On the recordJuly 23, 2020
The conversation we are having here today does not need to be as divisive and destructive to hardworking Minnesotans as my Democrat colleagues from Minnesota are pushing. Today, I stand with the Representative of northern Minnesota, Pete Stauber, who is advocating for those Minnesotans who will be directly impacted by this shortsighted effort. We both firmly believe that American mining is the safest and environmentally responsible way to help America. We have been told, time and time again, not this mine, not this location. Unfortunately, the reality is, our Democrat colleagues want to ban all mining. They want to eliminate good-paying jobs in construction--labor--and allow countries like China and Russia to utilize child labor and environmentally disastrous practices to mine for the minerals our everyday items need, like cellphones and cars. This bill doesn't simply attack the future of mining. It impacts existing mines in operation today. This bill will decimate those jobs. I urge all of our colleagues to vote against this rule and the bill in order to preserve mining in our great State. It will also help secure America's mineral independence and give miners the opportunity to do what they do best, mine responsibly in our country for the benefit of all Americans.
