Sam Gibbons: “Whether it is just the pocket change in our purses or pockets, or our Nation's highways and bridges, or our personal…”

“Whether it is just the pocket change in our purses or pockets, or our Nation's highways and bridges, or our personal computers, minerals are paving our Nation's way into the 21st century. Without the minerals and materials supplied by the mining industry, Americans could not have that small change in their pocket, bridges, roads, or that personal computer. However, the mining industry yields more than just small change. In addition to acquiring metals for coinage, Uncle Sam reaps more than $57 million in annual receipts from the mining industry. This does not include the $27 million in State and local government collections from mining industry revenues. Mining contributions to our Nation do not stop there. Mining in all forms pumps $524 billion into the American economy. That is equivalent, Madam Speaker, to $60 million an hour from mining. Mining matters. It matters to each Member, it matters to Congress, and it matters to every American. I ask my congressional colleagues to join the Mining Caucus.”