[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 92 (Friday, June 10, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S3796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley):
  S. 3048. A bill to withdraw certain Federal land located in Malheur 
County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal 
under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the 
mining laws, and operation under the mineral leasing laws, to provide 
for the conduct of certain economic activities in Malheur County, 
Oregon, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Southeastern 
Oregon Mineral Withdrawal and Economic Preservation and Development Act 
to provide a boost to the rural Oregon economy and to protect the 
world-renowned Southeastern Oregon landscape. I am pleased to introduce 
this bill with my colleague from Oregon, Senator Jeff Merkley.
  In Southeastern Oregon, the high desert landscape is home to hundreds 
of millions of acres of public lands that have hosted cattle ranching 
and visitors and locals for generations. These lands are supported by 
Oregonians who grew up there and who rely on them as a long-time 
linchpin for their local economies. The equation is simple: Healthy 
public lands mean healthy economies in this part of Oregon. And outside 
threats to those lands place local economies in peril.
  I understand that companies, including foreign companies, want to 
come into Southeastern Oregon to explore for minerals, including 
uranium. This is deeply troubling because these mining operations are 
dangerous--to the existing local economies as well as to the 
environment, over all. By potentially hamstringing the creation of jobs 
in agriculture and recreation, and stunting the growth of small 
businesses, blocking mining in these areas protects this local 
potential.
  Senator Merkley and I are introducing this bill because the risks 
posed by mineral exploration to the communities and their way of life 
are far too great to roll the dice.
  Not only does our bill protect more than 2 million acres from mineral 
exploration and extraction, it creates and expands programs to support 
Southeastern Oregon communities so they can grow their economies and 
build on their strengths. These programs include grants to develop 
modern and efficient water storage systems to keep livestock out of 
rivers and streams and reduce the need to transport water. They also 
include infrastructure grants to improve roads for farmers and 
agriculture-related businesses, as well as job training for veterans 
and young people get started in agriculture. Finally, our bill would 
address broader economic issues by establishing an Agriculture Center 
of Excellence to expand local agriculture research, providing 
additional assistance to local and rural firefighters, improving water 
and wastewater systems, and deploying broadband service and cellphone 
towers.
  With these investments in Southeastern Oregon, communities can create 
jobs, train a new generation of workers, and modernize their economies. 
All those gains can be achieved while protecting Malheur County's 
natural landscape and ensuring that the historic uses of the land can 
continue without interruption from harmful mining operations.

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