Jim Costa

So I am hopeful that today's hearing will set the discussion in what we need to do in terms of the short term in using all these energy tools in our energy toolbox; in the near term, by that I mean the next 5 to 10 years; and then the long…

I question, as we ponder the issue of providing more availability of OCS leases, many of my colleagues question whether or not we are realizing the full potential of those leases that are already available.

I think we have all enjoyed the testimony here this afternoon. We may want to look for an opportunity to revisit this.

I am glad that we are not determining that there is a lot of carbon problems with the Subcommittee here today.

Well, here's one example: thoughtless regulation is driving them offshore.

I think my questions in the last hearing we had on this, I wanted to try to get some prioritization, in terms of how you triage in terms of those that are in the greatest need of cleanup.

I know first-hand how dependent our county is on mining--and this morning I want to convey to you the implications of that dependency.

The fact is that in every other country, companies pay a royalty to mine hardrock minerals, but they do not pay such a royalty in the United States of America.

Thank you, Superintendent Reynolds, for your very timely testimony, and your insight as the superintendent of one of our--and as I mentioned--national treasures.

I think some of the other changes that I discussed was to make sure that the revenues that were raised, that a certain percentage of it goes back to the areas where in fact they were mined so that they can be used for the specific purposes…

Even in these days of economic crisis, I believe that is still true.

The legislative hearing for the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will now come to order.

My fear, after consulting with my constituents, is that the costs imposed by this legislation will put them out of business, which will consequently increase economic problems in my state.

It would be a shame if we made changes to the mining law that favored importing mineral resources from foreign countries while exporting the benefits.

In this time of economic crisis let us not be mislead into letting an outdated boondoggle hang on the books.

Thank you very much, Chairman Rahall, for your focus, and for your tenacity, and for the expertise that you lend to not only this issue, but all the issues that we deal with in the Natural Resources Committee.

It would be unforgivable if--especially now in a time of economic crisis--this industry was damaged or destroyed by well meaning but misguided officials from our own government.

This bill as drafted would do irreparable harm to that recovery.

I would respectfully request that Congress examine such a lease approach.

Mining law reform has been on the table for some time, but the new Members of the House and Senate need the opportunity to review and consider this issue.

The Hardrock Mining Law, frankly, in some instances one could argue, withstood the test of time since it was set into law and signed by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872.

The legacy is 161,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the West.

Accordingly, we respectfully request that Congress act as expeditiously as possible to consider these proposals and to pass House Resolution 699.

I believe we should get them in a responsible manner from domestic resources mined by American workers.

We need the raw materials we get from mining to expand our economy and build the infrastructure we need.