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69th Legislature 2025 HR 2
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HR 2
ENROLLED BILL
A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA SUPPORTING
THE EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, PROCESSING, REFINING, RECYCLING, AND REUSE OF CRITICAL
MINERALS IN MONTANA.
WHEREAS, critical minerals, including rare earth elements, are necessary for many vital applications,
including but not limited to high-performance and quantum computing, renewable and traditional energy
development, electric vehicles and batteries, medical imaging and technology, electronics, and high-strength
magnets, and for use by our nation's military, from special forces gear and munitions to tanks and fighter jets;
and
WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey and the United States Department of Energy have
designated lists of these critical minerals and materials used for these purposes that are at risk of supply chain
disruption; and
WHEREAS, the United States currently imports a majority of its critical minerals for these purposes,
including from its geopolitical adversaries, mainly China, which controls more than 50% of the mining and over
90% of the processing, refining, and recycling and reuse for certain critical elements; and
WHEREAS, China has restricted and/or banned the export of certain critical minerals and rare earth
elements to the United States and its allies, including the technology used to produce them; and
WHEREAS, the White House and Congress have developed a myriad of programs, orders, and
initiatives to address these supply chain risks and are investing billions of dollars in domestic and allied critical
minerals mining, processing, refining, recycling and reuse, and manufacturing projects; and
WHEREAS, Montana has significant deposits of these listed critical minerals in its geology, both at
existing mines and at abandoned legacy sites; and
WHEREAS, Montana is home to the nation's only platinum group metals-producing mines, the
69th Legislature 2025 HR 2
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HR 2
ENROLLED BILL
Stillwater and East Boulder mines, and has mines and processing facilities that produce or have historically
produced critical minerals, including copper, molybdenum, nickel, manganese, zinc, tungsten, antimony,
chromium, and aluminum, and is therefore uniquely poised to help America secure its critical minerals supply
chains; and
WHEREAS, Montana desires to responsibly develop its mineral resources and to expand and establish
mining, processing, refining, recycling and reuse, and manufacturing facilities for critical minerals, which would
advance its economy and be for the mutual benefit of our nation's technological, energy, and economic
advancements, and allow for our nation's continued security and defense; and
WHEREAS, critical minerals mining, processing, refining, recycling and reuse, and manufacturing done
in Montana and domestically, in accordance with our global-leading labor, safety, public engagement, and
environmental standards, provides responsible development assurances that result in major global
environmental and humanitarian benefits when compared to projects if they are conducted in China, Russia,
and many other developing countries; and
WHEREAS, the United States government, including its Department of Defense, and Montana's
Congressional Delegation have continued to support the advancement of critical minerals projects in Montana.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
MONTANA:
That the 69th Legislature urges the state, federal, tribal, and local jurisdictions across Montana to
acknowledge the information provided here and to support the further study, identification, exploration, and
responsible and appropriate development, processing, refining, and recycling and reuse of critical minerals and
materials in Montana for the benefit of its local communities and economies and to strengthen America's
domestic supply chains for achieving its technological, economic, and energy transition goals and to secure its
national defense.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send copies of this resolution to the
President of the United States and his cabinet, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the
Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the Montana Congressional Delegation.
69th Legislature 2025 HR 2
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ENROLLED BILL
- END -
I hereby certify that the within bill,
HR 2, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2
INTRODUCED BY R. GREGG, W. GALT, L. SCHUBERT, G. OVERSTREET, E. BYRNE, C. SCHOMER, D.
ZOLNIKOV, M. BERTOGLIO, L. JONES, S. FITZPATRICK, B. LER, R. MINER, K. ZOLNIKOV, J.
FITZPATRICK, B. MITCHELL
A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA SUPPORTING
THE EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, PROCESSING, REFINING, RECYCLING, AND REUSE OF CRITICAL
MINERALS IN MONTANA.