Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Peltola and Ms. Maloy for their leadership.

Abandoned hardrock mines are scattered all across the American West, including in my own district, which is home to some of the oldest mine lands in Nevada. Their pollutants are poisoning our waters, threatening Tribal lands and resources, and creating hazardous landscapes that have injured and killed Americans.

A range of highly qualified partners, from State and local agencies to the nonprofit guardians of America's great outdoors, such as Trout Unlimited, stand ready to work with the Federal Government to clean up these sites.

Today's bipartisan, bicameral legislation will safely and responsibly cut through red tape currently preventing these Good Samaritans from doing so. It has taken 25 years of consensus building to craft this version of the Good Sam bill now on the floor. That is a quarter century of collaboration that has earned this version of the bill the support of every Member of the U.S. Senate; our Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, myself included, who have led the charge to get this legislation across the finish line in this Congress; and stakeholders from The Nature Conservancy to the National Congress of American Indians and the Western Governors' Association.

Mr. Speaker, here is a sobering reminder: Across these multiple decades, abandoned hardrock mines have continued to send mercury, arsenic, lead, and other toxic materials into our rivers and communities.

Let's take a look back in history to highlight just one example.

When the Senator from Montana first proposed the Good Sam legislation back in 1999, officials from the State were hoping that it would provide a pathway for them to help clean up an 1800s-era abandoned mine polluting Montana's Corbin Creek. After 25 years, with Good Sam bill after Good Sam bill dying here in Washington, Corbin Creek still remains on Montana's list of impaired waters to this day, and for no good reason since Good Samaritans have been willing to actively assist.

The time for talking is over. It is now time for the House to act. Before Congress adjourns, we have a historic opportunity to put our Nation on an accelerated path to cleaner waters and safer landscapes. This Good Sam bill is a good bill.

The Clean Water Act and Superfund both aim to restore and maintain the integrity of America's waters, and this bill moves us closer to that objective. It also includes multiple protections and provisions to prevent any abuse or backsliding.

Mr. Speaker, I ask both my Republican and Democratic colleagues to join me in voting at long last to pass it.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source