[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INFORMING COLLEAGUES OF THE NEWLY-FORMED MINING CAUCUS

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to inform my colleagues about 
the newly formed Mining Caucus, of which I proudly serve as the cochair 
with my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Wyoming [Mrs. 
Cubin]. The purpose of the Mining Caucus will be to educate Members on 
how the wealth of this Nation is produced by the mining industry, which 
improves the lives and livelihoods of citizens of their districts, and 
how in turn it is used to sustain the economic growth and job creation 
of this great Nation.
  Nearly 300,000 Americans are employed directly by the mining 
industry. Indirectly, mining accounts for about 3 million jobs, 397 out 
of 435 congressional districts have a mining presence. This industry 
plays a hugely important role in our national economy. I urge my 
colleagues to join the Congressional Mining Caucus. As a reminder, I 
would say that if it cannot be grown, it must be mined.

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