Raúl Grijalva: “I'm astounded that we're having this hearing today. The Government is shut down and we're going to go on with business…”

We write to express serious concerns about the Mining Clarity Regulatory Act, which represents an unprecedented, de facto giveaway of America's cherished public lands to mining corporations.

To merely open the floodgates to the use of our public lands without any protections, due process, community involvement... is going back to a time that got us into this situation.

A few weeks ago, I sought medical treatment for a persistent cough which was initially diagnosed as pneumonia. After further testing and imaging, my physician discovered that I have cancer.

We cannot have meaningful tribal consultations as long as the mining industry has the automatic right to mine wherever they stake a claim.