There are more than 15,000 operations that mine for raw materials in the United States, excluding oil and gas, based on information from the Mine Safety and Health Administration. U.S. mining has a broad impact on the national economy. Mining provides jobs, pays salaries and generates value in all 50 states. The economic contribution of mining is greater than these direct effects. Mining operators purchase inputs from other parts of the economy, and these suppliers in turn purchase goods from other companies. Employees spend wages at local businesses, whose owners in turn spend the proceeds on new supplies and other goods. Governments at the federal, state and local levels collect taxes on this activity. From a broader perspective, the products produced by U.S. mines provide the raw materials required by the rest of the economy. The ability of the U.S. economy to compete internationally depends on the availability of such inputs.
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