Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6233, the Community Reclamation Partnerships Act. H.R. 6233, introduced by Congressman LaHood, would allow States to partner with nongovernmental entities to reclaim and restore land and water resources from abandoned mines. There are still thousands of abandoned mines in the U.S., deserted before modern regulations required mine owners and operators to adhere to strict environmental standards and implement holistic land restoration when operations cease. Many of these sites pose health risks, safety hazards, and environmental concerns for their surrounding communities. While fees collected from current mining operations combined with Federal dollars fund States' abandoned mine cleanup efforts, third- party nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, have volunteered their resources to assist in abandoned mine restoration. However, should a site deteriorate in the future after an NGO has implemented restoration efforts, that NGO could be liable for the site. H.R. 6233 aims to shield third-party nongovernmental organizations from frivolous litigation. The Community Reclamation Partnerships Act will expedite abandoned mine reclamation efforts and improve environmental hazards, all without using taxpayer funds. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 6233, and I reserve the balance of my time.”