The Senate passes HJ Res 140
Archive: Senate Floor Update
Update: the Senate passed H.J. Res. 140, a devastating bill that will undo protections for the Boundary Waters. The Senate has effectively sacrificed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to foreign mining interests. H.J. Res. 140 strips away critical, science-based, broadly popular protections from the Boundary Waters watershed, opening its fragile waterways to copper mining and putting these pristine waters at permanent risk.
(Disclosure: These updates are being created by our staff and their best interpretations of proceedings on the Senate floor.)
Resolution passed 50-49.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
11:08 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Resolution passes 50-49.
11:08 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Roll call vote begins.
11:08 AM ET
Senator Tina Smith in closing:
"I want to speak directly to the Minnesota people, who care so much about the Boundary Waters, and who care so much about the precious places we have all over this country. You have organized. You have made calls. You have sent messages. I'm thinking about the hunting and fishing groups. I'm thinking about the outdoor groups. I'm thinking about the Minnesota citizens and American citizens. I'm thinking about all of the tribal leaders and members who have made your voices heard. And I want everyone to know whatever the outcome of this vote this afternoon that we will not stop fighting and we will not stop our work to protect the Boundary Waters. Of all the places we have in this country, this place has such special meaning. It is a sacred place, and we will never stop defending it. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor."
11:03 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Smith highlights a letter from 162 businesses and community organizations opposing HJ Res. 140. Many of these businesses are members of our Boundary Waters Business Coaliton.
10:52 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Tina Smith takes the floor again.
10:52 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Martin Heinrich: "I can tell you who has been a national resource trustee who has had to negotiate with copper companies in my own state, that this type of copper mining has never been done without polluting the water. Never. Not once. So we're guaranteeing that we're going to pollute the Boundary Waters... The public lands are the one thing when I go home that unites my constituents from left to right. Whether you're a bow hunter or bunny hugger, it doesn't matter, they love our public lands. They care about our public lands."
10:52 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Martin Heinrich emphasizes that the CRA has not been used in this manner before, particularly to roll back protections for some of “the most pristine public lands in the United States.”
10:50 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Klobuchar closes with referencing Sigurd Olson's legacy and the relationship he had with her father. Senator Martin Heinrich now takes the floor.
10:45 AM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Klobuchar, takes the floor: “This bill is an unprecedented use of a procedural mechanism that would have far-reaching consequences, not just for the Boundary Waters, but for public lands across our country.”
10:28 AM ET
Save the BWCA: The Senate will resume consideration of HJ Res. 140. Senator Heinrich and Klobuchar are allotted 5 min each. Senator Smith is allotted 15 min.
10:00 AM ET
SENATE: Senate will convene at 10:00 AM EST.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
In case you missed last night's floor debates, you can watch some of those speeches below:
Watch Senator Smith's opening remarks on CSPAN
Watch Senator Klobuchar's remarks on CSPAN
Watch Senator Baldwin's remarks on CSPAN
Watch Senator Heinrich's remarks on CSPAN
Thank you to Senators Smith, Klochuar, Baldwin, and Heinrich for your leadership and speaking for the Wilderness.
11:40 PM ET
SENATE: Senate is adjourned until 10:00 AM EST, on Thursday, April 16. At 11:00 AM the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the passage of H.J.Res.140
11:39 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Tina Smith closes after nearly 3 hours with a beautiful call to action to protect the Boundary Waters. We are thankful for Senator Smith's leadership and dedication to protecting the Wilderness!
11:20 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Tina Smith continues to "hold the floor" for over 2.5 hours in protest of HJ Res. 140, legislation that would allow a copper-nickel mine on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters.
10:15 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Votes scheduled: At 11:00 am, on Thursday, April 16, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on passage of H.J.Res.140
10:01 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Debate is still ongoing. Temporary procedural interruption. Tina Smith (MN) continues.
9:35 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Tina Smith (MN) takes the floor again.
9:15 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Martin Heinrich (NM) takes the floor talking about the importance of protecting America’s public lands
9:10 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Klobuchar delivers an incredible speech about family legacy and protecting this unique Wilderness. Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI) takes the floor.
8:55 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) takes the floor.
8:46 PM ET
Save the BWCA: For the vote on the motion to proceed, Republican Senators Tillis and Collins voted with those challenging the merits of this resolution. Thank you, Senators Collins and Tillis!
8:44 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Debate has begun. Senator Tina Smith takes the floor.
8:42 PM ET
Save the BWCA: The motion has been agreed to. The final vote count on the motion to proceed was 51-49. The Senate will now proceed to debate. We expect several hours of debate (limit of 10 hours). This is typically divided evenly between the majority and minority parties. Senators will deliver speeches. Debate time can be shortened if both parties agree to yield back time.
8:24 PM ET
Save the BWCA: They are now taking a vote to proceed. The final vote count on the motion to table the Point of Order was 51-48.
8:21 PM ET
Save the BWCA: The motion to table the point of order has passed, meaning Senator Smith's challenge on the applicability of the CRA on the Boundary Waters Public Land Order will not be considered. Next, they will take a vote to proceed, and then debate will begin.
8:16 PM ET
Save the BWCA: We want NO VOTES on the vote to table the Point of Order, which challenges the Resolution overturning the Public Land Order as not applicable to scrutiny under the Congressional Review Act.
8:03 PM ET
Save the BWCA: First, they will the Senate will do a procedural vote - Boundary Waters Champions are going to bring a point of order saying that a CRA can’t/shouldn’t be used on a Public Land Order.
U.S. Senate : Motion to Table the Point of Order with respect to H.J. Res. 140, a joint resolution of disapproval of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management.
8:01 PM ET
Save the BWCA: The Senate is preparing to take up House Joint Resolution 140 that would overturn the federal mining withdrawal protecting the Boundary Waters watershed.
6:45 PM ET
Save the BWCA: The Senate is currently taking up other resolutions at this time.
6:15 PM ET
Save the BWCA: Welcome! We are providing live updates to you from Capitol Hill on the Senate vote for HJ Res 140.
The bill to overturn the 20-year mining ban near the Boundary Waters is heading to the Senate floor.
