Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
INTEREST CARVE OUT FOR A GIANT
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION.
THIS, BY THE WAY, OWNED BY
PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO ANOTHER
GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN A LONG
TIME SUPPORTER OF THIS PROJECT,
MR. FLAKE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING.
LISTENING TO THE DEBATE YOU
HERE.
WONDER WHAT BILL WE ARE DEBATING
THE OPPOSITION SEEMS TO BE
TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE HEARD UNDER THE RULE
DEBATE YESTERDAY AND SOME OF THE
DEBATE TODAY THAT THIS WON'T
CREATE ANY JOBS IN ARIZONA.
THAT SOMEHOW THESE JOBS WILL GO
TO ROBOTS.
COME ON, THIS ISN'T THE JETSONS
DOING THIS.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S BEING
TALKED ABOUT HERE.
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF
EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO ARE
EMPLOYED CURRENTLY.
THERE ARE 500 PEOPLE CURRENTLY
EMPLOYED BY RESOLUTION ON THE
MINE.
500.
90% OF THEM ARE ARIZONANS.
90% OF THE 500 RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE ESTIMATED 1,400 JOBS
DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE MINE OR
DIRECTLY IN THE MINE, AND SOME
3,700 BEYOND THAT.
ANCILLARY JOBS THAT COME AS A
RESULT OF IT.
GUZMAN, A LOCAL SUPERIOR TRADING
CONTRACTOR, HE HAD SEVERAL LOCAL
EMPLOYEES WORKING FOR HIM ON
THIS PROJECT.
THAT'S A PERSON, NOT A ROBOT.
JEB DONELAND, A GLOBE BASED
CONTRACTOR WHOSE COMPANY IS
DOING MUCH OF THE RECLAMATION
WORK ON THE PROJECT.
ELIZABETH, SHE'S A LONG-TIME
RESIDENT.
SHE WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN THE
HOSPITAL THAT WAS RUN BY THE
COMPANY ON THE PREVIOUS MINE
THAT HER FATHER WORKED ON.
THAT COMPANY HOSPITAL NOW SERVES
AS PROJECT'S HEADQUARTERS.
TWO OF HER SONS WORK FOR A
RESOLUTION CONTRACTOR.
MIKE ALVAREZ, THIRD GENERATION
TECHNICIAN.
WITH A MAP
THESE ARE ALL REAL PEOPLE.
NOT ROBOTS.
YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME SAY C3PO OR
ANYBODY LIKE THAT.
SO THE ARGUMENTS WE HEAR COMING
OUT OF THE OPPOSITION ON THIS
ARE JUST COMPLETE, COMPLETE
NONSENSE.
ABOUT THIS NOT CREATING JOBS.
TALK ABOUT ROYALTIES.
IF WE WANT TO GO IN AND CHANGE
THE MINING ACT OF 1872, LET'S DO
IT.
I'LL BE THERE.
A LOT OF US HAVE ARGUED FOR
THAT, BUT THIS IS NOT THE PLACE
TO ADDRESS THE MINING ACT OF
1872.
LET'S ADDRESS THAT WHEN IT
SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND LET'S
ADDRESS THE FACTS AT HAND.
AND THE FACTS ARE THESE, JOBS
WILL BE CREATED.
THIS IS A GREAT BILL.
LET'S PASS IT.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I THANK MY FRIEND, MR. FLAKE.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS ISN'T THE JETSONS DOING
THIS.
I'D PROBABLY FEEL MORE
THE
CASE, BUT GIVEN THE TIME WE HAVE
LEFT I'LL RESERVE THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME, MR. SPEAKER.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
MR. SPEAKER, MR.
CHAIRMAN, HOW MUCH TIME ON BOTH
SIDES?
11 1/2 AND SIX.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER COMING TO
THE FLOOR SO I'LL YIELD MYSELF
AS MUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN
VIRGINIA TECH.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE
HAVE HEARD SOME CURIOUS
ARGUMENTS ON THE OTHER SIDE AS
MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS SIDE HAVE
POINTED OUT A FEW TIMES, BUT LET
ME JUST TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF
THEM WHERE THERE IS A CHARGE
THAT THIS WILL COST THE
TAXPAYERS.
WE MEASURE WHAT THE COSTS ARE TO
THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTRY BY
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
C.B.O., THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE IN LOOKING AT THE LAND
EXCHANGE ASPECT OF THIS AND THE
OTHER COSTS ASSOCIATED, HAVE
CONCLUDED THAT THE COSTS TO THE
TAXPAYER IS EFFECTIVELY ZERO.
NOW, THAT'S OFFICIAL AGENCY THAT
WE GO BY.
SO WHEN WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE A
WHOLE BUNCH OF COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT TO THE TAXPAYER,
THAT'S SIMPLY NOT SO.
BUT WHAT IS EVEN MORE IRONIC,
MR. CHAIRMAN, WHEN THEY MAKE
THAT ARGUMENT, THEY IGNORE THE
FACT THAT JOBS THAT WILL BE
CREATED HERE GET PAID WAGES.
THOSE WAGES THEN WILL BE
SUBJECTED TO TAX POLICIES OF OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
TO WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ACTUALLY GETS MORE REVENUE.
BUT THAT IS IGNORED, IT SEEMS
LIKE, ALL THE TIME WHEN WE HEAR
THE OTHER SIDE ARGUE ON THIS
ISSUE.
LET ME TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
NEPA BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN
BANDIED AROUND A FEW TIMES.
THE NEPA LAWS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE
NOT CHANGED AT ALL.
BY THE PASSAGE OF THIS BILL.
BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE PUT LOGIC
TO THE PROCESS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, AS YOU KNOW VERY
WELL, OUR GREAT GOVERNMENT WAS
DECIDED -- WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE
A DISPERFECTION OF POWER.
WE SIT IN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
AND WE MAKE THE POLICY OF THIS
COUNTRY AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
CARRIES OUT THAT POLICY.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE OUR
REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED.
ALL WE ARE SAYING IS THAT WHEN
CONGRESS DIRECTS AN ACTION IN
THIS CASE AN ACTION OF A LAND
EXCHANGE, IT SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO NEPA BECAUSE WE ARE
EXERCISING OUR AUTHORITY IN THE
CONSTITUTION TO DIRECT POLICY.
WHY SHOULD A NEPA POLICY BE USED
TO SLOW DOWN DIRECTION THAT
CONGRESS HAS GIVEN?
SO THAT'S THE ONLY PART OF THE
NEPA POLICY THAT WILL WE ARE
AFFECTING IN THIS BILL.
THIS VERY
EXPLICITLY.
UNDER THIS BILL ALL NEPA LAWS AS
TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE
CARRYING ON OF THIS MINE WILL BE
SUBJECT TO DEEPA LAWS AND
NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
SO WHEN PEOPLE THROW OUT NEPA,
WHEN PEOPLE THROW AROUND NEPA AS
SOMETHING -- ONE REASON WHY WE
SHOULDN'T ADOPT THIS, THAT IS
SIMPLY A BOGUS ARGUMENT.
FINALLY I JUST WANT TO MAKE ONE
MORE POINT HERE ABOUT THIS BEING
A GIVE AWAY.
IN FACT, THERE ARE SOME OF MY
PERSUASION THAT MAY HAVE A BIT
OF HEARTBURN WITH THIS BECAUSE
THE MATTER OF FACT WE ARE GIVING
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE LAND
THAN WE ARE EXCHANGING FOR
COPPER LAND.
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS
MR. CHAIRMAN, I KNOW YOU HAVE
HEARD THE ARGUMENTS OVER THERE
AND THE TIME AND I HAVE BEEN
THIS IS SOMETHING I
THINK IS WORTHY OF SUPPORT
BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE LANDS ARE PROTECTED
IN A WAY.
SO TO SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A
GIVE AWAY HERE IS SIMPLY NOT THE
CASE BECAUSE THE EXCHANGE IS OF
EQUAL VALUE.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RESERVE MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM VERY PLEASED
TO YIELD TO A FORMER MEMBER OF
THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO,
THREE MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW MEXICO.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON FOR YIELDING.
EVERY DAY IN MY DISTRICT IN NEW
MEXICO PEOPLE ASK WHAT'S GONE
WRONG WITH THE AMERICAN ECONOMY?
WHAT'S GONE WRONG WITH THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY IS THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS $3.6
TRILLION A YEAR AND IT BRINGS IN
$2.1 TRILLION A YEAR.
THEY ASK THEN WHY ARE THE
REVENUES TO THE GOVERNMENT DOWN?
I SAY BECAUSE JOBS ARE DOWN.
AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY JOBS
ARE DOWN?
AND I CAN POINT TO THE
RESISTANCE OF THIS BILL AND
EXPLAIN WHY JOBS ARE DOWN.
THIS IS A VERY COMMONSENSE BILL.
IT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO TAKE
LAND, ALMOST TWICE AS MUCH LAND
AND EXCHANGE IT TO A PRIVATE
COMPANY, WE'LL GIVE THEM HALF AS
MUCH LAND AND LET THEM HAVE A
COPPER MINE THERE.
AND THE AMERICANS ARE CURRENTLY
IMPORTING ABOUT 32% OF ALL THE
COPPER THAT WE USE.
THIS ONE MINE, IF THE RESISTENCE
WERE DROPPED AND WERE PUT INTO
OPERATION, WOULD PROVIDE 25% OF
THE DOMESTIC COPPER DEMAND FOR
THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
WHY
I HAVE HEARD MY FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE SAY IT'S
BECAUSE THERE ARE ROBOTS WORKING
IN THE MINE.
THE MINES I GO INTO, AND I WILL
GUARANTEE YOU THIS MINE WILL BE
CONDUCTED WITH ENGINEERS, WITH
MECHANICS, IT'S GOING TO BE
WITH BLUE COLLAR
LABORERS DOWN THE HOLE WORKING
IN THE MINE.
THEY'VE GOT BETTER MACHINERY
THAN THEY DID 100 YEARS AGO.
THEY ARE NOT THERE WORKING WITH
PICK AND SHOVEL.
BUT THESE ARE REAL JOBS, 1,200
TO 1,500 JOBS LONG TERM, 2,000
TO 3,000 CONSTRUCTION JOBS.
IT'S A $4 BILLION INCREASE IN
OUR ECONOMY.
AND WE CAN'T GET AGREEMENT.
THIS TOWN WHICH TALKS SO MUCH
ABOUT JOBS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE AND WE HEAR THE PRESIDENT
MOVING AROUND THE COUNTRY, I
HAVEN'T HEARD THE PRESIDENT ONCE
COME OUT AND SAY AT LEAST FREE
UP THESE 1,200 JOBS.
I WILL SIGN THIS JOBS PACKAGE.
INSTEAD HE WANTS TO RAISE TAXES
TO INCREASE JOBS.
THAT'S HIS IDEA.
THIS IS A PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN
A PRIVATE LAND WHERE THEY CREATE
A LOT OF LONG-TERM JOBS.
MORE THAN THIS THEY ARE
SELF-SUFFICIENT.
THE PRICE OF COPPER IS ALMOST
FOUR TIMES WHAT IT WAS 10 YEARS
AGO.
THE MOST RECENT REPORT IS THAT
ARE STEALING COPPER BELLS
OFF OF CHURCHES AND GOING IN AND
CUTTING THEM UP AND SELLING
THEM.
COPPER IS IN THAT GREAT A DEMAND
AND WE STILL FIND RESISTENCE
FROM OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE FOR CREATING
THESE JOBS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO
UNDERSTAND AND THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC WHY.
.
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
IT'S ABOUT AGENDA POLITICS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET ANY
RESOURCES GO IN THE WEST.
THE WEST HAD ITS TIMBER JOBS
CHOKED OFF, MINING JOBS CHOKED
OFF, IT HAD RESISTANCE TO THE
OIL AND GAS JOBS.
THEY ARE TRYING TO SHUT THAT
DOWN.
THE WEST IS STARVING FOR JOBS.
IN FACT, WE IN THE WESTERN
CAUCUS HAVE RECENTLY PUT OUT A
REPORT HIGHLIGHTING ALL OF THE
MANY WAYS WE CAN CREATE JOBS
NOW.
THE JOBS FRONTIER, I WOULD
RECOMMEND PEOPLE GO TO IT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BILLS IN THE
JOBS FRONTIER.
I HARDLY RECOMMEND WE PASS H.R.
1904 AND YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AS I INDICATED, MUCH OF THE
OPPOSITION COMING FROM INDIAN
COUNTRY TO THIS LEGISLATION.
ALL PUEBLOS, INCLUDING SIX IN
-- ALL THE PUEBLOS IN NEW
MEXICO HAVE OPPOSED THIS
LEGISLATION.
ALL THE INTERTRIBAL COUNCIL OF
ARIZONA IS OPPOSED TO THIS
LEGISLATION.
26 TRIBES FROM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, INCLUDING TEXAS, HAVE
OPPOSED THIS LEGISLATION.
THEY SEE AN IMPACT ON SACRED
SITES, HISTORY, CULTURE THAT
HAS NOT BEEN FACTORED INTO THIS
DISCUSSION NOR HAVE NATIVE
PEOPLE'S, PARTICULARLY THOSE
AFFECTED NEARBY SAN CARLOS,
APACHE BEEN ALLOWED TO RUN WHAT
IS IMPORTANT WHICH IS THE
GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT
CONSULTATION.
JUST TO POINT, THE CHAIRMAN, MY
FRIEND OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES
COMMITTEE MENTIONED C.B.O.
SCORE FOR THIS BILL.
MAKE.
THERE ARE ALSO TWO POINTS TO
C.B.O. SAYS THIS BILL COULD
COST THE TAXPAYERS UP TO $5
BILLION OVER 10 YEARS.
THIS COST IS NOT OFFSET.
C.B.O. SAYS THE PAYMENTS TO
GOVERNMENT COULD BE SIGNIFICANT
BUT THE BILL'S PROVISIONS DON'T
ALLOW C.B.O. TO SCORE THEM
ACCURATELY.
A STRAIGHT ROYALTY FOR SURE
WOULD HAVE CERTAINTY AND WOULD
RETURN WHAT WE -- WAS NEEDED
AND I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN
TIME.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
BEFORE I YIELD TO ANOTHER
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, I JUST
RESPONDED, C.B.O. SAID IN THEIR
SCORING WHICH IS SO
INSIGNIFICANT IT'S HARD TO
MEASURE.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM
PLEASED TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
SCHWEIKERT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
MR. CHAIRMAN,
THIS IS WHERE I RAN OUT OF THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AN
ARIZONAN.
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THIS
PART OF THE STATE.
MUCH OF THE COMMUNITIES HAVE
DEVASTATING UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND THEY ARE LITERALLY FURIOUS
WITH WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR
DESTROYING THEIR TIMBER JOBS
AND SQUEEZING THEIR MINING JOBS
AND THEN WE STAND HERE WITH
SOMETHING THAT FOR LITTLE STATE
LIKE ARIZONA -- FOR A LITTLE
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF
STATE LIKE ARIZONA COULD BE
DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ONE
ORE DEPOSIT COULD REPRESENT 20%
OF THE NATION'S COPPER, YOU
KNOW, HOW CAN WE EVEN BE
DEBATING THIS.
WHEN YOU ALSO REALIZE, AN
AVERAGE SINGLE FAMILY HOME USES
ABOUT 440 POUNDS OF COPPER.
HOW ABOUT A CAR?
A CAR USES ABOUT 55 POUNDS OF
COPPER.
THIS IS WHERE IT WILL COME
FROM.
AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO
SAY, AND TO MY GOOD FRIEND,
CONGRESSMAN GOSAR FROM NORTHERN
ARIZONA, AND ALL TEE --
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 30 SECONDS.
HE'S GIGANTIC
HERE.
AS A FRESHMAN TO STEP INTO THIS
BODY TO DEAL WITH SOMETIMES A
CAN TANK RUSS ISSUE BUT --
CANTANKEROUS ISSUE BUT THOSE
WHO LOVE ARIZONA, THIS SPORNT.
THIS IS A LOT OF JOBS.
THIS IS A LOT OF ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
AND CONGRESSMAN GOSAR GETS A
LOT OF CREDIT FOR GETTING IT
THIS FAR.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA, MR. GRIJALVA.
CAN I INQUIRE HOW
MUCH TIME HAS ON EACH SIDE?
WE ARE AT FIVE AND
THREE.
I'M GOING TO BE
PREPARED TO CLOSE, BUT I'LL
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE SPONSOR
OF THIS LEGISLATION, AGAIN,
SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN
ABSOLUTELY TENACIOUS ON THIS
ISSUE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA, MR. GOSAR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MY LEGISLATION SHOWS YOU CAN
PROTECT THE LAND AND WATER AND
HAVE A GOOD ECONOMY WITH JOBS.
THE LAND EXCHANGE THAT WILL
BRING INTO FEDERAL STEWARDSHIP
5,500 ACRES OF HIGH-PRIX OR THE
CONSERVATION LANDS IN EXCHANGE
FOR THE LARGEST COPPER AREA IN
THE WORLD.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ONE.
THE 7-B RANCH LOCATED IN PINAL
COUNTY, ARIZONA, IS 3,073 ACRES
DEDICATED AS ONE OF THE LAST
GREAT PLACES ON EARTH AND THE
FOREST SERVICE TESTIFIED THAT
THIS PROPERTY WAS PRICELESS.
YOU GET A CHANCE TO SEE SOME OF
IT.
THIS AREA IS HOME TO A
FREE-FLOWING ARTEESHAN
WETTELAND POPULATED BY LEOPARD
FROGS, NESTING BIRDS AND NATIVE
FISH.
THIS PAR SELL IS RECOGNIZED AS
AN IMPORTANT BIRD AREA.
THESE ARE AMAZING SITES.
THESE ARE PRICELESS.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
GRIJALVA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
YOU.
LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT THE
OPPOSITION AND IT IS NOT ONLY
WITH AFFECTION FOR THE STATE
THAT I GREW UP WITH AND I WAS
BORN IN BUT IT'S ALSO FOR THE
FUTURE OF THAT STATE AND IT'S
ALSO FOR THE FUTURE OF
IMPORTANT RULES AND LAWS THAT
HAVE PROTECTED OUR ENVIRONMENT
FOR MANY YEARS TO ASSURE THAT
THE JOBS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ARE NOT JUST A PANACEA AND A
REALITY.
SELLING POINT AS OPPOSED TO A
THE OPPOSITION TO THIS COPPER
LAND EXCHANGE BILL IS BASED ON
MANY FACTORS BUT LET ME JUST
POINT OUT TWO.
THIS IS THE FOURTH VERSION OF
THE LAND EXCHANGE.
IT BEGAN WITH FORMER COLLEAGUE
RAMSEY.
THEN, MR. PASTOR, MRS.
KIRKPATRICK AND NOW MY FRIEND,
MR. GOSAR FROM ARIZONA.
THEY ARE NOT THE SAME, NONE OF
THOSE.
AND THE ONE MAJOR DIFFERENCE IS
THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US, THE NEPA
PROCESS, THE CONSULTATION ALL
OCCURRED BEFORE THE LAND
EXCHANGE, NOT AFTER.
ONCE WE DO THAT PROCESS,
SOMETHING COMES UP THAT NEEDS
COMPLIANCE AND MITIGATION.
IT BECOMES SUBJECT TO THE
PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER, A
FOREIGN COMPANY THAT WILL NOW
HAVE THIS PUBLIC LAND, TO DEAL
WITH THAT QUESTION, AS SERIOUS
COMPLIANCE ISSUES AND LEGAL
ISSUES.
THE OTHER POINT IS THE WATER.
THE 12 YEARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN
DONE OF THE 20 THAT THE MINE
NEEDS TO BE OPERATED.
OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS IN THE
WATER SUPPLY FOR THE REGION
NUMBER.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT
BUT TO BANK, TO BANK WATER FOR
THIS PROJECT ON THE OUTSKIRTS
NOTHING TO
MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL USAGE OF
WATER, THE POTENTIAL DRAIN OF
WATER IN THOSE THESE AQUIFERS
IN THAT REGION AND THE EFFECT
IT WOULD BE.
NEPA WOULD TELL US WHAT THE
EFFECT IS.
A FULL STUDY WOULD TELL US.
WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT DONE.
WE ARE WORKING ON SUPPOSITION.
I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.
BILL.
WE CANNOT AFFORD IT WITH THIS
A FULL AND OPEN PROCESS.
IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE IT WITH
THE RAMSEY BILL ALMOST EIGHT
YEARS AGO WE WOULD BE THROUGH
THAT PROCESS MANY, MANY YEARS
AGO AND PERHAPS BE TALKING
ABOUT A DIFFERENTLY CRAFTED
PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
WE AREN'T DOING THAT.
THE -- AND THE LAST THING IS
THERE'S SOMETHING SACRED AND
SPIRITUAL ABOUT THIS AS WELL.
NATIVE PEOPLE ARE NOT JUST
COMPLAINING BECAUSE THEY WANT
TO COMPLAIN.
THEY ARE LEGITIMATELY SAYING
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
CONSULTATIONS.
THERE SHOULD BE FULL STUDIES
AND FACTORED INTO THE
DECISIONMAKING MUST BE THE
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL AND
SACRED AND RELIGIOUS AREAS THAT
WE NEED PROTECTED AND ENSURED
IT WILL BE PROTECTED.
THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE NOT
OCCURRED.
H.R. -- IT'S A LAND GIVEAWAY,
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
MEXICO SAID WHY OUR ECONOMY IS
IN THE BAD PLACE, WELL, THIS
LEGISLATION TELLS YOU WHY.
IT'S A SWEETHEART DEAL FOR A
MULTICULTURAL CORPORATION,
FOREIGN OWNED.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN YIELD?
I WILL AFTER I'M
DONE WITH MY SUMATION IF I AM
TIME, SIR.
THIS IS JOBS FOR -- IT'S A
TOUCHY TERM, FOR MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE,
BUT THE REALITY IS WE ATTEMPT
TO AS A PIONEER -- THEY'VE DONE
IT IN AUSTRALIA, THEY HAVE DONE
IT OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THAT SAME PATTERN IS NOT
GOING TO BE APPLIED TO THE MINE
RESOLUTION.
THAT THEY OWN IN THE
THE SUCKING SOUND WE WILL BE
HEARING IS THE LOSS OF WATER
LEVELS IN THAT AREA AND THE
EFFECT IT WILL HAVE.
AND IT USES UNUSUAL APPRAISAL
PROCEDURES WHICH WILL NOT
GUARANTEE THAT THE COMPANY IS
GOING TO PAY ANY FAIR PRICE FOR
THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
COPPER THEY STAND TO RECEIVE
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER,
SOMETHING HAS TO BE SACRED.
H.R. 1904 TAKES AWAY MANY SITES
THAT ARE SACRED TO MAY TIF
PEOPLE.
WE'VE RECEIVED PLEA FROM INDIAN
COUNTRY OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AGAIN AND WE SHOULD DEAL WITH
THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THE LAND
EXCHANGE, NOT IF THIS
LEGISLATION HAS IT AFTER.
AND ADD INSULT TO INJURY, WE
KEPT TALKING ABOUT JOBS.
THERE IS AN AGENDA BEFORE THIS
CONGRESS TO BEGIN TO
IMMEDIATELY CREATE JOBS FOR THE
PEOPLE.
THAT IS STALLED, AND FROM WHAT
I HEAR FROM LEADERSHIP,
PERMANENTLY DERAILED.
SO AS AMERICAN PEOPLE LOOK FOR
REAL EMPLOYMENT AND REAL
OPPORTUNITY, WE PRESENT A FALSE
HOPE IN THIS LEGISLATION,
SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN
VETTED, AND I URGE OPPOSITION
TO THE LEGISLATION.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
HAS TWO MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
MR. CHAIRMAN, HOW
MUCH TIME DO I HAVE?
TWO.
I YIELD MYSELF
THE BALANCE OF THE TIME.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM -- I JUST
WANT TO MAKE TWO POINTS IN
CONCLUDING DEBATE BEFORE WE GO
INTO THE AMENDMENT PROCESS AND
THE REFERENCE WAS MADE TO NEPA
AND I RESPONDED TO THAT A
BITTERLYIER WHERE I SIMPLY SAID
THAT THERE IS A DIVISION OF
POWERS, AND WE ARE MAKING AN
ACTION WITH PASSAGE OF THIS
LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW BY
THE PRESIDENT, WE HAVE SAID
EXCHANGE.
THAT THERE WILL BE A LAND
THAT'S THE POLICY OF THE
COUNTRY.
NOW, ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS ON
THAT LAND AFTER THE EXCHANGE
HAPPENED IS SUBJECT TO NEPA
REVIEW.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM
WITH THAT AND NOTHING IN THIS
BILL CHANGES THAT PROCESS.
AND THE SECOND I'D WANT TO MAKE
IS ON THE ISSUE OF CREATION OF
JOBS.
HONESTLY, WHEN YOU HEAR DEBATE
ON THE FLOOR ON THIS ISSUE,
THAT'S PROBLEM EMBLAN ATTIC OF
THE DEBATE GOING ON IN THIS
CONGRESS SINCE DAY ONE.
APPARENTLY THE OTHER SIDE
THINKS THAT THE ONLY WAY YOU
CAN CREATE JOBS IS RAISING
SECTOR.
TAXES AND EXPANDING THE PUBLIC
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO
CREATE JOBS AND GROW OUR
ECONOMY ARE BASED ON THE
PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE GOTTEN THE
UNITED STATES FROM WHERE WE
WERE WHEN THE REPUBLIC WAS
CREATED UNTIL NOW BY RELYING ON
THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THIS IS A PRIVATE SECTOR
INVESTMENT ON LANDS THAT CREATE
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WEALTH.
THIS IS A JOB CREATOR, AND I
PASSAGE.
THINK THAT THIS BILL DESERVES
AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
ALL TIME FOR GENERAL DEBATE HAS
EXPIRED.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE BILL
IS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR
AMENDMENT UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE
RULE.
IT SHALL BE IN ORDER TO
CONSIDER AS AN ORIGINAL BILL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT
UNDER THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE THE
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A
SUBSTITUTE PRINTED IN THE BILL,
MODIFIED BY THE AMENDMENT
PRINTED IN PART A OF HOUSE
REPORT 112-258.
THAT AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF
A SUBSTITUTE SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
NO AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
IS IN ORDER EXCEPT THOSE
PRINTED IN PART B OF THE
REPORT.
EACH SUCH AMENDMENT MAY BE
OFFERED ONLY IN THE ORDER
PRINTED IN THE REPORT BY A
MEMBER DESIGNATED IN THE
REPORT, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS
READ, SHALL BE DEBATABLE FOR
THE TIME SPECIFIED IN THE
REPORT, EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BY THE PROPONENT AND
OPPONENT, SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT
TO AMENDMENT AND SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO DIVISION FOR THE --
DIVISION OF THE QUESTION.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO RISE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
REPORT THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
IN PART A OF HOUSE
REPORT 112-258 OFFERED BY MR.
HEW HAS OF NEW MEXICO.
PURSUANT TO THE
RULE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
MEXICO, MR. LUJAN, AND A MEMBER
OPPOSED, EACH WILL CONTROL FIVE
MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO.
THIS AMENDMENT ASKS
US TO RESPECT THE SACRED SITE
OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
THIS DOESN'T OFFER TO PROTECT
SACRED SITES OF THE AREA AND
DOES NOT OFFER TRUE TRIBAL
CONSULTATION TO THE TRIBES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT CONSULTATION
ALREADY BEEN MADE.
AND NOT AFTER DECISIONS HAVE
THE TRIBES IN THIS AREA BELIEVE
RESOLUTION COPPER WILL HAVE
NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THEIR SACRED
AND TRADITIONAL SITES IN THE
AREA.
AGAIN, THIS AMENDMENT WILL NOT
KILL THIS PROJECT.
IT WOULD SHOW RESPECT AND OFFER
PROTECTIONS TO BOTH SURFACE AND
SUBSURFACE SITES ON THE
PROPOSED LAND CONVEYANCE.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, MY AMENDMENT
STATES THAT THE FEDERAL LAND TO
BE CONVEYED WILL NOT INCLUDE
NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED OR
CULTURAL SITE, WHETHER SURFACE
OR SUBSURFACE.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD OFFER A
BASIC LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR MANY
RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL SITES TO
MANY TRIBES IN THE REGION.
AS OUR DEAR FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN
KILDEE, REMINDS US DAILY, WE
HAVE A TRUST RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OUR TRIBAL BROTHERS AND
SISTERS, AND THOSE WHO OPPOSE
THIS RESPONSIBILITY WILL
DISMANTLE IT PIECE BY PIECE
WITH A ESCAPELE AND NOT AT ALL
AT ONCE WITH AN AX.
IN THE CURRENT FORM, H.R. 1904
WOULD APPROVE A FEDERAL LAND
EXCHANGE TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP
OF 2,400 ACRES OF LAND ON THE
TONIGHTO NATIONAL FOREST TO
RESOLUTION COPPER FOR THE
PURPOSES OF A BLOCK CAVE COPPER
MINE.
THE FEDERAL LANDS TO BE
EXCHANGED ARE PART OF THE
ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE SAN
PEDRO TRIBES.
THESE LANDS HAVE UNIQUE
RELIGIOUS, TRADITIONAL AND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE TO
MANY TRIBES IN SOUTHERN
ARIZONA.
BEHIND ME IS A PHOTO OF ONE OF
MOST SACRED,
APACHE LEAP.
YOU HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
THAT THEIR BILLS PROVIDES
PROTECTION UNDER THE PROPOSED
AREA TO BE EXCHANGED, BUT I
.
DON'T BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE.
IF IT WERE TRUE WHY IS EVERY
TRIBAL ORGANIZATION IN THIS
COUNTRY OPPOSE THIS BILL?
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE
BE REAL.
THESE SO-CALLED PROTECTIONS TO
OPPOSING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN
INDIANS.
THE UNITED SOUTH AND EASTERN
TRIBES, THE ALL INDIAN PUEBLO
COUNCIL OF NEW MEXICO, THE
APACHE TRIBES, AND MANY OTHER
TRIBES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MANY CHAIRMAN, ALL OF THESE
ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIBAL LEADERS
KNOW THAT THE DEGRADATION OF
THESE CULTURAL SITES MEANS A
LOSS OF IDENTITY AND CULTURE,
NOT TO MENTION UTTER DISRESPECT
FOR THE RELIGION AND HISTORY OF
THE TRIBES CONNECTED TO THIS
AREA.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, SUPPORTING MY
AMENDMENT WILL NOT KILL THE
PROJECT.
IT WITH SIMPLY MEAN RESPECTING
AND PRESERVING THE RELIGIOUS,
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND
HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
LAND THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO THE
TRIBES IN THE REGION.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
MY AMENDMENT AND I RESERVE THE
THE GENTLEMAN
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
I CLAIM TIME IN
OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WHEN I BECAME
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON
NATURAL RESOURCES THIS LAST
JANUARY, I ESTABLISHED A NEW
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INDIAN AND
ALASKA NATIVE AFFAIRS.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE A
SPECIAL FORUM FOR THE ISSUES AND
CONCERNS IMPORTANT TO INDIAN
TRIBES AND NATIVE PEOPLE.
I RESPECT THE VIEWS AND SPECIAL
CONCERNS OF INDIAN TRIBES, AND
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE A
ROLE AND ARE CONSULTED IN
DECISION THAT IS AFFECT THE
PEOPLE ON THEIR RESERVATION
LANDS.
THIS BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE TODAY
EXPLICITLY INCLUDES A SECTION
REQUIRING GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION.
SECTION 4-C, MR. CHAIRMAN, OF
THE BILL IS TITLED, I QUOTE,
CONSULTATION WITH INDIAN TRIBES,
END QUOTE.
CONSULTATION MUST OCCUR BEFORE
THE MINE OPERATIONS EVER BEGIN.
TO REPEAT, THE MINE CANNOT
HAPPEN WITHOUT CONSULTATION WITH
INTERESTED TRIBES.
TO BE CLEAR, THE MINE IS THE
SITE THAT IS NOT LOCATED ON
RESERVATION LAND.
THE CLOSEST NATIVE AMERICAN
RESERVATION IS THE AN CARLOS
APACHE LOCATED MORE THAN 20
MILES EAST OF THE MINE SITE.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED, TOO, THAT
WHERE THIS MINE IS PROPOSED TO
BE DEVELOPED IS RIGHT IN THE
HEART OF WHAT WE CALL ARIZONA'S
HISTORIC COPPER TRIANGLE.
RIGHT HERE.
THESE ORANGE DOTS HERE IS WHERE
COPPER IS MINED OR QUARRIED
RIGHT NOW.
MINE.
THIS IS THE PROPOSED SITE OF THE
AND THE AN CARLOS APATCH -- SAN
CARLOS APACHE RESERVATION IS UP
HERE.
THE REAL EFFECT OF THIS
AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ALLOW THE
DEPARTMENT SECRETARY TO VETO AND
BLOCK THE PROJECT ON THIS
GROUNDS THAT ARE PREVIOUS
IDENTIFIED CULTURAL SITE EXIST
ON THESE LANDS.
AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS A
GEOGRAPHIC TRIANGLE THAT'S
HISTORICALLY HOME TO NUMEROUS
MINES.
I MIGHT ADD, TOO, MR. CHAIRMAN,
THE FOREST SERVICE COMPLETED
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN
2008, THREE YEARS AGO, IN WHICH,
AND I QUOTE, SEVERAL ATTEMPTS
WERE MADE TO IDENTIFY SACRED
SITES AND EFFECTS ON CEREMONIAL
USE OF SACRED SITES, END QUOTE.
THE OFFICIAL CONCLUSION WAS THE
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
AND THAT FINDING WAS SUSTAINED
ON APPEAL.
FURTHERMORE, THE TERMINATIVE
AMERICAN, SACRED, AND CULTURAL
IN THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MY
FRIEND FROM NEW MEXICO ARE
UNDEFINED AND THUS IT CANNOT BE
AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE.
PREDICTED WHAT EFFECT THIS
IT OPENS THE DOOR TO TIME
CONSUMING LIT LITIGATION AND
SUBJECTIVE OR POLITICAL
DECISIONS.
IN THE LAND EXCHANGE WITHIN THE
BILL, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE
AND CULTURAL IMPORTANT LANDS ARE
GIVEN PROTECTION.
THOUSANDS MORE ACRES AS I
ALLUDED TO EARLIER ON ARE ADDED
FOR THE PROTECTION THAT ARE MADE
AVAILABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS MINE.
THE RATIO IS ROUGHLY TWO TO ONE.
THE BILL SPECIFICALLY AND
PERMANENTLY, FOR EXAMPLE,
PROTECTS APACHE LEAP.
BECAUSE THIS BILL ENSURES AND
REQUIRES TRIBAL CONSULTATION
BEFORE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINE,
AND BECAUSE THE REAL EFFECT OF
THE AMENDMENTS WOULD BE FOR
POLITICAL MISCHIEF BETWEEN THE
TIME OF THE MINE OPERATING, I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON
THE LUJAN AMENDMENT.
I RESERVE MY TIME
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I YIELD
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST TO
BE CLEAR WITH THIS AMENDMENT, IT
DOES NOT KILL THE PROJECT.
THE AMENDMENT SIMPLY STATES THAT
THE SECRETARY WILL EXCLUDE
SACRED AND CULTURAL SITES AS
IDENTIFIED BY THE SECRETARY.
IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
PROTECTING SACRED SITES AND
RESPECTING TRIBES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS
IS SO COMPLICATED.
THE ONLY AREA IN THE LEGISLATION
AS WE LOOK AT SECTION 8 OF THE
BILL TALKS ABOUT PRESERVING AND
CONSULTING WITH TRIBES ABOUT
APACHE LEAP.
BUT AGAIN IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO
LATE.
IT'S CONSULTING AFTER THE FACT
NOT BEFORE THE LEGISLATION IS
TAKEN INTO EFFECT.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU KNOW, IF
WE ARE GOING TO GO INTO A SITE,
SAVE THE CATHEDRAL IN SANTA FE
OR THE VATICAN IN ROME, AND THEY
WERE GOING TO GO AND DO
SOMETHING TO THAT LAND.
DON'T WORRY, WE HAVE SOME OTHER
LAND WE'LL GIVE YOU, IT'S ABOUT
THE RELIGIOUS AND SAKE
CONSIDERED AS READ NATURE --
NATURE OF THESE SITES WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
AT THE VERY ESSENCE LET'S LOOK
TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO
PRESERVE THE GOVERNMENT TO
GOVERNMENT TRUST
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE HAVE
WITH OUR TRIBES AND RESPECT
THOSE RELIGIOUS SITES.
RESPECT THOSE SACRED SITES.
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO WORK
TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, AGAIN,
THIS ISN'T GOING TO KILL THE
PROJECT.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE
WE RESPECT THE TRIBES THAT WE
ARE SO HONORED TO REPRESENT HERE
IN THE CONGRESS.
AND WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD 45 SECONDS TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW MEXICO.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
IF THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO
WOULD ANSWER A QUESTION, IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE ROCK
CLIMBERS WHO ARE ALWAYS OUT
THERE.
HIKERS UP IN THERE.
THAT WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT TO
ALLOWING PEOPLE TO RAPPEL DOWN
THE SIDE OF THE WASHINGTON
MONUMENT, BUT I NEVER HEARD
OBJECTION TO ANYONE TO EXCLUDE
THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
SO IT COMES ACROSS JUST A LITTLE
BIT STRANGE THAT WE WOULD TALK
ABOUT LIMITING ONE ACTIVITY
WHILE PEOPLE ARE CRAWLING AND
ALREADY.
RAPPELING DOWN THESE SITES
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON.
I UNDERSTAND THE
OTHER SIDE HAS YIELDED BACK
THEIR TIME.
HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE LEFT?
ONE MINUTE.
MORE THAN HAPPY TO
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
GOSAR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I FIND
IT INTERESTING THAT MY OPPONENT
ON THE OTHER SIDE ACTUALLY
FOCUSES A PICTURE OF APACHE LEAP
WHICH SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM
THIS LEGISLATION.
SO THEREFORE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
IN REGARDS TO PROTECTING THE
SITES, WE HAVE DONE SO.
AS FAR AS THE CONSULTATION IS
CONCERNED, WE HAVE DONE
CONSULTATIONS -- NO, I WILL NOT
YIELD.
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT --
THAT IS APACHE LEAP.
THE TIME IS
CONTROLLED BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
THE CHAIR WOULD ASK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO TO --
WE CITE ALL THE
NATIVE TRIBES.
THEIR FAR FROM INNOCENT.
DURING OUR CONVERSATION WITHIN
THE RESOURCES COMMITTEE, FORMER
TRIBAL CHAIRMAN AND 16-YEAR
TRIBAL COUNCIL MAN TESTIFIED
THAT REDUCING SO THE TRADITIONAL
APACHE VALUES ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE WITH ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
GIVEN THAT THE SAN CARLOS APACHE
IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED
TRIBES IN THE NATION WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AROUND 70%
AND POVERTY AFFECTING EVERY
FACET OF TRIBAL MEMBERS' LIFE, I
COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH HIM.
HE ALSO POINTS THAT THE
CAMPGROUND IN QUESTION IS A LONG
WAY FROM THE RESERVATION.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THE MAJORITY
OF TRIBAL MEMBERS HE SPEAKS
ABOUT IN THIS PROJECT SUPPORT
THIS PROJECT.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
ALL TIME HAS EXPIRED ON THE
AMENDMENT.
THE QUESTION IS NOW ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO, MR.
LUJAN.
SO MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
I ASK FOR A RECORDED
VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO WILL
BE POSTPONED.
IT IS NOW IN ORDINARY IT
CONSIDER AMENDMENT NUMBER 2.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
RISE?
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT
AT THE DESK MADE IN ORDER UNDER
THE RULE.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PRINTED IN PART B OF HOUSE
REPORT NUMBER 112-258, OFFERED
BY MR. MARKEY OF MASSACHUSETTS.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 444, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MARKEY,
AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN, VERY MUCH.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE ARE TWO
VERSIONS OF THIS LAND BILL.
ONE WITH THE MARKEY AMENDMENT,
ONE WITHOUT THE MARKEY
AMENDMENT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THE VERSION
WITH THE MARKEY AMENDMENT IS A
DEAL THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS
SHOULD TAKE.
WITHOUT MY AMENDMENT THIS IS A
DEAL THAT TAKES THE TAXPAYERS.
WITHOUT THE MARKEY AMENDMENT,
THIS LARNED DEAL IS A -- LAND
DEAL IS A SHELL GAME.
ALL ABOUT MISDIRECTION AND SUR
PRIZE OUTCOMES.
WE ARE URGED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON
THE BEAUTIFUL SURFACE ACRES THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD GET IN
THIS DEAL AND THE UNIQUE PAYMENT
SCHEME INCLUDED IN THE BILL.
THIS IS LIKE THE GUY ON THE
STREET WHO TELLS YOU TO WATCH
HIS RIGHT HAND WHILE HIS LEFT
HAND IS PICKING YOUR POCKET.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SURFACE,
THIS IS ABOUT THE COPPER AND
WHETHER RIO TINTO WILL HAVE TO
PAY ITS FAIR VALUE.
AND THE FACT IS THE PAYMENT
SCHEME IN THIS BILL IS
COMPLETELY, LET ME SAY IT AGAIN,
THE PAYMENT SCHEME IN THIS BILL
IS COMPLETELY SPECULATIVE.
IT WILL BE BASED ON INFORMATION
ONLY THE COMPANY HAS ACCESS TO
AND IS SUBJECT TO SERIOUS
MANIPULATION.
RIO TINTO COULD END
UP PAYING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR
THE MASSIVE WINDFALL THEY STAND
TO RECEIVE WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
WITH THE MARKEY AMENDMENT THIS
BILL IS SIMPLE.
IT WOULD REQUIRE NO GUESSWORK ON
THE PART OF THE TAXPAYERS.
IT WOULD ALLOW FOR NO
MANIPULATION THAT COULD CHANGE
THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER.
MY AMENDMENT STRIKES THE
CONVOLUTED PAYMENT SCHEME IN
THIS BILL AND REPLACES IT WITH A
SIMPLE 8% ROYALTY ON THE COPPER
PRODUCED EACH YEAR FROM THIS
MONEY.
THIS IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S
COPPER.
OF THIS?
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO GET OUT
HOW ABOUT 8%?
CAN WE GIVE THESE TAXPAYERS 8%?
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH COPPER
EXACTLY IS DOWN THERE.
THE BENEFIT OF MY AMENDMENT IS
WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF
TIME.
IS, THEN
THEY OWE THE TAXPAYER A NICKEL
AND THREE PENNIES.
IF THEY MAKE $8 BILLION, THE
U.S. TREASURY GETS $640 MILLION.
NOW THE COMPANY WILL ARGUE A
ROYALTY IS UNFAIR.
WELL, GUESS WHO IS ALREADY
PAYING ROYALTIES, MR. CHAIRMAN?
OIL AND GAS COMPANIES PAY 12.5%
WHEN THEY DRILL ON THE
TAXPAYERS' LAND.
THAT'S WHAT EXXONMOBIL PAYS.
THAT'S WHAT SHELL PAYS.
ROYALTY?
YOU KNOW WHO ELSE PAYS THE
RIO TINTO AND B.H.P. WHEN THEY
MINE ON STATE LAND.
SO IF YOU'RE IN COLORADO,
WYOMING, STATE LAND, YOU ARE
PAYING A ROYALTY.
LET'S GO TO THE AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS' LAND.
THOSE SAME COMPANIES THAT PAY TO
THE STATES DON'T PAY TO UNCLE
SAM.
AND THE REVENUE FROM A ROYALTY
IS MONEY WE COULD USE.
WHAT COULD WE USE THE MONEY FOR?
MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT
MEDICARE PAYMENTS FOR GRANDMA.
MAKE SURE WE HAVE STUDENT LOANS
FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO
COLLEGE.
THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY COULD BE
USED FOR.
SHOULD IT JUST BE POCKETED BY
RIO TINTO BY THESE COMPANIES?
SO I ASK MY COLLEAGUES, WHICH
DEAL DO YOU WANT TO GO HOME WITH
AND TELL YOUR CONSTITUENTS YOU
WERE FOR.
THE DEAL WHERE THEY GOT SOME
NICE LAND IN ARIZONA WHILE A
FOREIGN MINING COMPANY GOT
BILLIONS IN COPPER?
OR THE DEAL WHERE THEY GOT THE
LAND PLUS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN ROYALTY PAYMENTS
FOR THE U.S. TAXPAYER?
WITH THE MARKEY AMENDMENT, WE IN
CONGRESS ARE RESPONSIBLE
STEWARDS DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE
TO PROTECT THE FEDERAL TREASURY
TO GET THE TAXPAYER WHAT THEY
ARE OWED.
WITHOUT THE MARKEY AMENDMENT, I
WILL NOT -- I WILL NOT YIELD.
WITHOUT THE MARKEY AMENDMENT
THIS HOUSE LOOKS LIKE THE OLD
KEYSTONE KOPS FUMBLING AROUND IN
CIRCLES WHILE BILLIONS WALKED
RIGHT OUT THE DOOR THAT SHOULD
BE IN THE MOKETS OF EVERY
TAXPAYER IN THIS CON-- POCKETS
CONTRY.
OF EVERY TAXPAYER IN THIS
WE HAVE A SUPERCOMMITTEE
DEBATING HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING
TO CUT POOR PEOPLE, STUDENTS,
NATIONAL DEFENSE, WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO SPEND ON THE PROTECTION
OF OUR COUNTRY, HOW MANY
.
POLICEMEN WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE.
WE ARE GOING TO TURN A BLIND
EYE TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO
THE POCKETS OF A FOREIGN
CORPORATION.
THAT'S NOT WRONG, THAT'S NOT
RIGHT, RATHER.
VOTE FOR THE MARKEY AMENDMENT.
CAPTURE THIS MONEY FOR THE
AMERICAN TAXPAYER.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS
AMENDMENT.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I YIELD MYSELF
SUCH TIME AS I MAY CONSUME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IN DEFERENCE TO
MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
MASSACHUSETTS THERE IS ONLY ONE
BILL BEFORE US AND THAT'S A
BILL WITHOUT THE MARKEY
AMENDMENT AND I HOPE IT STAYS
THAT WAY.
THIS AMENDMENT REQUIRES THE
FOR THE MINERALS
TWICE.
THE VALUE OF THE COPPER IS
ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE
APPRAISED VALUE OF THE LAND
UNDER CURRENT LAW OF THE UNITED
STATES.
THAT'S THE LAW.
SECTION 4-C OF THE BILL
REQUIRES THE DEVELOPER TO PAY
FULL MARKET VALUE FOR THE
FEDERAL LAND AND MINERALS
WITHIN.
UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
BILL, THE UNITED STATES IS
FULLY COMPENSATED FOR THE
COPPER UPFRONT, BUT IF IN FACT
THIS VAIN IS LARGER THAN WHAT
IS ANTICIPATED, THERE IS A
FURTHER PROVISION THAT SAYS
THAT SHOULD IT EXCEED THAT
AMAZED VALUE THE DEVELOPER,
I.E., THE COPPER MINING
COMPANY, IS REQUIRED TO
COMPENSATE THE UNITED STATES
THROUGH ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS.
AS THE MARKET MOVES FORWARD.
THE MARKEY AMENDMENT ADDS AN 8%
ROYALTY TO THE FULL -- TO THE
TOP PAYMENT.
THIS WOULD MEAN THAT THE
COMPANY WOULD BE PAYING A HUGE
PREMIUM IN ADDITION TO WHAT
CURRENT LAW IS OF THE VALUE
THAT THEY ALREADY PAID.
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN, THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED
IN ANY LAW OR ANY ACTIVITY
REGARDING MINING.
THIS AMENDMENT ISN'T ABOUT
ENSURING THE FULL PAYMENT TO
THE UZZ BECAUSE THAT IS
REQUIRED -- UNITED STATES
BECAUSE THAT IS REQUIRED IN THE
BILL UNDER CURRENT LAW.
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT REALLY DOES
IS SENDING A SIGNAL TO
COMPANIES THAT WANT TO INVEST
ON FEDERAL LANDS, TO UTILIZE
THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, THAT
THEY ARE NOT WELCOMED IN THE
UNITED STATES, THEY ARE NOT
WELCOMED AND THEY SHOULD GO
OVERSEAS WHERE THEY ARE
WELCOMED TAKING AMERICAN JOBS
WITH THEM AND MAKING US LESS
ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AS A
COUNTRY AND ALSO COSTING US
JOBS.
SO WITH THAT I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THE
AMENDMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS HAS USED ALL OF
HIS TIME SO YOU NEED TO USE
YOURS.
I WOULD YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA, MR. FLAKE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, IF WE
WANT TO ADDRESS THE ROYALTY ON
THIS AND OTHER MINING VENTURES,
LET'S ADDRESS THE MINING ACT OF
1872.
THERE WERE ATTEMPTS TO DO THIS
IN THE 1990'S, ATTEMPTS TO
INCREASE ROYALTIES OR IMPOSE A
5% ROYALTY AND MANY ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE OPPOSED
THAT MEASURE.
SO THERE HAVE BEEN FEW
ATTEMPTS.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE, LET'S GO
BACK TO IT, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT
HERE ON THIS ONE BILL.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, THIS
IS AN ATTEMPT TO KILL THIS
LEGISLATION, NOTHING ELSE.
IT'S NOT AN ATTEMPT TO GARNER
THE TAXPAYER MORE REVENUE.
BILL.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO KILL THE
I ENCOURAGE REJECTION OF THE
AMENDMENT AND ADOPTION OF THE
BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON.
HOW MUCH TIME DO
I HAVE, MR. CHAIRMAN?
TWO MINUTES.
I AM PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW MEXICO, MR.
PEARCE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW MEXICO.
IT'S INTERESTING TO
LISTEN TO THE ARGUMENTS, TO
LISTEN TO THE ARGUMENTS THAT
WERE GIVEN JUST NOW ON WHY WE
SHOULD SUPPORT THE MARKEY
AMENDMENT.
YOU'D BELIEVE THAT REPUBLICANS
HAVE SET UP THIS MASSIVE SCHEME
FOR AVOIDING PAYMENT FOR
ROYALTIES.
NOW, THIS LAW IS -- HAS BEEN IN
PLACE ON THE BOOKS FOR A VERY
LONG TIME, BUT I REMEMBER THAT
THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROL
FOR TWO YEARS, THE HOUSE, THE
SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE, AND
THEY ELECTED NOT TO PASS THIS
ROYALTY BILL BECAUSE THEY KNEW
IT WOULD DAMAGE THE ECONOMY.
LIKE THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA
JUST SAID, THIS IS A SINGLE
ATTEMPT TO KILL THIS ONE BILL.
25% OF THE NATION'S COPPER
NEEDS COULD BE MET FOR THE NEXT
50 YEARS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO
KILL THE BILL.
THAT'S WHAT DEFIES EXPLANATION.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
TIME.
YIELD MYSELF THE BALANCE OF THE
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
I JUST WANT TO
POINT OUT, THE UNPRECEDENTED
NATURE OF THIS AMENDMENT.
NOW, LET'S THINK ABOUT IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
FLAKE, PROPERLY POINTED OUT
THAT WE OPERATE UNDER THE 1872
ACT AND THERE IS SOME
DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT, BUT TO
SINGLE OUT ONE COMPANY IN ONE
AREA IN ONE STATE FOR THIS TAX
SENDS A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE
SIGNAL TO OUR ECONOMIC SYSTEM
BECAUSE WHAT IS SACRED -- -- IF
THIS WERE TO BE PASSED, WHAT IS
SACRED ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY
COMPARED TO ANY OTHER INDUSTRY
THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T LIKE?
WE WILL SPONSOR AN AMENDMENT TO
TAX ONE INDIVIDUAL COMPANY.
NOW, BOY, THAT IS GOING TO
INSTILL CONFIDENCE, I CAN
REALLY SEE IN, IN OUR ECONOMIC
SYSTEM IF AN AMENDMENT LIKE
THIS IS ADOPTED.
AMENDMENT AND IT
WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT
ON THIS PROCESS.
ALL TIME FOR DEBATE
ON THE MARKEY AMENDMENT HAS
EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, MR. MARKEY.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE NOES HAVE IT.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, BEAMENTBEAMENT
MASSACHUSETTS WILL BE
POSTPONED.
-- FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS
WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
I HAVE AN
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA RISE?
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
AMENDMENT.
REPORT THE TITLE OF THE
AMENDMENT NUMBER 3
PRINTED IN PART A OF HOUSE
REPORT 112-258 OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
GRIJALVA.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 44, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA, MR. GRIJALVA, AND
A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL FIVE MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
WHEN THE
DEMOCRATS WERE IN THE MAJORITY,
INCLUDING THE 8% ROYALTY
REQUIREMENT, AND MET ALMOST
UNANIMOUS OPPOSITION FROM MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.
WE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE
CREATION OF JOBS IS THE
PRINCIPAL MOTIVATION AND
JUSTIFICATION FOR H.R. 1904.
BUT WHEN WE EXAMINED THESE JOB
CLAIMS THEY START TO FALL
APART.
WE'VE HEARD 47, SOMETIMES
6,000.
THE FACTS.
THE NUMBERS AREN'T SUPPORTED BY
THE AMENDMENT THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW IS
OFFERED BY MYSELF AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
GARAMENDI, IS THE ONLY WAY TO
ENSURE THAT AT LEAST SOME JOBS
WILL BE CREATED IN ARIZONA AS A
RESULT OF THIS BILL.
OUR AMENDMENT ADDS CONDITIONS
TO GUARANTEE JOB CREATION IN
THE COMMUNITY OF SUPERIOR,
ARIZONA, AND THE SURROUNDING
AREA AND STRENGTHEN THE OVERALL
BENEFITS TO THE U.S. ECONOMY.
SECTION 1 OF THIS AMENDMENT
GUARANTEES THAT THE REMOTE
OPERATION CENTER IS LOCATED IN
SUPERIOR.
MODERN MINES AND ROYALTY, IN
PARTICULAR, USE A RANGE OF
AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY, MOST OF
THE HUMAN LABOR IS DONE OFFSITE
AT REMOTE OPERATION CENTERS.
IT IS PRESENTLY OPERATING THE
AUSTRALIA MINE IN PERTH, A
METRO AREA.
OUR AMENDMENT WILL ENSURE THAT
THIS REMOTE OPERATION CENTER IS
IN SUPERIOR AND OPERATES FROM
SUPERIOR, ARIZONA.
IF THIS LEGISLATION IS TRULY
ABOUT JOBS AND LEFTING UP THE
LOCAL ECONOMY, IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE
BY THIS MINE.
THAT IS CREATED
SECTION 2 OF OUR AMENDMENT
MAKES SURE THAT ARIZONANS ARE
CONSIDERED FIRST FOR
EMPLOYMENT.
WITHOUT ACTIVE RECRUIT AMOUNT
AND ANY HIRING PREFERENCE FOR
AREA RESIDENTS, HOW DO WE KNOW
THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE
REGION AND ARIZONA WILL BENEFIT
FROM THE PROJECT?
OUR AMENDMENT MAKES SURE THAT
THAT HAPPENS.
IT'S IF THE BILL IS REALLY
ABOUT JOBS AND OUR NATIONAL
INTEREST, THEN WE SHOULD
GUARANTEE THAT THE OIL PRODUCER
OF THIS MINE HAS A DIRECT
IMPACT ON THE U.S. ECONOMY.
SECTION 3 OF THE AMENDMENT WILL
MAKE SURE THAT ALL RAW
MATERIALS EXTRACTED FROM THE
MINE IS PROCESSED IN THE UNITED
STATES, NOT IN CHINA, OR ANY
OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRY.
FINALLY, SECTION 4 OF THIS
AMENDMENT WILL ENSURE THAT ALL
EQUIPMENT IN THE MINE IS MADE
IN THE U.S.A., PUTS AMERICAN
MANUFACTURERS BEFORE FOREIGN
COMPET FORCE.
IF THE PROMISE OF JOB CREATION
HAVE ANY SHED INCREDIBLE, THE
GRIJALVA-GARAMENDI AMENDMENT
MUST BE ADOPTED TO ENSURE THE
HAVE HEARD AND
THERE ARE GUARANTEES THAT HAVE
BEEN TALKED ABOUT THIS
AFTERNOON ARE IN FACT REALITY
AND THIS AMENDMENT WOULD MAKE
IT A REQUIREMENT.
AND WITH THAT I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I CLAIM TIME IN OPPOSITION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE FUNDAMENTAL
PURPOSE OF H.R. 1904 IS TO MAKE
COPPER IN THE UNITED STATES AND
CREATE THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN
JOBS.
THIS AMENDMENT IS PURPOSELY
WRITTEN TO MAKE THE MINE
IMPOSSIBLE BY MANDATING
ACHIEVED.
CONDITIONS THAT CAN'T BE
AS A RESULT OF THAT, IF THIS
WERE TO PASS, THE 500 PEOPLE
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT THE
PROJECT WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS
AND THE 3,700 TOTAL JOBS THAT
MATERIALIZE.
WOULD BE CREATED WOULD NEVER
THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THIS MATTER
HAS FOUGHT THIS PROPOSED MINE
FOR YEARS.
LISTEN, I RESPECT HIS POSITION.
BUT THIS AMENDMENT ISN'T
WRITTEN TO IMPROVE THE BILL.
TO KILL THE MINE.
IT'S SIMPLY AN AMENDMENT IN
WOLF'S CLOTHING.
THIS AMENDMENT DICTATES
SPECIFIC MANDATES ON BUSINESS
OPERATION, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT
ARE UNREALISTIC, UNPRECEDENTED
AND UNWORKABLE.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
IT MANDATES THE PRECISE TOWN IN
WHICH THE MINE OPERATION CENTER
MUST BE LOCATED.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD
NOT BE DICTATING WHERE AND ONLY
WHERE A COMPANY IS ALLOWED TO
CONDUCT ITS PRIVATE BUSINESS.
IF YOU TAKE THIS TO THE LOGICAL
EXTREME, WHAT'S NEXT?
WILL HOUSE DEMOCRATS PUSH A NEW
LAW TO REQUIRE APPLE TO MOVE
FROM COOPER TINO TO, WHERE, --
KUPER TINO TO, WHERE --
CUPERTINO TO, WHERE, DETROIT?
THOSE INVESTING THOUSANDS OF
AMERICAN JOBS THAT DEMOCRATS IN
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WANT
TO DICTATE WHERE TO OPERATE
THEIR BUSINESS.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE
MAYBE SOME CONSISTENCY BECAUSE
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HOUSE
DEMOCRATS HAND OUT OVER HALF A
BILLION IN STIMULUS DOLLARS TO
THE FISKAR CAR COMPANY THEY
ALLOWED THAT TO BE BUILT IN
FINLAND WHICH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
MIGHT ADD, IS NOT EVEN A STATE.
THE AMENDMENT ALSO REQUIRES
THAT ALL COPPER PRODUCED FROM
THIS MINE BE USED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
COPPER IS A BASIC COMPONENT
USED TO CONSTRUCT AND BUILD
ITEMS.
IT'S RIDICULOUS TO MANDATE THAT
NOT ONE OUNCE OF COPPER GOES ON
ANY ITEM IT VIOLATES THIS LAW,
THIS AMENDMENT TO BE USED
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
I'M SENSITIVE OF THIS BECAUSE
I'M FROM WASHINGTON.
IF A BOEING PLANE IS USING
COPPER MADE FROM THIS MINE,
THAT BOEING PLANE CAN THEREFORE
NEVER FLY OUT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
IF COPPER PIPE IS USED IN THE
OF A BOAT THAT'S BUILT
IN AMERICA, IT CAN NEVER SHIP
AMERICAN GOODS IN THIS GLOBAL
ECONOMY.
AND WHAT ABOUT COPPER JEWELRY,
MR. CHAIRMAN?
AN AMERICAN BUILT JEWELRY THAT
INCLUDES COPPER COMPONENTS OR A
MULTITUDE OF OTHER EVERYDAY
ITEMS THAT WE BUILD IN AMERICA
AND SELL ABROAD THAT CONTAINS
COPPER.
IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE COPPER
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD MAKE IT
FROM INTO BIN, BUT ON THE OTHER
HAND, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THE
INTENT IS.
FINALLY, THE AMENDMENT MANDATES
THAT ALL EQUIPMENT THAT USE TO
MINE OR SUPPORT MINING
ACTIVITIES BE MADE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO
ALLOW THE THIRD LARGEST
UNDERDEVELOPED COPPER RESOURCE
IN THE WORLD TO BE DEVELOPED IN
AMERICA, TO CREATE AMERICAN
JOBS AND PROVIDE UP TO 25% OF
AMERICA'S COPPER CONSUMPTION.
IT DEFIES RENAL AND LOGIC TO
SAY THIS ECONOMIC BOOST TO
AMERICA CAN'T HAPPEN IF ONE
PIECE OF EQUIPMENT USED FOR THE
MINE ISN'T MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
AND LET ME GO A LITTLE BIT
FURTHER, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE WORD EQUIPMENT IS NEVER
DEFINED.
DOES IT INCLUDE EVERYDAY OFFICE
ITEMS THAT WILL SUPPORT MINE,
SUCH AS PAPERS AND PENCILS?
I PHONES AND BLACKBERRYS, I
MIGHT ADD, ARE NOT MANUFACTURED
IN AMERICA.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES,
THEREFORE, TO VOTE AGAINST THIS
AMENDMENT WHICH STANDS IN THE
WAY OF AMERICA'S COPPER
PRODUCTION AND AMERICA COPPER
CREATION, AND WITH THAT I
RESERVE MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVICES HIS TIME.
FOR CLARITY OF THE RECORD, DU
MEAN AN AMENDMENT IN SHEEP'S
CLOTHING, NOT AN AMENDMENT IN
WOLF'S CLOTHING?
WHATEVER
INTERPRETATION I'M SPEAKING TO
YOU AND WHATEVER YOU'RE SAYING.
GOT IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
LET ME YIELD TO
THE CO-SPONSOR OF THE
AMENDMENT, MR. GARAMENDI FROM
CALIFORNIA, FOR THE BALANCE OF
THE TIME.
TWO MINUTES, THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
OUR WORTHY
CHAIRMAN HAS PUT UP A DOZEN
KINARD, NONE OF WHICH ADDRESSES
HERE.
THE UNDERLYING ISSUE RIGHT
THIS AMENDMENT IS A VERY SIMPLE
ONE THAT WOULD LOCATE IN
ARIZONA THE HEADQUARTERS FOR
THIS MINE.
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THAT?
NOT MOVING THIS OFF TO FINLAND.
COME ON.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALSO
PROVIDE THAT THE COPPER, AND
IT'S BEEN STATED BY THE
PROPONENTS OF THE BILL THAT 5%
OF THE COPPER NEEDS IN THE --
25% OF THE COPPER NEEDS IN THIS
UNITED STATES WOULD COME FROM
THIS MINE.
SO WHY NOT USE THIS COPPER IN
THE UNITED STATES?
SEEMS TO BE TO BE PERFECTLY
REASONABLE DESPITE ALL THE
STUFF TOSSED AROUND HERE.
THE OTHER PART HAS TO DO WITH
THE EQUIPMENT.
DOES THE WORTHY GENTLEMAN FROM
WASHINGTON OPPOSE TO USING
AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT IN
AMERICAN MINES?
IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?
THERE MAY BE SOME
DEFINITIONAL PROBLEMS.
I WOULD BE GLAD TO WORK WITH
YOU ON THE DEFINITIONAL
PROBLEMS BUT THE UNDERLYING
POINT IS WHY WOULD WE SET UP
ALL OF THIS SO WE CAN IMPORT
EQUIPMENT FROM CHINA?
WHY NOT SIMPLY REQUIRE THAT THIS
MINE, WHICH UNDER THE BILL
ITSELF IS A -- ENORMOUS GIVEAWAY
OF AMERICAN PROPERTY, A PROPERTY
OWNED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AN
ENORMOUS UNPARALLELED GIVEAWAY
OF OUR VALUE, WHY NOT SIMPLY
REQUIRE THAT AT LEAST IF THEY'RE
GOING TO BE GIVEN ALL OF THIS
THEY BE REQUIRED TO BUY
AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT FOR THE
MINE OPERATION?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
WHY NOT MAKE IT IN AMERICA?
IF THIS MINE'S IN AMERICA, WHY
NOT USE AMERICAN-MADE MEN --
AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT AND HIRE
AMERICAN AND IN THIS CASE
ARIZONANS?
YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH HIRING
ARIZONANS?
YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH LOCATING
IN ARIZONA, THE HEADQUARTERS OF
THIS MINE IN WHICH YOU PREFER --
WOULD YOU PREFER LONDON OR
MAYBE SOMEWHERE IN AUSTRALIA?
COME, COME ON.
THESE ARE VERY SIMPLE AMENDMENTS
SO THAT AMERICANS CAN GO TO
WORK.
THESE ARE VERY SIMPLE AMENDMENTS
SO THAT WE WILL BUY -- SO THAT
THIS COMPANY WILL BUY
AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT.
TO MINE OUR COPPER.
WHICH UNDER YOUR PROPOSAL IS
GIVEN AWAY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
ALL TIME CONTROLLED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON
HAS A MINUTE LEFT.
A MINUTE AND A
NO, ONE.
HALF?
ONE MINUTE.
IN THAT CASE I
WILL YIELD MYSELF THE BALANCE OF
THE TIME.
I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA
ABOUT WORKING WITH US IF THERE'S
A FLAW IN THIS AMENDMENT.
I JUST REMIND HIM, HE OFFERED A
SIMILAR AMENDMENT IN COMMITTEE,
WE BROUGHT UP PRECISELY THE SAME
ARGUMENTS, PRECISELY THE SAME
ARGUMENTS AND HERE WE ARE, WE
TRIED OUR AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR
OF THE HOUSE AND IT'S PRECISELY
THE SAME AMENDMENT.
I JUST DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE
A HARD TIME THINKING THAT
SOMEBODY WANTS TO WORK WITH US,
WHEN THEY TRIED OUT THE SAME
AMENDMENT WITH THE SAME
ARGUMENTS THAT GOT DEFEATED
TWICE.
AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION THIS,
MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT'S A WORTHY GOAL TO BUY
AMERICA AND TO PROMOTE BUYING
AMERICA.
BUT NOT IF THAT'S USED TO BLOCK
A PROJECT, TO CREATE AMERICAN
JOBS AND THAT RESULTS IN AMERICA
BEING LESS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN
MINERALS THAT GETS OUR ECONOMY
GOING.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I URGE DEFEAT
OF THIS AMENDMENT AND WITH THAT
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
ALL TIME FOR DEBATE
EXPIRED.
ON THE GRIJALVA AMENDMENT IS
THE QUESTION NOW OCCURS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
GRIJALVA.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
NOES HAVE IT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
WITH THAT, MR.
CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR A
RECORDED VOTE.
THE GENTLEMAN ASKS
FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA WILL BE
POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
MOVE THE COMMITTEE DO NOW RISE.
THE QUESTION IS ON
THE MOTION TO RISE.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
AYES HAVE IT, THE AYES HAVE IT
AND ACCORDINGLY THE COMMITTEE
RISES.
MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON
THE STATE OF THE UNION HAS HAD
UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R. 1904
AND PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION
444 I REPORT THE BILL BACK TO
THE HOUSE WITH AN AMENDMENT
ADOPTED IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
MR.
CHAIRMAN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE
A NEW REPORT.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE
HAVING HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION
H.R. 1904 DIRECT MESS TO REPORT
THAT IT HAS COME TO NO
RESOLUTION THEREON.
OF THE
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
UNION REPORTS THAT THE COMMITTEE
WHOLE HOUSE ON THE STATE OF THE
HAS HAD UNDER CONSIDERATION H.R.
1904 AND HAS COME TO NO
RESOLUTION THEREON.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE HOUSE WILL STAND IN
RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF
THE CHAIR.
NOT EARLIER THAN 3:30