Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is applauding the White House's recent announcement of investing in mining education to compete with China.
The Context
Near the end of July, Rep. Biggs celebrated the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contained an amendment he backed that increases federal support for accredited mining engineering programs, especially since the United States graduates only 200 mining engineers annually compared to approximately 3,000 to 10,000 in China.
Earlier this August, the Department of Energy announced the Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative, a $100 million investment in mining education.
Similarly, the Department of War announced its own $80 million initiative that same day.
What Biggs is Saying
"I applaud the White House for making these historic investments in America's mining workforce," Rep. Biggs said in a statement. "The United States cannot afford to continue losing ground to China, especially in areas so critical to our defense systems, semiconductor supply chains, and infrastructure. Strengthening our mining engineering workforce is essential to protecting America's national security and securing the future for the next generation. I urge the U.S. Senate to include my amendment in its version of the NDAA to build on this progress."
A Bipartisan Push
Last March, Senators Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) backed the bipartisan Mining Education Act introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), which similarly establishes a grant program for mining schools at colleges and universities, such as the University of Arizona, one of the 14 institutions in the country to offer mining engineering degrees, to boost recruitment, research projects, and demonstrations of mineral production.
Additionally, the bill creates a Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to oversee the grant program, evaluate applicants, and recommend recipients to the Secretary of Energy.
If more college students pursue degrees in mining engineering, the United States can increase its domestic production of critical minerals.
