"The House’s lean schedule is no accident. GOP leaders who set the agenda and floor schedule say they achieved most of their top priorities last year and are content to rest on their laurels through the election."

For this reason, a great number of important issues lay by the wayside, collecting dust, while we convene in brief, three-day sessions to tackle the not-so-weighty issues of naming federal post offices, or designating days, weeks, or months to such non-controversial subjects as such as "Financial Integrity"

A perfect example of an opportunity squandered by the Republican leadership is the total lack of attention being given to the need to reform this country’s antiquated mining laws.

As many of my colleagues know, I have fought to reform the General Mining Law of 1872 for the past 17 years, and along with Representatives Shays and Inslee, continue to work on behalf of the taxpayer to ensure proper reimbursement for the natural riches mining companies extract from our public lands for the cost of a fast-food cheeseburger. Our bill, H.R. 2141, deserves consideration by the House Resources Committee, yet no hearings have been scheduled.

HR 2141 does not deal with coal, or oil and gas. These energy minerals, if located on Federal lands, are leased by the government, and a royalty is charged. Further, Mining Law reform does not deal with private lands. The scope of the Mining Law of 1872 and legislation to reform it is limited to hardrock minerals such as gold, silver, lead and zinc on Federal lands in the Western States.

HR 2141 would prohibit the continued give-away of public lands. It would require that a holding fee be paid for the use of the land, and that a royalty be paid on the production of valuable minerals extracted from these Federal lands. And, it would require industry to comply with some basic reclamation standards.

The American public deserves a fair return from the gold, silver and other hardrock minerals produced from public lands and the hard rock mining industry should be required to meet the same environmental standards that all other extractive industries meet. As our distinguished Minority Whip, Rep. Steny Hoyer, noted on the floor today, "Our constituents did not send us here to pretend to legislate. They sent us here to solve problems and fulfill our duty."

It is time, well past time, that Congress replace the 1872 Mining Law with one that reflects our values and goals. Please contact the Resources Committee Democratic staff if you would like to co-sponsor this important legislation.