“Today’s bill is not written for the American worker,” said House Rules Committee Ranking Member Louise Slaughter (D-NY). “It was written for foreign mining giants who hope to profit for our generosity.”
Democrats also argued that Rio Tinto in particular is known to run mines remotely with robots, and said that fact undercuts Republican arguments that allowing the mining to take place would help create U.S. jobs.
“Seriously? We’re creating jobs for foreign robots instead of American workers?” Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) asked. “No offense to R2-D2, but there are American workers who need help.”
But Republicans rejected these arguments and said the bill would help create 3,700 direct and indirect jobs related to the operation of the mine, and another 3,000 to help construct the site. “If we vote against this bill, we’ll still be providing jobs, but jobs overseas,” said Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah).
Bishop and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) both said the mine would help the U.S. meet its increasing demand for copper. “The United States currently imports 30 percent of the country’s copper demand,” Gosar said. “This project could contribute enough copper, equal to 25 percent of our demand, contributing significantly to the U.S.’s energy and mineral independence.”
Gosar said the bill would create $14 billion in federal tax revenues over the life of the mine.
Rep. Bishop also noted that despite objections from Democrats, the bill is similar to one that was introduced by a House Democrat in 2010. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.) brought the bill up in 2010 as a stimulus bill that would not cost the government a penny, although it was controversial because the land Resolution would take over is the Oak Flats Campground.
Still, the federal government would get nearly twice as much land in return from Resolution under the bill. Specifically, Resolution would get 2,422 acres of the campground for mining, and would give up nearly 5,250 acres to the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
With passage of the rule, the House is expected to move to general debate and debate on an handful of amendments on Wednesday.