{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/white-house-advances-congressman-biggss-effort-strengthen-americas-mining", "White House Advances Congressman Biggs\u2019s Effort to Strengthen America\u2019s Mining Engineering Workforce", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA- Following Congressman Andy Biggs\u2019s bipartisan push to strengthen America\u2019s mining engineering workforce, the White House announced earlier this month that the Department of Energy will invest $100 million in the nation\u2019s 14 mining schools to revitalize the next-generation workforce and double the number of graduates with mining, minerals, and associated supply chain credentials.\n\nThe Department of War also announced more than $80 million for three schools to support major workforce development programs and technology innovation hubs that will train the next generation of geologists, metallurgists, and mining engineers.\n\nThese investments build on Congressman Biggs\u2019s work to close the growing gap between the Chinese and American mining engineering workforces. As part of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which recently passed the U.S. House, Congressman Biggs secured an amendment to ensure federal support is directed toward accredited mining engineering programs that strengthen America\u2019s workforce pipeline and national security.\n\nThe workforce challenge is significant. The United States graduates just over 200 mining engineers each year, while China reportedly graduates between 3,000 and 10,000 mining-related engineers annually. Due in part to this gap, the United States is 100 percent import-reliant for 16 nonfuel minerals and more than 50 percent reliant for dozens more\u2014dependencies that affect American defense systems, semiconductors, and infrastructure. In states like Arizona, mining remains central to economic strength, critical mineral independence, and national security.\n\n\u201cI applaud the White House for making these historic investments in America\u2019s mining workforce,\u201dsaid Congressman Biggs.\u201cThe 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\u2019s 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.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/white-house-advances-congressman-biggss-effort-strengthen-americas-mining"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 4.666041117161512, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}