[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4676-H4677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     REFORM THE MINING LAW OF 1872

  (Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, 123 years ago today, President Grant signed 
into law a bill aimed at promoting the settlement of the Western 
States. This bill allowed folks to mine valuable minerals such as gold 
and silver from Federal lands in those States for free. It also allowed 
people to obtain title to these lands for $2.50 an acre. In one sense, 
the mining law of 1872 served much the same purpose as the Homestead 
Act.
  Today, the Homestead Act has long since been repealed. The West is 
well settled. Yet, the mining law of 1872 survives intact, in this age 
of skyrocketing Federal budget deficits still allowing the wholesale 
giveaway of valuable Federal lands and minerals. It is incredible, but 
true, that annually under this law the United States allows about 1.8 
billion dollars' worth of gold and silver to be mined for absolutely 
free.
  And for the most part, these minerals are not being mined by the lone 
prospector of old, but rather, by multinational corporations who reap 
the benefits of this last great giveaway of American natural resources.
  What a shame. What a shame, Congress, to allow lands, owned by every 
American, to be given away for fast food hamburger prices. To allow 
billions of dollars worth of the public wealth to be produced for free 
by corporations based in Luxembourg, Toronto, and London.
  [[Page H4677]] Well, happy birthday mining law of 1872. But may I 
say, I hope there will not be any more such birthdays left to you. My 
colleagues, please join me and 83 other Members of this body in seeking 
to reform the mining law of 1872; cosponsor H.R. 357 today.


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