On the recordJune 18, 2019
I thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson). Madam Chair, this amendment also makes a mockery of our laws that govern the permitting process for mining operations and is a complete violation of basic fairness. Specifically, this amendment supersedes the Democrats' supposed flagship environmental regulatory law, NEPA--unbelievable. Currently, the Army Corps of Engineers is doing exactly what Congress intended it to do under NEPA with regard to the proposed Pebble Mine project. It is analyzing the environmental and socioeconomic consequences of the proposed mine. A wonderful adage is good process builds good policy, builds good politics. We ought to embrace that. And if we really want to put our nose in other places, maybe what we ought to do, as I challenge my good friend from California, is, instead of focusing on this project, to look at his State in his own district. Maybe he ought to be focusing on the illegal marijuana farms in his district that are using pesticides and polluting local waters and damaging national forests and our plants. This is something that is pertinent to Alaska, to the Member from Alaska. The Tribes have been consulted. It is just that the one Tribe that he is talking about, no process followed. But the people closest to this that are most involved have been for this mine. They want good process, and I oppose the amendment.
