House Natural Resources Committee votes to return Boundary Waters leases to Twin Metals

The House Natural Resources Committee passed its portion of what President Donald Trump has coined “one big beautiful bill” at 1 a.m. on Wednesday. The reconciliation calls for the rescinding of Public Land Order 7917, which canceled all leases in the Boundary Waters Watershed, including the proposed Twin Metals copper mine.

The bill would be a victory for Twin Metals and its parent company, Antofagasta.  Twin Metals is currently appealing the dismissal of a lawsuit against the federal government in district court over the termination of its leases due to the 2023 order.

“Today, committee Republicans took decisive action and advanced our portion of the one big, beautiful reconciliation bill. We’re generating more than $18.5 billion in new revenue and savings for the American people by unleashing the United States’ abundant natural resources. These budgetary measures will deliver on President Trump’s agenda to make our nation energy dominant today and into the future,” Committee Chairman  Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) said in a statement.

Committee ranking member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said the bill is the “most extreme, anti-environment bill in American history.”

“I just keep going back to the idea that, you know, the GOP keeps trying to claim that this reconciliation bill is just about the budget,” said Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.). “Well then, what the hell does opening the Boundary Waters to international mining have to do with the budget?”

Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee adopted the land sales proposal early Wednesday morning. The initial draft had not included it amid bipartisan opposition.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has set a goal of passing the package out of his chamber by Memorial Day. All told, 11 different House committees are crafting portions of the bill.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Josh Hinke May 7, 2025