Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Hardrock Mining Reform and Reclamation Act of 2015. First, I thank Senator Heinrich, who will be here with me in a moment, for working with me on this bill. He is a dedicated conservation Senator from the West and really cares about this issue, and we have both been working together on this bill. I so much appreciate all of his hard work and his commitment to this important legislation. I also thank Senator Bennet and Senator Wyden for their hard work and support on this bill. I also thank our New Mexico colleague, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, for his efforts on the House side. We are proposing this bill for one reason: to reform the mining law of 1872. It is a matter of simple fairness, it is a matter of common sense, and it is a reform that is long overdue. The 1872 mining law played a historic role in the settling of the West. It encouraged mining for silver, gold, copper, uranium, and other minerals on public lands. It helped the West to grow, but there was a price--one we are still paying. It did almost nothing to compensate the public, it did nothing to protect the environment, and it did nothing to require mines to clean up the mess. It did nothing to require those mines to clean up the mess. The legacy is clear--thousands of abandoned mines, contaminated land, polluted streams, costly cleanup, and taxpayers stuck with the bill. We have a 19th-century law which is totally inadequate to 21st-century challenges.…”