[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15900]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             HELP THE MINING INDUSTRY; DO NOT ELIMINATE IT

  (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, the basis of our Nation's mining laws was 
enacted on May 10, 1872. Over the years, this law has become probably 
the most misrepresented statute on the books today.
  This land tenure law governs access to public lands for mineral 
exploration and specifies the conditions under which title to mineral 
deposits can be obtained once they are discovered.
  The 1872 law primarily affects the 12 western States in this Nation, 
and these 12 States account for 75 percent of the minerals produced and 
more than 92 percent of the public land of this Nation.
  Before Congress enacts any significant new policies, we must 
carefully consider the effects and consequences that could adversely 
affect this valuable industry and dramatically reduce the quality of 
life for all Americans, which would further destroy tens of thousands 
of high-paying jobs if not done correctly.
  The mining industry is already in danger due to an unending mudslide 
of Federal regulations, fees, and needless bureaucracy. Mr. Speaker, we 
have come to the point where we need to begin helping the mining 
industry instead of trying to eliminate it.

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