SEEC Blasts House Republicans’ Push to Increase Mining Pollution

Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko and Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Sean Casten, Mike Levin, and Chellie Pingree, released the following statement in response to the House passage of the Critical Mineral Dominance Act (H.R. 4090).

“House Republicans just gave mining companies the green light to dine and dash on our public lands. While mining companies extract our resources and tear up our public lands at bargain basement prices, Republicans are leaving the American people with the bill for costly mining pollution, toxic drinking water, increased health problems, and long-term environmental damage.

“Our critical minerals supply chain needs a broader, holistic re-evaluation. However, that does not mean we should give mining companies unfettered access to our public lands and resources at any cost. Not only do Republicans want to let the mining industry write its own rules, but they are also willing to let our foreign adversaries mine our public lands, while blindly fast-tracking mining projects regardless of the risk. At best, this bill is ineffective and reckless. At worst, it’s another corrupt giveaway to polluting corporations masquerading as ‘permitting reform’, which will only hurt our national security and boost corporate profits at the expense of the American people. 

“We can and must meet our critical mineral demand without selling off our public lands to the highest bidder and sacrificing our bedrock environmental protections.”