Angie Craig: “I believe it is time to make another effort to pass mining reform legislation and to engage the Clinton administration…”

“I believe it is time to make another effort to pass mining reform legislation and to engage the Clinton administration in meaningful discussion that can bring to a close the long and fruitless debate we have so far had on this issue. Today, I am introducing, a bipartisan bill in conjunction with Chairman Murkowski, Senator Reid, and Senator Bryan and five other of our colleagues to legislatively solve the problems that we see with the mining law. The Mining Law Reform Act of 1997, is a bill which will ensure continued mineral production in the United States. It provides for a fair economic return from minerals extracted on public lands, and will link mining practices on federal lands to State and Federal environmental laws and land-use plans. This bill provides a balanced and equitable solution to concerns raised over the existing mining law. Mining in the United States is an important part of our nation's economy.”