Today, Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) applauded the inclusion of core provisions of his Mining Schools Act into the base text of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House with a vote of 216-212.
The Mining Schools Act, which passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee in 2024, provides grant support to strengthen domestic mining education programs and expand opportunities for students pursuing careers in mining engineering, geology, metallurgy, and other technical fields critical to America’s energy and national security needs.
The legislation will help ensure that the United States continues to reduce its dependence on foreign adversaries for the materials and minerals critical to modern life and national security. By ensuring more talent enters the workforce prepared to strengthen our domestic critical minerals production and processing capabilities.
“America’s mineral security is inseparably linked to our national security. In today’s world, full of heightened global tensions, we cannot continue to turn to our adversaries for the critical minerals essential to modern life and national security. That is why I am so grateful to see core provisions of my bipartisan Mining Schools Act included in the base text of this year’s NDAA. The United States of America was blessed with a wealth of mineral resources, but without the training or workforce needed to find, mine, and refine the deposits we have, we will be left to the whims of China for our future. This provision will ensure that the next generation of workers will be prepared to ensure our future is safe, secure, and independent.”
Rep. Burgess Owens
“For more than a century, the University of Utah has been a cornerstone of Utah’s mining industry—and as a top research university offering programs in geology, mining engineering, and metallurgical engineering, that role has never been more critical. We prepare the skilled workforce Utah’s mines depend on and conduct research that makes mining safer, more efficient, and a strong driver of economic growth for our state, while helping to secure the nation’s critical mineral supply.”
President Randall, University of Utah
“Including language from Congressman Burgess Owens’ Mining Schools Act in the NDAA is a major win for Utah, because it formally links our world‑class mining education and training programs with the nation’s defense industrial base and critical minerals supply chain. By opening the door to new federal partnerships, scholarships, and hands‑on training, this program will help Utah recruit, educate, and place the next generation of miners, engineers, and technicians our state and our country need to stay secure and competitive. The Utah Mining Association thanks Congressman Owens and the other members of Utah’s federal delegation for their efforts to support Utah’s mining industry and our current and future mining workforce.”
Brian Somers, President, Utah Mining Association:
“American mining, and the workforce behind it, is essential to our national security. The Mining Schools Act strengthens our ability to build and sustain the skilled domestic mining workforce that is critical to securing the minerals our defense and energy systems need. We appreciate its inclusion in the House National Defense Authorization Act and urge the Senate to follow suit to ensure the United States has the talent needed to support a secure, reliable domestic mining industry.”
Rich Nolan, President and CEO, National Mining Association:
“The inclusion of workforce development language in the FY27 NDAA represents an important step toward ensuring secure and reliable domestic critical mineral supply chains. By investing in accredited mining schools and workforce development pathways, this provision addresses real workforce gaps while helping ensure the United States remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global minerals landscape. These initiatives will prepare the next generation of skilled professionals essential to our economic and strategic strength. ACMA thanks Congressman Owens for his leadership on this issue and strongly supports retaining this language in the final text of the NDAA. We urge Congress to advance and approve this provision to help secure the future of the minerals workforce and the supply chains that power and protect our daily lives.”
Sarah Venuto, Executive Director, American Critical Minerals Association
The FY27 NDAA language adopts the spirit and structure of the Mining Schools Act and broadens its reach by leveraging the Department of Defense’s existing authorities under Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 and Section 4817 of Title 10. Section 1853 directs DOD workforce development initiatives for the defense industrial base to include initiatives that support the mining industry
What the Mining Schools Act Does
- Establishes a grant program for mining schools to receive funds to recruit students and carry out studies, research projects, and demonstration projects related to the production of minerals.
- Establishes the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to evaluate applications and recommend recipients to the Secretary of Energy, as well as conduct oversight to ensure that grant funds are appropriately used.
