news

The following is the floor statement by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), as prepared, in opposition to “The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007” (H.R. 2262), which would put tens of thousands of American jobs in jeopardy and increase U.S. dependency on foreign minerals.

            Young is the Ranking Member on the Natural Resources Committee which has jurisdiction over the legislation.

“I rise in the strongest opposition to what could have been responsible, bipartisan legislation.  As the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to express my many concerns about this reckless bill.

“I also appreciate the opportunity to speak on behalf of my State, and the thousands of rural Alaskans who will bear the brunt of the consequences of this bill.  

“I would like to thank my good friend from New Mexico, Rep. Stevan Pearce, for his efforts in Committee to improve this bill for the good of our mining states, and the good of this nation as a whole. 

“Mr. Chairman, I cannot begin to describe all of the concerns I have with this bill.  But in essence, my concerns boil down to one simple reality: Should this bill become law, it will end mining in the United States, increase our dependence on foreign nations for minerals that are abundant in our own nation, and eliminate the jobs of tens of thousands of Americans – and Alaskans – in the process.  

“Our economic and national security will suffer, and our children will the pay the price.  It’s that simple.

Radical Environmental Groups Seek To Close Off More Federal Lands

“Mr. Chairman, I understand why my Chairman Nick Rahall (D-WV) introduced this bill and I understand why some of my colleagues are supporting it.  It poses no direct, immediate threat to West Virginia, nor does it to the majority of states in the nation.

“But quite simply, Mr. Chairman, this is an easy ‘green’ vote for a majority of the Members in this body to have tacked onto their so-called ‘environmental scorecards’.

“I would hope, however, that my colleagues think twice about the very real impacts this bill will have on our nation’s economy and national security before bowing to the radical environmentalists waiting anxiously in the Speaker’s lobby - pencils in hand - to record your votes.

“It is no coincidence that this bill bears such a striking resemblance to the so-called ‘energy bills’ going through this Congress. 

“It was written, in large part, by the nation’s radical environmental groups who have already succeeded in locking up so much of the natural resources that are the foundation of this nation’s economy. 

U.S. Has Become Dangerously Dependent On Foreign Sources Of Energy

“As a result of their efforts and the lack of Congressional will to oppose them, the United States has become so dangerously dependent on foreign sources of energy that any significant supply disruption could paralyze this country in a matter of hours – a tragic lesson we learned not too long ago.

 â€œHow soon we forget.

“But, while it certainly ties into this debate, we are not talking about our nation’s energy crisis today.

“Today, we have before us another bill that will once again test the Congressional will to do what it is right for the future of this country --to do what is right for future generations of Americans.

“If enacted, this bill will drive the mining industry out of the United States and add more minerals to the list of domestically available natural resources we choose to lock up, and instead import from foreign nations. We already depend on hostile foreign nations to fuel our military, our tanks, and our fighter jets. 

“This bill will take it a step further and make us dependent on foreign nations for the minerals necessary to build our military’s infrastructure – not to mention our hybrid cars, which use 100 percent more copper than traditional automobiles, the cell phones every one of my colleagues has with them, and the electronic voting machine we will use here today to vote on this bill.

This Radical Democratic Bill Will Take 30,000 American Jobs & Send Them Overseas

“In addition to its vital importance to our military, the domestic mining industry is a large and essential segment of this nation’s economy. 

“In 2006, the U.S. mining industry provided more than 30,000 Americans with high wage jobs, and the dollars from mining operations throughout the country totaled $64.4 billion. The bill before us today would send all of that investment overseas, and take the jobs of 30,000 Americans along with it.

“And as I noted previously, this reckless legislation will be particularly damaging to Alaska and the more than 3,000 Alaskans directly employed by mining operations in my state. 

“Chairman Rahall, Governor Sarah Palin’s (R-Alaska) administration recently sent you a letter expressing her administration’s strong opposition to H.R. 2622, and providing an unfortunately realistic analysis of this bill.  Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to ask unanimous consent that Governor Palin’s letter and position paper be included in the Record.

“Governor Palin’s administration correctly notes in this letter that your bill ‘would unjustifiably harm the domestic mining industry and the Alaska mining industry in particular.  Alaska produced almost $3 billion of minerals last year . . . We can continue and even expand this contribution indefinitely, but not without predictable access, on reasonable fiscal terms, to the federal domain in Alaska . . .Your legislation would unnecessarily duplicate existing laws while also creating great uncertainty . . . We believe it could end exploration and mining on federal lands.”

“I could not agree more with Governor Palin.  And the fact of the matter is this legislation has nothing to do with protecting the environment. 

Democratic Bill Seeks To Lock Up U.S. Minerals While Foreign Economic Powers Continue To Seek & Secure Minerals Essential To Their Economic Growth

“It’s about locking up more federal land and turning more of this nation into a playground at a time when our competitors around the globe are actively seeking, securing, and producing the mineral resources they know are essential for their economic and national security. 

“Mr. Chairman, I am concerned.  I am very concerned. 

“I think we’ve lost sight that if the producers of our nation went on strike, the nation would suffer.   I hear my friends - my opponents on this bill - talk about helping the ‘Working Man’.  No one believes in this more than I.  But if there is no work for the ‘Working Man’, the ‘Working Man’ suffers.  And so do his neighbors. 

“A nation that forgets that its wealth is derived from the production of things is doomed to failure.  A nation more interested in bicycle trails than roads for commerce ignores its future and its obligation to future generations.  I stand in awe at the degree we are whistling past the graveyard. 

“What I do know, Mr. Chairman is that we are not fulfilling our responsibilities to future generations to ensure that our nation is number one in the world.  We cannot continue to be number one by enacting legislation that slows and prohibits economic growth.

“And I can tell you that there’s an old Alaskan dog mushing adage that sums it up nicely: ‘If you’re not the lead dog, the view is all the same’.

“So, I say to my fellow colleagues, if you prefer to run at the back of the pack – if you would prefer to turn this nation into a recreational playground, and sit back and watch the United States loses it place in the world, vote Yes on H.R. 2262.

“But if you have any regard whatsoever for this nation’s security and prosperity, I strongly urge you to vote No on this reckless legislation.”

For more information, access the Committee on Natural Resources’ Minority website at:

http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/index.shtml

 

#     #    #