305.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5884)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3872.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5884-5885)
Mr. Stauber moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 309.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-357.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Oct 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.3872 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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