Abundant American Resources Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 745

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-02-06T19:45:12Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Abundant American Resources Act of 2025" (H.R. 745) aims to assess the economic value of mineral resources on federal lands and waters. It directs specific federal agencies to conduct studies estimating the dollar value of various minerals in designated onshore and offshore areas, potentially informing future decisions on resource management and development.

Key Provisions

• Onshore Mineral Studies:
• The Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must complete a study within three years of enactment to value liquid minerals (e.g., crude oil), gaseous minerals (e.g., natural gas), locatable minerals (e.g., gold or silver under mining claims), leasable minerals (e.g., oil or coal under leasing programs), and salable minerals (e.g., sand or gravel sold by the government) in covered onshore areas under BLM jurisdiction.
• The Chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS) must complete a similar study for liquid, gaseous, and locatable minerals in covered onshore areas under USFS jurisdiction.
• Studies may be conducted directly by the agencies or through contracts with private entities.

• Offshore Mineral Study:
• The Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) must complete a study within three years of enactment to value liquid, gaseous, and locatable minerals in covered offshore areas under BOEM jurisdiction.
• This study may also use private contractors.

• Scope and Exclusions:
• Studies must include co-managed areas (lands or waters managed by two or more federal agencies).
• Exclusions apply to any unit of the National Park System and national monuments designated as an area of critical environmental concern (a federal term for specially protected lands with unique ecological or cultural value, as defined in federal regulations) before January 1, 2000.

• Definitions of Covered Areas:
• Covered onshore areas include: national monuments (not marine ones) designated after December 31, 1999; areas of critical environmental concern; and areas withdrawn from mining entry or mineral leasing/sale laws.
• Covered offshore areas include: marine national monuments; offshore areas withdrawn from mining or leasing laws; and offshore areas under a moratorium (a temporary ban on certain activities).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new mandates for federal agencies to perform comprehensive mineral valuation studies, which are not required under current law. It does not amend or repeal existing statutes on mining, leasing, or land withdrawals but creates a framework for gathering data that could influence future interpretations or applications of laws like the General Mining Law of 1872 or the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. No direct alterations to permitting, extraction rights, or environmental protections are made.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: BLM, USFS, and BOEM will face resource demands (e.g., funding, staffing, or contracting) to complete the studies within three years. Results could guide agency priorities in land and resource management, potentially streamlining or expanding mineral development reviews.
• On Citizens: Provides data on untapped mineral wealth, which may affect energy prices, job opportunities in mining and energy sectors, and local economies in resource-rich states. It could indirectly influence public access to federal lands if development follows.
• On International Relations: By quantifying U.S. mineral reserves, the studies may bolster arguments for energy independence, affecting trade negotiations or global markets for oil, gas, and critical minerals (e.g., those used in technology). No direct international obligations are imposed.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: BLM, USFS, and BOEM (primary implementers); other agencies like the National Park Service may be indirectly involved in boundary definitions.
• Industry Groups: Mining, oil, and gas companies, which could use study data to advocate for expanded access to federal resources.
• Environmental and Conservation Organizations: Groups focused on protecting public lands, potentially opposing any future development enabled by the studies.
• State and Local Governments: States with significant federal lands (e.g., Utah, Alaska) may see economic benefits or conflicts over resource use.
• Taxpayers and the Public: Fund the studies and bear any long-term costs or benefits from resource development.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill's focus on specific post-1999 designations and exclusions could invite lawsuits over area definitions or study methodologies, especially regarding what qualifies as an "area of critical environmental concern." It reinforces executive authority in land management without overriding judicial protections for withdrawn areas.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's plenary power over federal lands under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3), which allows regulation of public domain lands. No apparent conflicts with due process or takings clauses arise, as it only requires informational studies.
• Political: As a bipartisan but Republican-led initiative (introduced by Rep. Arrington and cosponsors), it emphasizes resource utilization over conservation, potentially fueling debates on balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. The three-year timeline allows for congressional oversight before results influence policy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX-19]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-28: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-28: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Abundant American Resources Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-28 — PDF (4 pages)