I know that Senators Duckworth, Thune, Moran, Fischer, and Kelly, and myself are working on a bill to expand the FAA's workforce development.

The latest example is a decision by the Department of the Interior to ban mining on more than 225,000 acres of northern Minnesota land that contain the vast majority of our mineral resources.

I think that is just the tip of the iceberg at the FAA.

We are very focused on this, as I know the Chair is, and many others.

It was purely political. The biggest copper nickel find in the world, and this Administration, not only did they pull the leases and ban mining, including taconite mining, what they did was take union jobs away.

I worked with Senators Moran and Capito just recently to introduce the NOTAM Improvement Act.

What we also don't have is a fair process for permitting mines that is based on science and reason, from my experience.

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing my friend, Jason George.

I know what happened in my state, and that is that in Minnesota, nearly 80 percent of Southwest's flights in and out of our Minneapolis Saint Paul Airport were canceled over the Christmas holiday weekend.

Good-paying union jobs are on the line.

I think we are going to see more and more--the program is 30 years old, their facilities are 50 years old.

I introduced the Permit for Mining Needs Act, which provides needed updates to our broken permitting process.

We have to reform our permitting process in order for us to mine, bring processing and manufacturing back to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time. He is new to the Rules Committee, and we have really enjoyed having him there so far. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution providing for consideration of three important…

In Section 3, it limits environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to 1 and 2 years.

I appreciate and share your passion for mining.

I just hope that we put this argument that is not based on the actual facts that are taking place in our communities to be put to rest.

I know that you talk about the importance of holding institutions accountable for deceitful practices.