The bill that Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said will allow the U.S. to develop strategic and critical minerals was approved 246-178 by the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Under the existing red-tape-bound system, he said, it can take up to 10 years for the federal government to issue permits to mine minerals such as rare earth elements vital to electronics and other high-tech devices.
He said the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act will streamline the government process by limiting the review process to 30 months “and ensuring that these important projects aren’t held up by frivolous lawsuits.”
Under the current regulations, he said, the U.S. is ranked last because of permitting delays, duplicative regulations and inefficiency.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.