Raúl Grijalva: “In closing, and in opposition to the amendment, in July, the President formed a nuclear working group, the Nuclear Fuel…”

“In closing, and in opposition to the amendment, in July, the President formed a nuclear working group, the Nuclear Fuel Working Group, essentially to deal with the questions coming from the uranium mining industry, in particular, Energy Fuels and Ur-Energy. The issue there was an attempt to try to defend the indefensible in trying to open up the Grand Canyon once more, looking at lifting the moratorium. So the urgency for the legislation before us is based on acts that the administration has taken at this point. One should note that Secretary Bernhardt represented Ur-Energy USA from 2009 to 2012. My point is that enough advocates exist for the mining industry as we stand. What we are asking, in defeat of this amendment, is that the public interest has some advocates, and that Members of this body can take care of that public interest and not the profit interests that seem to be driving any decisions around mining and particularly uranium mining. The public interest is the public health, the Grand Canyon, the water supply for 40 million people, and the Tribes and indigenous people and communities that exist there that have been for decade upon decade coming to this Congress, coming to their leadership, asking for support and relief. This bill begins to provide both. Mr. Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar).…”