Congressional Bill H.J.Res. 140 Signed into Law

On April 27, 2026, President Donald J. Trump signed H.J.Res. 140, a joint resolution that effectively reopens more than 225,000 acres of federal land in northeastern Minnesota to mineral and geothermal leasing.Key Impacts of the Legislation:Overturning the Mining Ban: The law disapproves a 2023 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Land Order that had implemented a 20-year moratorium on mineral and geothermal leasing in the region.Geographic Scope: The affected land consists of approximately 225,504 acres of National Forest System lands located across Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties.Strategic Objective: By signing this resolution, the administration removes a significant regulatory barrier to domestic mining in a region rich in critical minerals (such as copper and nickel). The move aligns with the President's broader "America First" agenda to secure domestic supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign adversaries for industrial and technology-sector materials.This action marks a decisive victory for advocates of domestic energy and mineral production, while reversing a major environmental policy of the previous administration.