Sam Gibbons: “I would like to take on just a little bit of a different tone about this bill that provides a plan to reform our…”

“I would like to take on just a little bit of a different tone about this bill that provides a plan to reform our government to really add some savings here. And I want to talk about the subtitle B, section 6, which allows for mining claims, et cetera, to be utilized for our rural communities. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Resources Committee provisions contained in this title. If you oppose the budget bill because of this title, then let me just say patently straight out you are against rural America. My home State is Nevada, and it has 85 percent of the land owned by the Federal Government, and there are few places that are more rural than Nevada. My western colleagues know what I am talking about because they are largely in the same boat that I am in. In the western United States, where a majority of the land is owned by the Federal Government, our rural communities depend on industries like the mining industries for their basic survival. My colleagues from the East tell me that western communities should not be so dependent on one industry for their survival. Well, in this case I would agree with them. Today, we have an opportunity to show our support for diversifying rural economies by giving rural western communities a second chance at survival after one of these mines closes. We are giving them a chance to keep their economic base and to give their families hope for the future.…”