(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Congressman Dean Heller made the following statement on the House passage of the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 (H.R. 2262), which passed the House by a vote of 244 to 166.

“I am disappointed that further compromise could not be reached before the passage of this legislation.  As written, the heavy new taxes and burdensome regulations imposed by the bill will severely hurt and shrink the domestic mining industry.  Our nation will lose mining jobs in the same way we have lost automobile or steel industry jobs in the Midwest, hurt the seafood industry in some coastal areas, or closed textile operations in the Southeast.  I will continue to work with Chairman Rahall, the House Resources Committee, and the Nevada delegation to strike a fair compromise that protects Nevada’s jobs before final legislation comes before Congress,” said Heller.

Heller offered two amendments to H.R. 2262.  The first amendment would have reduced the new 8% gross royalty payments to a 5% net proceeds system modeled after Nevada’s current system.  This amendment was defeated by a party line vote in the House Rules Committee.  The second amendment, which was accepted on the House floor, redistributes royalties in the bill by increasing to 50% from 33% the amount of royalties going to states for abandoned mine clean up.

 “Many Western states already have programs in place to identify, secure, and reclaim abandon mine sites.  I am pleased this amendment was included on the House floor and I will continue to work to ensure it is included in final legislation,” added Heller.  

Heller also brought this legislation to the attention of President George W. Bush in two separate meetings at the White House.

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