On the recordDecember 10, 2024
I thank Mrs. Peltola and Ms. Maloy for their leadership. Abandoned hardrock mines are scattered all across the American West, including in my own district, which is home to some of the oldest mine lands in Nevada. Their pollutants are poisoning our waters, threatening Tribal lands and resources, and creating hazardous landscapes that have injured and killed Americans. A range of highly qualified partners, from State and local agencies to the nonprofit guardians of America's great outdoors, such as Trout Unlimited, stand ready to work with the Federal Government to clean up these sites. Today's bipartisan, bicameral legislation will safely and responsibly cut through red tape currently preventing these Good Samaritans from doing so. It has taken 25 years of consensus building to craft this version of the Good Sam bill now on the floor. That is a quarter century of collaboration that has earned this version of the bill the support of every Member of the U.S. Senate; our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, myself included, who have led the charge to get this legislation across the finish line in this Congress; and stakeholders from The Nature Conservancy to the National Congress of American Indians and the Western Governors' Association. Mr.…





