House lawmakers must wait to consider legislation that intends to streamline hardrock mine permitting on federal lands. Introduced by Representative Mark Amodei (R-NV) in February, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Act of 2013 (H.R. 761) hopes to increase domestic production of critical and strategic minerals on federal lands by setting  permitting and litigation time limits on proposed mining projects, and establishing a lead permitting agency to increase efficiency.

Although an earlier version of the bill successfully passed the full House last year, the current bill still has many opponents. Those against Amodei’s legislation, including the White House, fear H.R. 761 would eliminate environmental and safety restrictions placed on mines under the National Environmental Policy Act. They urge Republicans to consider alternate critical minerals legislation, including those introduced by Representatives Doug Lamborn (R-CO), H.R. 1063, and Hank Johnson (D-GA), H.R. 981.

The House was supposed to consider the legislation this July, however, due to delays caused by contentious deliberation of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2642), the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Act will likely not be considered until after August recess. August recess begins August 2, and lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill September 9.