Gallego Joins Bipartisan Effort to Bolster Mining Education

PHEONIX, AZ – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) signed on to the bipartisan Mining Schools Act lead by Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Jim Costa (CA-21). The legislation would increase and improve opportunities for America’s university and college mining and geological programs to prepare students to meet future energy needs.

“Arizona has long been a leader in clean energy and transportation technology, chips manufacturing, and more,” said Rep. Gallego. “But to continue building a 21st-century economy, we need more mining and mineral engineers. I’m proud to support the bipartisan Mining Schools Act to help schools like the University of Arizona School of Mining and Mineral Recourses recruit more students and continue to grow Arizona’s economy.”

The University of Arizona School of Mining and Mineral Resources has found that incoming freshman engineering students are not knowledgeable about mining and rate it among the least interesting engineering majors. Nationally, enrollment in mining engineering programs has reduced by nearly 50 percent.

The Mining Schools Act would help bolster mining engineering programs by:  

• Establishing a grant program for mining schools to receive funds to recruit students and carry out studies, research projects, or demonstration projects related to the production of minerals; and

• Establishing 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.