Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act, which will ensure domestic mining projects are able to enjoy the benefits of title 41 of the bipartisan and wildly successful FAST Act.

I thank my colleague Representative Shreve for his leadership in bringing this legislation forward.

The FAST Act has been used to permit and build countless projects that are necessary for our country's national and economic security, and under the Trump administration, mining projects have been eligible and have advanced.

By codifying mining and mineral processing projects, we will ensure that these important projects are able to enjoy this benefit, no matter if we have a pro-mining President like President Trump in office or an anti-mining President like President Biden in office.

My district in northern Minnesota is home to proposed projects like the NewRange Copper Nickel project, which is enjoying the benefits of FAST-41 as a transparency list project as they pursue their section 404 permit under the Clean Water Act, a permit that was pulled by the previous administration for purely political reasons.

Thanks to FAST-41, I am confident NewRange won't fall through the cracks and will be granted their permit when they meet and exceed all our strict environmental standards.

This is a great benefit more for not only northern Minnesota but a benefit for our entire Nation and our strategic mineral national security.

By codifying mining and mineral processing projects' eligibility into law, NewRange and other important projects won't have to worry about the rug being pulled out from them again the next time we see a change in administrations.

It will further give a strong signal to the private sector that the Federal Government is committed to securing our mineral security and mineral independence, no matter who is in the White House.

Representative Shreve's legislation will send a strong signal: We are ready to mine here in the United States once again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, introduced by my good friends, Representative Lawler and Representative Golden of Maine.

Each and every day, onerous regulations negatively impact our constituents along with the local economies and local communities that we represent. Too often, here in Washington, these onerous regulations are put in place without a full understanding of the impact that they will have on the ground. These regulations often set unreasonable standards or are set to go into effect on unreasonable timelines.

The regulations on the North Atlantic right whale, which are currently mandated to be implemented by the end of 2028, are an example of these unreasonable timelines that will have a negative impact on local and regional economies across New England and will have an outsized impact on the Maine lobstermen.

This bipartisan legislation before us today does not weaken protections for the North Atlantic right whale. The legislation simply delays implementation of these new regulations so we can get it right. This legislation will allow adequate time to seek input from affected industries and communities, ensuring we have fit-for-purpose regulations that will protect the North Atlantic right whale.

Failure to do this the right way and allow time for the right regulations to be developed could devastate the local economy and our fisheries across New England.

Mr. Speaker, I commend my good friend Representative Golden for standing up for his constituents and for working with Representative Lawler to bring this legislation forward.

Representative Golden is from Maine. He wants this for his constituents and the lobster fishermen from Maine. I think that we ought to listen to Representative Golden, who, in my humble opinion, has been one of the most effective Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 9436.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with tremendous gratitude and pride to recognize Korean war veteran Ralph Lawrence Gardiner of Longville, Minnesota, as he celebrates his 96th birthday.

Ralph enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952, answering the call to serve during a critical moment in our Nation's history. He primarily served aboard the USS Bushnell, out of Key West, Florida, as a metalsmith, where he welded and fabricated ships and submarines. His ship played a vital role in transporting troops to and from Korea, supporting the brave Americans defending freedom overseas.

During his service, Ralph was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, reflecting his exemplary behavior, discipline, professionalism, and devotion to duty.

Even today, living on his own at 96 years old, Ralph continues to embody the strength and dependence and determination that had defined his life for decades.

As he reaches this remarkable milestone, we honor not only his longevity, but also his outstanding service to our Nation, his dedication to his family and community, and the legacy he leaves for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act.

This legislation is about something every American should agree on: Childcare assistance should go to children and families who need help, not to criminals and fraudsters who exploit the system for personal gain.

A GAO report found that $325 million in improper childcare payments were made in a single year, enough to fund the childcare programs of nearly one-third of the States in this country. That is money that should have been helping working families, not lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.

In my home State of Minnesota, taxpayers have watched massive fraud schemes unfold in childcare programs under the failed leadership of Governor Tim Walz. Thanks to State officials' repeated failure to provide the oversight necessary to protect programs intended to serve vulnerable children and families, Minnesota taxpayers were scammed out of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars. These failures undermined public trust and diverted resources away from those who truly needed them.

That is why I introduced the Stop Fraud by SOMALIA Act. My bill was designed to strengthen accountability, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure that bad actors can no longer exploit childcare programs at taxpayer expense.

I am pleased to see that several provisions for my legislation are included in H.R. 7726. This bill permanently bars fraudulent childcare providers from receiving Federal funds, strengthens Federal oversight and enforcement, and cracks down on providers who falsify records, submit false information, or misuse taxpayer dollars.

Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar that cannot be used to help a working parent afford childcare or support a child who depends on these services.

We have a responsibility to ensure these programs operate with integrity and accountability.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7726 and help restore trust in these important programs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7831, the License to Drill Act; H.R. 1687, the CLEAN Act; and H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, three good, bipartisan bills that were put forth by my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee.

Now more than ever, the United States needs to be bringing more energy online to drive our 21st century economy.

These bills will help guarantee we have durable, proenergy policy no matter who is in the White House. These pieces of legislation will provide much-needed certainty for domestic energy producers, ensuring leaseholders will be able to responsibly produce on Federal lands, including onshore oil and gas and geothermal energy development.

Representative Kennedy's bill will reauthorize the BLM's authority to collect permit processing fees for oil and gas drilling permits and direct these fees toward processing the permits. This will help ensure that producers will actually have the ability to produce oil and gas on Federal lands, rather than sit in limbo for months or even years on end waiting for paperwork to be processed.

Representative Fulcher's bill will require BLM to hold annual lease sales for geothermal development on Federal lands. It also imposes deadlines for the BLM to process geothermal drilling permits, which again, will ensure these energy producers will actually be able to produce on the Federal leases they are issued.

Representative Hurd's bipartisan package of geothermal bills will build on this by enacting a series of reforms that will streamline the permitting of and collection of Federal royalties for geothermal projects on Federal lands.

Ultimately, all three of these bills will bring more energy online faster, increase our strategic national security by lessening our dependence on foreign adversarial nations, and most importantly, lower costs for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their work on these bills, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this package of good, bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great admiration and pride to recognize former Minnesota State Senator Bob Lessard, better known across northern Minnesota as ``The Old Trapper'' as he celebrates his 95th birthday.

Born in International Falls, Bob has long been a champion for the people and traditions of Minnesota. Over the course of his 26 years in the State senate, he never lost touch with the Northland. His work has left a lasting imprint on our State constitution, our natural resources, and the livelihoods of countless Minnesotans.

Bob fought to protect the rights of our hunters and anglers, implementing a constitutional amendment guaranteeing them the right to hunt, fish, and trap.

He was also the driving force behind the Upper Mississippi Headwaters Board, ensuring local control over the upper 400 miles of the river.

Throughout his career, Bob championed legislation that strengthened mining, paper companies, and logging. He fought for the workers who make these industries possible and for the communities that rely on them.

It would be hard to find another Minnesota State legislator who has done more for the Northland than ``The Old Trapper'' himself.

As he reaches this milestone, we honor not only his longevity but his extraordinary service, his unwavering dedication, and the legacy he leaves for generations of Minnesotans.

Madam Speaker, my legislation, the American Water Stewardship Act, is a comprehensive package that brings together six standalone bills to reauthorize and strengthen key EPA water quality and ecosystem restoration programs.

The package includes the BEACH Act, introduced by Representatives David Joyce, Frank Pallone, David Rouzer, and Emilia Sykes, which supports coastal water monitoring and helps local communities to protect public health.

It also reauthorizes the National Estuary Program, championed by Representatives Figures and Mast, that protects and restores the water quality of estuaries of national significance.

The package also reauthorizes several geographic programs with strong track records, including the Long Island Sound program, led by Representative LaLota, and the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, led by Representative Hoyle.

Most important to me, however, is that this bill reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has long been championed by Representative David Joyce of Ohio, as well as many other Members of the Great Lakes region.

I have always appreciated working with such a strong bipartisan group of Members to ensure that this important program is recognized, reauthorized, and well funded.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, or the GLRI, represents the largest Federal investment in the Great Lakes, which are vitally important to my home State of Minnesota.

The GLRI is the largest and, arguably, the most successful EPA geographic program. Its work focuses on cleaning up the Great Lakes, reducing pollution, addressing invasive species, and restoring critical habitat for local species.

To date, more than 8,000 projects have been completed through the GLRI, generating over $3 in economic activity for every $1 in Federal investment. This is an incredible rate of return for a Federal program, and it is just one of the reasons why I have strongly advocated for the GLRI during my time here in Congress.

I would be remiss if I did not extend my gratitude to Congressman David Joyce and all the other Great Lakes champions for their work on this effort. I am happy we have found a legislative vehicle to move this important program forward.

At its core, this package reflects a commonsense approach to water stewardship, supporting community-led efforts, encouraging collaboration, and demonstrating that responsible environmental protection goes hand in hand with economic growth and fiscal responsibility.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this package.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Sergeant Cody Siebert, a beloved member of the East Range Police Department, who tragically passed away at the young age of 33.

Cody spent most of his career serving communities on the Iron Range, including his hometown of Babbitt. While serving there, he pioneered the department's K9 program, which he later carried over to the East Range Police Department with his trusted partner, K9 Taconite.

Cody served as the resident K9 officer in the Mesabi East School District. In reading the many tributes shared in Cody's memory, one sentiment stood out. He had a remarkable gift for connecting with people, especially with students.

Beyond the badge, Cody's most important role was that of a father to his two young sons, Reese and Bayne. Cody also leaves behind the love of his life, Karen.

Cody's sudden and unfortunate passing has left a void that could never be filled in his department, in the schools and community he served, and, most of all, in the lives of his family.

Mr. Speaker, the impact he made through his service and kindness will endure forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace, and may his K9 partner, Taconite, be allowed to stay with his loving family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 755, the Critical Mineral Consistency Act, introduced by my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani). The Energy Act of 2020 took a significant first step, recognizing the importance of critical minerals and critical materials to the American economy and our strategic national security.

While the respective lists developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Energy have been helpful in ensuring we have policies in place that increase and stabilize our access to these critical minerals and materials, they are not hitting the mark and require further direction from Congress.

The two agencies use different criteria and do not take into consideration the same parameters, sometimes leading to different lists. Notably, the USGS list does not account for forward-looking data and analysis, such as international demand and growth trajectories, which the DOE list does. Currently, DOE automatically adopts any minerals USGS deems critical for their own critical materials list, but it doesn't work the other way around.

H.R. 755 fixes this and amends the Energy Act of 2020 to automatically place DOE's deemed materials on the USGS list.

Under this legislation, each agency would still be responsible for reviewing elements under their unique purview based on their own technical expertise. It would simply streamline interagency coordination and ensure USGS is taking into account the full picture and the best, most complete information when developing its critical minerals list.

This legislation is a small yet important step in ensuring we have access to the critical minerals and materials that are necessary for our national security, along with our ability to compete and win in this 21st century. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Rusty Lilyquist, a beloved member of the Cass County community.

Known for his public service, Rusty served two terms as the District 3 County Commissioner of Cass County, as well as the county's Deputy Chair for a decade. He also was Chairman of the ISD 118 School Board, Deputy Chair of the Cass County BPOU, and First Vice Chair on the Congressional 8 Board.

Outside of his work for Cass County, Rusty also served the community as a National Wild Turkey Federation Vice Chair and President of the Longville Gun Club. Rusty continued to serve on local committees, where he fundraised and coordinated development of the new tennis courts, ice rink, playground, and pavilion in Longville. For over 30 years, Rusty was a realtor in the Longville area as the owner of Rusty's Up North Realty.

In his free time, Rusty spent countless hours fishing and boating. Whether it was guiding others, perfecting his craft, or enjoying a long day at the lake, Rusty made every moment on the water an unforgettable one.

Rusty passed away in Wisconsin, leaving behind family, friends, and countless loved ones who mourn his loss. His passion for the community, the outdoors, and public service will never be forgotten. May Rusty rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker. I have a speech written for this today. I am going to speak from the heart.

As one of just a few people that have represented their constituents in Congress, I was one of the few that wore the uniform. I was one of the few that was shot while off-duty. I was one of the few that had a gun malfunction when it was pointed at my head. I was one of the few that ran into the fire. I was one of the few that was on our tackle response team.

When they talk about tasers, it is a tool that we can use in law enforcement to save lives, not only the officer, not only the subject or the suspect, but bystanders.

For my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to try to defend the philosophy that we don't need those or this piece of legislation that involves the tax code isn't legit, it is just atrocious.

Here is a list of people that support it: The African American Mayors Association. The Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs of America, Peace Officers Research Association of California, and so many others.

You can ask every law enforcement officer on the streets of America whether they want this to move forward and pass and become law. The answer is yes because the technology continues to grow and grow.

When I first started in law enforcement, we had one shot at the taser. When we would cross draw, flip the switch up, bring it up, taser, taser, taser. We only had one. Later on in my career, we had two options. This gives us, in some cases, 10 options to subdue a subject that is violent and is going to either harm the officer, bystanders, or, more importantly, themselves.

Cross draw, flip up, taser, taser, taser.

This is a good bill, and my colleagues on the other sides of the aisle know it

is a good bill. In fact, one of the cosponsors won't even come and talk about it because his majority, Mr. Speaker, doesn't want it. This is the extension of defund the police. I have had it.

We need to protect law enforcement. We are the ones who call them when we are in harm. They come to the fight. They will be there when we call 911.

Yet my colleagues on the other side of the aisle won't support something that defends the cops and helps them with another tool on their tool belt to make sure they are safe, the subject is safe, and any bystanders are safe. It is unconscionable.

This is a great bill. I wholeheartedly support it, and I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will too.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colin ``Mac'' MacDonald, a community pillar and legendary broadcaster in Brainerd, Minnesota.

For over 30 years, Mac has been the trusted voice of the Brainerd Lakes Area. He began on the Power Loon in 1992, advanced to morning co- host in 1997, and for 25 years partnered with his friend Danny Wild-- until Danny's passing in 2025.

Since 1994, Mac called play-by-play for Brainerd Warriors sports, covering over 2,000 games in football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and more. In 2017, he was inducted into the Brainerd High School Hall of Fame for his remarkable coverage.

Off the air, Colin served tirelessly--co-chairing United Way campaigns, emceeing the Walk for Diabetes and Special Olympics Polar Plunge, and coaching youth softball and baseball for over 15 years.

Mac delivered his final broadcast on 107.5 The Power Loon on January 31, 2026. I thank him for his dedication, leadership, and heart. The Brainerd Lakes Area community is better because of Colin MacDonald.

I congratulate Mac on an extraordinary career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my bipartisan bill, H.R. 4090, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act.

This bill will help strengthen our Nation's critical mineral security and enable our critical mineral dominance by codifying several of the policies that President Trump put forth in his hardrock mining executive orders earlier this year.

This bill does three things, Mr. Speaker. First, it mandates a new study on the cost of U.S. mineral import reliance, including from adversarial nations like China. This will help give the United States a much clearer picture into our critical mineral security, including what kind of vulnerabilities we face by failing to mine here and continuing to depend on other nations.

Next, it requires the administration to expedite priority mining projects on Federal lands and identify Federal lands that have the potential for new mineral production, as well as increase geological mapping to give us a much clearer picture of our incredible mineral wealth right here in the United States.

Lastly, this bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to revise or rescind any agency actions that are a barrier to domestic mining, as well as make recommendations to Congress as to how current law can be changed to streamline mineral development. It will also conduct a broader review of State and local laws that are also holding us back from our true mineral potential.

I think each and every one of my colleagues in this body, from both sides of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, understands and realizes the important role that critical minerals play in our 21st century economy. This will only increase as time goes on.

We have tremendous mineral wealth in our country, not only in my district in northern Minnesota, which is home to the largest untapped copper-nickel deposit in the world, but in States all across this great Nation.

There is no reason for the United States to be dependent on other countries, including foreign adversarial nations, for our critical mineral future. Nobody does it better than the United States.

I implore my colleagues: Where is the world currently mining for critical minerals that have better labor standards or environmental standards than us?

Mr. Speaker, nothing in this bill green-lights any mining project without necessary scrutiny. Nothing in this bill allows for a project to bypass NEPA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, or the Endangered Species Act, nothing.

This bill is a strong signal from Congress to the executive branch that we need to get serious about our critical mineral strategy and take necessary steps to win once again.

Before I yield back, I would note a number of the outside groups that are supporting this legislation. They include labor unions like the North America's Building Trades Unions and the Laborers' International Union of North America, LIUNA.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a statement in support from Albert Gore, executive director of Zero Emission Transportation Association, representing the views of the domestic electric vehicle industry; a letter of support from a group of 17 organizations representing different areas of the domestic mining sector; a letter of support from the Essential Minerals Association; and a November 2025 op-ed published by RealClearEnergy, expressing support for this legislation.

January 16, 2025.

Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) is an

industry coalition representing approximately 50 companies

spanning the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain end-to-end,

including critical mineral and material producers, cell and

battery manufacturers, vehicle manufacturers, charging

companies and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)

providers, utility companies, and battery recyclers.

The United States is blessed to have vast mineral

resources, but a holistic government approach is needed to

fully unlock them. Critical minerals and materials are

necessary for EVs, battery manufacturing, defense, and nearly

every other advanced technology industry. Enabling the United

States to truly compete in these sectors is necessary to

maintain our edge in the global marketplace and create jobs

here at home.

H.R. 4090 (Stauber), the Critical Mineral Dominance Act,

helps us achieve this goal by supporting the secure and

reliable sourcing of minerals for domestic manufacturing.

Among other provisions, the bill directs the Secretary of the

Interior to determine the economic impact of each mineral

commodity for which the U.S. is import reliant, continue

mapping federal lands suitable for mineral development,

analyze regulations that may handicap the development of

domestic projects, and provide Congressional committees of

jurisdiction recommended policy changes to reduce regulatory

burdens for project development.

We were glad to see this legislation move through the

Committee on Natural Resources, and encourage Members of

Congress to support this bill when it comes to the House

Floor for consideration.

Sincerely,

Albert Gore,

Executive Director.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan piece of legislation, H.R. 4090.

Mr. Speaker, my good friends on the other side of the aisle will promote, again, anywhere but America and any worker but the American worker when it comes to mining. Anywhere but America, and any worker but the American worker.

They are exporting their environmental guilt. They are okay with getting these critical minerals mined by child slave labor.

Mr. Speaker, 30 percent of the cobalt comes from child slave labor. Both the Trump and the Biden administration agree with that.

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing in this legislation that removes NEPA. Nothing in this legislation removes the clean water. Nothing in this legislation removes the clean air in the decisionmaking, and nothing in this legislation removes any of the endangered species protections.

Mr. Speaker, we took a bipartisan trip last year up to Alaska. Greens Creek Mine is in a national monument. There is exceptional mining of the nickel in the national monument. We can do it here, Mr. Speaker, better than anywhere. We have the mineral wealth. We have the workers. We can do both. We can have a clean environment and clean water and domestically mine.

My friends across the aisle consistently say: Yes, we need critical minerals. Yes, we need if for strategic national security. Yes, we need it for medical instrument technology. Yes, we need it for our everyday lives. They refuse to allow it to happen. They put up roadblock after roadblock. They say that they want it, but they never support it, or very rarely support it.

That is the mindset and the philosophy, Mr. Speaker, that has brought American critical mineral mining to its knees and allowed China to take over.

China's global mineral dominance is not a threat. It is a reality. This is what is happening right now because of that philosophy of not in my backyard, not in our backyard.

There is a philosophy that it is better in our backyard. We do it better than anybody. Look at the unions that are supporting this piece of legislation. It came out of committee in a bipartisan fashion. This is what the American people want, bipartisan work. Here it is.

I look forward to this bipartisan piece of legislation that strengthens our national security moving forward this afternoon.

Mr. Speaker, I want to paraphrase in my own mind what was said moments ago across the aisle, real simple: anywhere but America, any worker but the American worker. I am paraphrasing from my own mind what I heard. The excuses, the excuses, the excuses, the excuses. We have to mine here. We can't mine here.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman who just spoke in her beautiful State, she has allowed oil and gas development. In her beautiful State, she has allowed mining. Why not in my State? Why can't my union workers make the $135,000-a-year jobs, but in her State it is okay? This bill is for the entire country.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents need good-paying jobs, too. It is good for our economy and good for our communities. The technology we use is second to none.

I want to answer my friend from New Mexico who just spoke. She asked: Why aren't we processing and refining here? I have good news for her. Very shortly, there is going to be legislation to allow that, to permit the mining and processing here in the United States of America. I am going to go directly to my good friend and colleague from New Mexico to help sponsor that with me because she is right. Let's do it here. Let's mine here, Mr. Speaker. I am going to give her and my friends across the aisle that opportunity very shortly.

The fact of the matter is, we have the opportunity. We have to remove the political science--the truth and the facts--to allow this mining to move forward.

This is our backyard. My good friend across the aisle, who is managing the debate, talked about the economic value or the lack thereof. I share with my good friend and colleague that in my State of Minnesota, just one mine proposed, just one, will bring between $1.4 and $1.8 billion of Federal revenue, $800 million for the taxpayers of Minnesota. Every single school district in the great State of Minnesota benefits from mining.

You want to know why I am passionate? These are my constituents that will be mining these critical minerals with the best labor standards and the best environmental standards in the world. We have been mining in Minnesota for 145 years. We have mined the iron ore that makes over 80 percent of this Nation's steel.

The cleanest water in the State of Minnesota, Mr. Speaker, is in the heart of mining country in Buhl, Minnesota. We know how to do it.

Let's stop exporting our environmental guilt. Let's stop exporting our environmental guilt and do it here with our labor standards, our technology, and our workers.

I am happy that New Mexico has oil and gas development and mining development. I am happy for those workers. We need that. Let Minnesota mine.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following letters and statements from North America's Building Trades Unions, Laborers' International Union of North America, and the International Union of Operating Engineers, in support of H.J. Res. 140.

NABTU Statement of Support for H.J. Res. 140

Washington, D.C.--January 16, 2026--Today, North America's

Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey issued

the following statement:

``Our nation is at a crucial inflection point. Will we

continue to import critical minerals from less-than-reputable

nations, or will we do what we must to address our industrial

shortcomings?

``Our members have waited decades for certain American

mining projects to come to fruition. While these projects

should not be blindly authorized, we hope that Congress

recognizes that the longer these projects languish in

bureaucratic red tape, the longer our members go without

receiving a paycheck for their work in making our nation

safer and more independent.

``H.J. Res. 140 recognizes our need to support domestic

industries with a responsibly extracted supply of American

minerals. In order to do so, we must address unnecessary bans

that inhibit industrial growth.

``We thank Rep. Stauber for his continued leadership and

commitment to alleviating the hurdles that keep our members

from realizing work.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.J. Res. 140, to reverse Public Land Order 7917, which enacted the Biden administration's dangerous mining ban in northern Minnesota.

The district I am proud to represent, Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District, is blessed with an abundance of mineral wealth. On the Iron Range in northern Minnesota, we have been responsibly mining for 145 years. We mined the iron ore that won us two world wars and currently mine the taconite that is used to make 80 percent of this country's domestically produced steel.

Before Biden's mining ban, we had the opportunity to mine the copper, nickel, cobalt, and other critical minerals that are necessary for this country to compete and win in the 21st century. That is because northern Minnesota is home to the Duluth Complex, the largest untapped copper-nickel deposit in the entire world. It is home to one-third of our country's copper reserves, 95 percent of our nickel reserves, 88 percent of our cobalt reserves, and 75 percent of our other platinum group metals.

Public Land Order 7917 locked up the Duluth Complex and ended this opportunity that we had. This PLO withdrew 225,504 acres--that is nearly a quarter of a million acres--in the Superior National Forest, which is a working industrial forest where timber harvesting and mining are desired activities. This ban was a 20-year ban, where, I will note, again, the Forest Service plan states mining and timber harvesting are desired activities.

This PLO sacrificed thousands of good-paying union jobs that would support families for generations, along with billions of dollars of revenue for our schools, State and Federal governments, and, most importantly, our Nation's mineral security.

It didn't only block our access to precious critical minerals, Mr. Speaker, it also cut us off from one of the largest and most concentrated deposits of helium, a gas that is necessary in everything from medical and manufacturing equipment to state-of-the-art defense systems. Just like our critical minerals, we are blocked from responsibly accessing the helium, making the United States more dependent on foreign imports and increasing Russia's share of global helium markets.

When issuing this ban, the Biden administration even went so far as to

state that its purpose was to prevent mineral and geothermal exploration and development. When former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland testified before the Committee on Appropriations following the withdrawal, she stated: I didn't think there were any critical minerals there.

The Secretary of the Interior had no idea that the biggest copper- nickel find in the world was in northeastern Minnesota, where she banned mining. It was a dangerous, purely political decision that disregarded the science and the facts.

Under the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act, or FLPMA, the Department of the Interior is required to notify Congress of public land orders impacting in excess of 5,000 acres. The Biden administration failed to properly transmit Public Land Order 7917 to Congress when it was finalized in January 2023.

Public Land Order 7917 implemented a broad policy that hinders access to American resources and is wholly detrimental to our Nation's national and mineral security. It is exactly the kind of action Congress intended to review under the Congressional Review Act.

H.J. Res. 140 would overturn this mining ban under the CRA and allow important proposed mining and helium development projects to continue through the regulatory and permitting process, which they will have to complete at both the State and Federal levels before moving forward.

Mr. Speaker, this CRA will not green-light any proposed project. All it does is remove the dangerous, misguided ban that stops us from considering any project. This ban disregarded the science. It disregarded the facts. Lifting this ban will simply allow the science and the facts to prevail.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 140, and I include in the Record a copy of Public Land Order No. 7917.

Mr. Speaker, it won't surprise you that the Representative from that area supports this resolution. My colleagues and friends across the aisle, even from my great State of Minnesota, mention mining in the Boundary Waters.

Mr. Speaker, for the umpteenth time: There will be no mining in the Boundary Waters. There will be no mining in the buffer zones around the Boundary Waters.

Mr. Speaker, that was settled in 1978. Then-Democratic Congressman Jim Oberstar said: Okay, if you are going to make the wilderness area, do not take our livelihoods away, which was timber harvesting and mining.

These are good mining job. Mr. Speaker, according to 2023 statistics, the average miner in the State of Minnesota makes $115,000, and the seasonal tourist employee makes $35,000.

Unions, LIUNA, NABtu, operating engineers, the Iron Range, and building and construction trades all support this project. These are good union jobs. By the way, there is a project labor agreement. Three million work hours, Mr. Speaker, are going to go into any proposed mine. This is all union work for all my constituents in northeastern Minnesota so we can keep our schools open, so we can keep our economy going.

By the way, every school district benefits from mining in the State of Minnesota. These acquired Federal lands, through the life of any proposed mine, will bring $1.8 billion, Mr. Speaker, $1.8 billion in Federal royalties. Over the life of the mine, that is about $800 million in Federal taxes.

When my colleagues across the aisle say that it is not going to do anything, I just named a great portion and a benefit.

By the way, I go up to the Boundary Waters. I canoe there, I fish there, and I recreate there. We are not mining in the Boundary Waters. That is a falsity. That is not true. That has been misrepresented for a lot of years. Mr. Speaker, in the State of Minnesota, we have a saying: It is better in our backyard. It is better in our backyard.

We are not going to use child slave labor like over in Congo. One- third of the world's cobalt comes from child slave labor, forced slave labor. We have 88 percent of the reserves right in that complex.

By the way, Mr. Speaker, this Congressional Review Act doesn't approve or disapprove any mining. It reverses the mining ban, the dangerous mining ban, that the Biden administration put forward under Secretary Haaland. By the way, Mr. Zinke said she couldn't name one critical mineral in the mine, yet it is the biggest untapped copper- nickel find in the world.

We will not rely on China or other adversarial nations. We can do it. This can be a win-win-win. If anybody knows how to mine, it is the Minnesota miner. It is better in our backyard than China, Russia, or other adversarial nations.

Minnesota has been mining for 145 years. We know how to do it. Mr. Speaker, it is better in our backyard where our environmental and our labor standards are met or exceeded and our State permitting is met or exceeded.

Mr. Speaker, I said it: Would it surprise you that the Representative from the district supports the resolution?

I talked about jobs and the economy. I am going to reiterate: NABTU, the Operating Engineers, Teamsters, and the Iron Range Building and Construction Trades have 3 million work hours, with an average mine salary of $115,000. This is good for my constituents.

As we go forward, I want to reiterate to my colleagues: This CRA does not approve any mine. The CRA simply removes the withdrawal. It reverses the dangerous withdrawal that the Biden administration put forth for purely political reasons. They stated in their reasoning that it was to prevent mining. The Secretary, again, when asked said: I didn't think there were critical minerals there.

In the biggest copper-nickel find in the world, she signs the PLO that removes mining in the Superior National Forest, where timber harvesting and mining are desired activities.

Democratic Congressman Jim Oberstar was so far ahead of his time. When the wilderness was enacted, he said: Okay, if you are going to enact the wilderness, don't take our livelihoods away. He was so far ahead of his time.

Today, we are fighting that fight. I am fighting for my constituents. I am fighting for our economy. I am fighting for our community, our technology, and our national security. It is worth it. It is deeply worth it.