[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2012

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise regarding my excused 
absence from rollcall votes 462-468 on Thursday, July 12, 2012. I was 
unavoidably delayed on my return to Washington due to pressing matters 
in my District.
  I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 462, on agreeing to the 
Tonko (NY) Amendment, which would narrow the scope of the underlying 
bill to address strategic and critical minerals only; the underlying 
bill covers mining for virtually all minerals, including sand, gravel, 
and clay.
  I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 463, on agreeing to the 
Hastings (FL) amendment, which would give the lead agency, in the event 
of new or unforeseen information, the authority to extend by two six-
month periods the arbitrary 30 month time limit the bill imposes on 
permit approval.
  I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 464, on agreeing to the 
Markey amendment (A003), which would require a royalty payment of 12.5 
percent of the value of hardrock minerals such as gold, silver and 
uranium mined on federal lands. The revenue generated by royalty 
payments would be dedicated to cleaning up the more than 160,000 
abandoned hardrock mines. Currently, companies pay no royalty to mine 
hardrock minerals on federal lands.
  I would have voted ``no'' for rollcall vote 465, on agreeing to the 
Young (AK) amendment, which would require the Forest Service to allow 
mining roads in areas currently designated as roadless.
  I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 466, on agreeing to the 
Grijalva amendment which would protect hunting, fishing, grazing and 
recreation on public lands by requiring review of any mineral 
exploration or mining permit that might diminish opportunities for 
these activities.
  I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 467 on motion that the 
House instruct conferees.
  I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 468, on final passage of 
H.R. 4402--National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 
2012 which would require federal agencies to expedite environmental 
review of proposed mining projects, and limits the judicial review 
process for challenges to approved mining permits on federal lands or 
associated environmental reviews. In addition the measure would give 
mining companies control over the timing of permitting decisions for 
virtually all mining operations on public land, not just those 
involving strategic or critical minerals.

                          ____________________