Senate faces deadline on measure to reverse mineral withdrawal

Time is running out for the U.S. Senate to vote on House Joint Resolution 140, which would reverse a 20-year mineral withdrawal in the Superior National Forest and prevent future administrations from enacting a similar ban.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the resolution Jan. 21. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress has 60 legislative working days to vote on the measure, giving the Senate until late April to act.

Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith have both opposed the resolution. Smith joined Save the Boundary Waters for a press conference Feb. 18 to voice her opposition.

“Protecting the Boundary Waters is not a partisan issue — it is an American issue,” Smith said during the press conference.

Friends of the Boundary Waters held a rally at the Minnesota State Capitol on Feb. 25 in opposition to H.J. Res. 140 and in support of additional state-level protections.

WTIP has spent the past year speaking with wilderness advocates, mining representatives, business owners, and other community members about the issue. A compilation of that coverage is available in the Community Conversation below.

Josh Hinke March 8, 2026