SJR 25

                                                                        2026
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-025
BY SENATOR(S) Simpson, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Benavidez, Bridges,
Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Daugherty, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J.,
Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Marchman,
Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Sullivan,
Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Coleman;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) McCluskie, Soper, Barron, Boesenecker,
Caldwell, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Duran, Flanell, Garcia Sander, Goldstein,
Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Keltie, Lukens, Marshall,
Martinez, Mauro, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Slaugh, Smith,
Stewart K., Titone, Weinberg, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog.
  CONCERNING RECOGNITION OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE COLORADO MINING ASSOCIATION, THE OLDEST
MINING ASSOCIATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
   WHEREAS, The Colorado Mining Association was established in
1876 and incorporated in 1897 and is the oldest mining association in the
United States, sharing its 150th anniversary in 2026 with the State of
Colorado; and
    WHEREAS, From the earliest days, mining was foundational to the
territorial economy, population growth, and path to Colorado's statehood;
and
    WHEREAS, The Colorado Mining Association played a notable role
in the history of the State and represented its earliest employers and
mining communities; and
   WHEREAS, The mining industry was a catalyst that built towns,
funded schools, laid railroads, and drew people from around the world
seeking opportunity; and
    WHEREAS, Mining contributed immensely to making the territory
into a state, helped the rugged landscape evolve into a thriving economy,
and responded when called upon to fulfill a critical role in the production
of minerals in support of the Nation during times of war; and
   WHEREAS, The mining industry and the Colorado Mining
Association prioritize continual improvements to safety performance and
mitigation of environmental impacts as mining practices advance and
innovate; and
   WHEREAS, The mining industry celebrates its workforce and the
communities in which it operates across Colorado representing a
partnership that emphasizes safety, transparency, and ongoing
engagement; and
   WHEREAS, Colorado Mining Association members have
significantly contributed to the reclamation of legacy mine sites, with
substantial resources dedicated to reclaiming legacy mine lands; and
   WHEREAS, The Colorado Mining Association maintains a strong
working relationship with the State of Colorado and its regulatory
agencies, and, for over 25 years, the Colorado Mining Association has
partnered with the Colorado Division ofReclamation, Mining, and Safety
in the Department of Natural Resources to promote and recognize
excellence in environmental stewardship and mine safety; and
    WHEREAS, The Colorado Mining Association has maintained a
Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management since 197 6 to foster open communication and collaboration
for the responsible production of mineral resources in Colorado; and
    WHEREAS, Thanks to these long-standing collaborative
relationships, Colorado's mining industry has earned a global reputation
for exceeding some ofthe world's most rigorous environmental and safety
standards; and
   WHEREAS, Today, the Colorado Mining Association represents
companies that are engaged in the exploration, production, and refining
of mineral resources, as well as mining companies with national and
global headquarters in Colorado, equipment manufacturers, law firms,
PAGE 2-SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-025
engineering and consulting organizations, and financial institutions
serving the mining industry; and
    WHEREAS, Colorado has among the richest mineral endowments in
the Nation, and is the global leader in molybdenum production and a
significant producer of gold, coal, uranium, vanadium, and industrial
minerals and has the potential for additional copper, silver, and other
critical minerals development in the future; and
   WHEREAS, The mining industry in Colorado contributes
approximately $7 billion to Colorado's GDP each year, has among the
highest industry sector pay rates in the state with an average annual salary
of$112,000, and supports nearly 57,000 direct and indirect jobs, making
Colorado the hub of the professional mining sector in the United States;
and
    WHEREAS, The mining industry in Colorado produces minerals that
support other important Colorado industries, including energy production
and transmission, aerospace and technology, medical equipment,
infrastructure, and many others, contributing to the nation's energy,
national security, and advanced technology objectives; and
    WHEREAS, The Colorado Mining Association is well positioned to
remain an important part of Colorado's economy, supporting jobs,
economic development, and the production of minerals needed for the
state's industries and future growth; now, therefore,
    Be It Resolved by the Senate ofthe Seventy-fifth General Assembly of
the State of Colorado, the House ofRepresentatives concurring herein:
   That the General Assembly recognizes the Colorado Mining
PAGE 3-SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-025
Association for its foundational role in Colorado's history and its
continued representation of the mining industry to support responsible
development for vital mineral resources.
James Rashad Coleman Sr.  e
PRESIDENT OF  FTHEH    E
THE SENATE  OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                       v~ •
 sther van Mourik  ~illy
SECRETARY OF  CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE  OF REPRESENTATIVES
PAGE 4-SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-025