Paul Gosar

The biggest problem was the Federal Government.

It's already been supported by documentation already presented. It's duplicative.

Mr. Lujan's amendment is immaterial because it's already been done and it's already been held up by the----

We've spent an exorbitant amount of time trying to discuss this with our Native Americans. We actually have law that we've gone through the area in exchange that shows no actual artifacts at all. So the thing about it is that we want to…

But I'm pointing back to the same purpose that I've actually seen trust exhibited here where they've actually hired people. I've seen the native people being hired. I've seen the local people being hired here, and that's a part of trust…

That's absurd. I've gone into the mine. I have actually seen the company. I've actually seen the work forces in here. I've actually gone down to the bottom of the mine. I got suited up and have been part of that. That's not appropriate.

You're talking about robots. What I am talking about is trust. Trust is a series of promises kept. And what we see is right here in this picture. We have over 500 jobs that have been established here. We have seen the investment of this…

We see this Executive Order as a job killer, not a job creator.

Time is money, and adding more layers of government that our fishing industry must deal with on a daily basis will cost our small businesses dearly.

This one particular order in my opinion represents a complete government takeover of our fisheries not only in saltwater but every stream and estuary that flows into the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico.

So this new ocean initiative has raised numerous concerns and could significantly impact our economy and American jobs.

But in addition to the lack of statutory authority, there are numerous other concerns and questions about the impacts of the Administration's initiative that still have not been answered.

Finally, this initiative will create a whole new avenue for litigation.

This is likely to place huge portions of the ocean off limits to certain economic and recreational activities.

This creates uncertainty for businesses and job creators.

This could cost jobs and have devastating long-term economic impacts throughout the country.

I, frankly, fail to see how any of these statutes gives the President authority to create regional planning zones.

It is unclear how much this initiative will cost the taxpayers.

In Secretary Salazar's October 19 letter to me, the Secretary states that even with a full withdrawal, development of up to 11 mines in the area over the next 20 years is reasonably foreseeable.

PILT is a crucial part of this balancing act and failing to reauthorize it at the end of this fiscal year would jeopardize the health, safety, and prosperity of all eight counties in Arizona's First District.

From the very beginning of our nation's history, we have recognized that states and localities are unable under the principles of federalism to tax federal land.

The reason I ask is that we spent the better part of 100 years trying to get criminal law with native tribes and us fairly similar.

So, we would have to do it here.

But it is asking a requirement. The Federal Government is asking a requirement for these Federal lands that they do maintain these on a day-to-day basis yet not compensate it on a day-to-day basis. Is that not true?

Without programs like the PILT program, which provides a payment to local counties in lieu of the property taxes that cannot otherwise be assessed, local school districts and counties shoulder the entire financial burden.