Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would just like to point out that the proponent of the bill has said--I believe it was the National Research Council--that all minerals and products could be or could become critical to some degree. That is really what they said, but let's be clear what this bill says and what the National Research Council's definition is. That is, really, what we are talking about, and we are going to discuss that later on. Just what is the definition? In the bill that we see before us, in terms of strategic and critical minerals, the term ``strategic and critical'' means minerals that are necessary for national defense and national security requirements-- there certainly are some of those--for the national energy infrastructure, including pipelines, refining capacity, electrical power generation, and transmission and renewable energy products, for supporting the domestic manufacturing of any mineral for agriculture, housing, telecommunications, health care, transportation and infrastructure, or for the Nation's economic security and balance of trade. For that reason, they are saying let's shorten the process, eviscerate NEPA--the National Environmental Policy Act--and let's expedite this process. I ask you: What mineral is not included in this definition? They are including everything. Let's see what, in actuality, the National Research Council said. They published the report in 2008.…”