Congress·Passed House·H.J.Res. 140

Minnesota Mining: Reversing the Ban on Federal Land Use

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

✓ House

214–208

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Congress is voting to cancel a rule from the Bureau of Land Management that blocked new mining on about 225,000 acres of federal land in northern Minnesota.
The original rule was meant to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness by preventing companies from mining for minerals like copper and nickel for 20 years.
By overturning this rule, the government would allow mining companies to apply for leases to dig and explore for minerals in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis counties again.
This move is a major debate between people who want to create new mining jobs and those who want to protect one of the country's most famous wilderness areas from pollution.

Milestones

3 milestones14 actions

Jan 26, 2026Senate

Received in the Senate.

Jan 21, 2026House

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Jan 21, 2026House

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 38). (text: CR H1147)

Jan 21, 2026

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 208 (Roll no. 38). (text: CR H1147)

Jan 21, 2026House

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1156-1157)

Vote Results

1 vote

HousePassedPassageJan 21, 2026

On Passage

214

208

Democrat

1 – 207 · 5

Republican

213 – 1 · 4

View full roll call

Related Bills

1 bill

H.Res. 1009Related bill

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6945) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to clarify the authority of States to use funds for pregnancy centers, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6359) to require institutions of higher education to disseminate information on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant students, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 140) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.

Jan 21 — Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.