Senate OKs CRA reversing Biden mining block
Energy & Environment Newsletter
Senate OKs CRA reversing Biden mining block
by Rachel Frazin - 04/16/26 7:32 PM ET
Link copied
by Rachel Frazin - 04/16/26 7:32 PM ET
Link copied
96
- {beacon}
Energy & Environment
Energy & Environment
 
The Big Story
Senate OKs CRA reversing Biden mining block
The Senate on Thursday voted to repeal Biden-era protections for a contentious wilderness area in Minnesota, sending the question to President Trump’s desk.
© Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images
The Senate voted 50-49 to overturn a Biden-era move to block mining in an area around Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Trump is likely to sign the measure, which has already passed the House, to repeal the protections.
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted with Democrats against the measure. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) did not vote.
Boundary Waters is a wilderness area that includes a remote forest in northeastern Minnesota. It is known for its water recreation opportunities including boating, hiking and fishing.
Read more at TheHill.com.
 
Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I’m Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.
 
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.
 
Essential Reads
How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:
 
Trump says he held meeting on unconfirmed reports of missing scientists
President Trump told reporters on Thursday that he held a meeting on unconfirmed reports of missing nuclear scientists.
Full Story
 
Harris hammers Trump over gas prices amid ‘war of choice’
Former Vice President Kamala Harris cast blame Wednesday on President Trump for the surge in gas prices amid the U.S. conflict with Iran, which she called a “war of choice.”
Full Story
 
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:
-
White House calls oil CEOs as energy prices squeeze voters (Politico)
-
‘We are missing data’: NWS weather balloon changes scrutinized as tornados hit Midwest (NBC News)
 
Quote of Note
Asked Thursday about reports that he was being considered to be the nation’s next attorney general, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said he’s focused on his current role.
Asked at an event about the EPA’s new water reuse plan, Zeldin said his current role is “the best job that I’ve had. It’s where my focus is at.”
He did not directly say whether he had been in touch with the White House about the attorney general role.
The New York Times reported earlier this month that Trump had floated Zeldin as a potential replacement for then-Attorney General Pam Bondi.
 
What Others are Reading
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
Hegseth shares air rescue group’s ‘Pulp Fiction’ prayer at Pentagon service
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday repeated an air rescue group’s prayer that borrows from a scene in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Pulp Fiction.” Read more
White House budget director Vought declines to tell senators cost of Iran war
Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, declined to give senators an estimate of the cost of the military operations against Iran when pressed on the issue during a hearing Thursday. Read more
 
 
You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow!
Close
Thank you for signing up!
Subscribe to more newsletters here
The latest in politics and policy.
Direct to your inbox.
Sign up for the Energy and Environment newsletter
Subscribe
Add as preferred source on Google
Tags
Joe Biden
Josh Hawley
Kamala Harris
Lee Zeldin
Pam Bondi
Pete Hegseth
Quentin Tarantino
Russell Vought
Susan Collins
Thom Tillis
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Link copied
More Energy & Environment Newsletter News
See All
Energy & Environment Newsletter
Treasury Sec. eyes $3 gas
by Rachel Frazin
1 day ago
Energy & Environment Newsletter
/
1 day ago