[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 19232]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    RECOGNIZING THE MINING INDUSTRY

  (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, last Tuesday, the Nevada Mining Association 
and two government agencies began closing the final 8 of 13 abandoned 
mine sites in Clark County, Nevada.
  Six private mining companies are picking up 100 percent of the cost 
of making these abandoned shafts and caverns inaccessible and safe. The 
first five abandoned mines were backfilled 2 weeks ago, and these 
efforts show the willingness and the capability of our Nation's mining 
companies to work with the Federal and State governments to protect the 
public from any danger proposed by abandoned mines.
  Mr. Speaker, our mining companies are dedicated to working with the 
government to protect the environment. We should encourage these 
efforts and support the mining industry in the United States. By 
supporting our mining industry, we will ensure that all Americans can 
maintain the quality of life style to which they have become 
accustomed, including advancements in medical research technology and 
communications.
  Mr. Speaker, mining impacts our lives every day and in every way. And 
as the old saying goes, ``If it can't be grown, it has to be mined.''

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