Alan Lowenthal

Will you commit to prioritizing and increasing funding for implementation of the John D. Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act in Utah?

I appreciate your having taken the time to meet with me just a few weeks ago.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for spending all this time. I will try to really be brief.

``The President launched public attacks on the investigation and individuals involved in it who could possess evidence adverse to the President, while in private, the President engaged in a series of targeted efforts to control the…

I cannot support doing that under the Mining Law of 1872.

The Mining Law of 1872 must go.

I think what I am saying is that there is a win/win to be found here.

But I would like to follow that question.

Mining companies took advantage, extracting over $300 billion of precious metals from public land without paying a cent in royalties.

Hardrock mining is critical to our national security, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, and even renewable technologies.

We can establish an abandoned mine land fund so that our public lands are safe and accessible for generations to come.

This misinformation and misguided legislation seeks to transform the general Mining Law of 1872.

The government effectively posted a sign on our public lands saying: 'Free gold! Free silver! Free copper! Free land! No royalties or cleanup required!'

We are import-reliant for 14 of the 15 minerals required in most renewable energy technologies.

It's no surprise that the mining industry opposes any reform. Who would want to give up a 147-year-old free ride?

The Mining Law of 1872 is one of the most obsolete laws that are still on the books.

This legislation is designed to cripple the domestic mining industry by making new and existing operations unprofitable.

By investing in critical maritime transportation infrastructure over the next one to three years, Congress would send a message not only to our friends in the Arctic but to the world at large that the U.S. is committed to securing its own…

These are just good intentions without the resources we need to protect American interests in the Arctic.

I am proud that the U.S. brokered the Central Arctic Ocean Agreement to prevent over-fishing in the Arctic.

Congress should do more the make sure resources are properly allocated and priorities identified to improve overall U.S. presence and reduce the likelihood of incidents in the region.

We also encourage policies that will prioritize built infrastructure designed to withstand higher floods, stronger storms, and other hazards of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.

The federal government has a responsibility to lead by example by supporting sustainable, resilient buildings and should seek to incorporate greenhouse gas emissions into procurement decisions.

This is by no means a comprehensive list.

We look forward to working with you on the development of an ambitious infrastructure package this year.