Published: April 20, 2026 |

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The U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res. 140, led by House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.).

The resolution, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 21, 2026, overturns the Biden administration’s withdrawal of 225,504 acres of land in the Superior National Forest from mineral exploration and development.

“I commend the Senate’s passage of this resolution. America must increase domestic production of critical minerals, secure our domestic supply chains and end reliance on foreign adversaries for our mineral needs. Minnesota is blessed with abundant mineral resources that could help meet these goals,” said House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).

“This legislation restores project sponsors’ ability to pursue state and federal permitting processes to potentially develop these minerals. I applaud Pete Stauber for his tireless work on behalf of his district and his state. We must support responsible development of our natural resources, our domestic industries and the American worker,” added Westerman.

“A major victory for America and for Minnesota’s families and workers was secured today. Never again can any Democrat President or administration unilaterally ban mining in this vital portion of the Superior National Forest, unilaterally killing jobs and locking away trillions of dollars of critical minerals essential to our way of life. Mining is our past, our present and our future — and the future looks bright,” said Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.).

“Despite the lies and hysterics from the left, my bill doesn’t allow mining in the Boundary Waters or the surrounding buffer zone, nor does it weaken environmental safeguards. It simply returns the decision to established permitting processes, where science, not politics, guides the outcome. I look forward to Minnesota’s miners and workers meeting every state and federal requirement so they can responsibly source the critical minerals, helium, and other potential natural resources that allow us to compete in the 21st century,” added Stauber.

BACKGROUND

The Duluth Complex in northern Minnesota is a world-class mineral deposit containing nearly 8 billion tons of critical minerals. If developed, this region could constitute 95 percent of America’s nickel reserves, 88 percent of America’s cobalt reserves, one-third of America’s copper reserves, and 75 percent of U.S. platinum-group resources.

In January 2022, the Biden administration canceled two decades-old mineral leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota. Public Land Order (PLO 7917), signed in January 2023 by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, withdrew 225,504 acres in the Superior National Forest from federal mineral leasing for 20 years.

The Biden administration’s actions spurned years of environmental review, a pending mine plan of operations, and myriad comments and letters from members of Congress, local communities, mineral developers, and union workers overwhelmingly supportive of the Twin Metals project.

In accordance with the Congressional Review Act, H.J. Res. 140 will eliminate PLO 7917 and prevent any similar action in the future. Notably, rescinding the withdrawal itself would not mandate the project but would simply allow the environmental review process to play out. The resolution passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 214-208.

Read the full text of the resolution HERE.

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