WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly are backing the bipartisan Mining Schools Act of 2025 to bolster America’s mining workforce and energy security by expanding opportunities in mining education.
The bill addresses the nation’s declining mining workforce by establishing a grant program for universities to recruit students and support research or demonstration projects related to mineral production. This will help attract more students to the field and reduce U.S. reliance on adversarial nations for critical minerals. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).
The University of Arizona is home to one of only 14 mining schools in the country.
“Mining plays an important role both in Arizona’s economy and our country’s energy security,” said Senator Gallego. “This bipartisan bill will help train the next generation of mining professionals, prepare students for good-paying jobs, and keep America competitive in mineral production.”
“Arizona is leading the way in mining the materials that power our economy, from copper to critical minerals,” said Senator Kelly. “To keep that edge, we’re investing in the next generation of engineers, geologists, and skilled workers, and giving schools like the University of Arizona the tools to recruit more students, expand and strengthen our supply chains.”
“As one of the first mining engineering programs in the country, the U of A has a long tradition of excellence in mining education and research. The Mining Schools Act would leverage university assets to drive advancements in critical mineral extraction and processing, national security, and economic prosperity while helping train the next generation of skilled workers,” said University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella.
The Mining Schools Act of 2025 would:
- Establish a grant program for mining schools to receive funds in order to recruit students and carry out studies, research projects, or demonstration projects related to the production of minerals.
- Establish 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.
Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.