U.S. Rep. McCollum Statement on Passage of House Republicans' Legislation to Remove Boundary Waters Protections

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04) issued the following statement on Wednesday following the passage of H.J. Res. 140, which would expose the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed to toxic acid mine drainage:

"The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is our nation's most-visited wilderness area, and its headwaters should be protected from toxic sulfide-ore mining. Instead of protecting this national treasure, the House Republican majority today voted to put one of the largest reserves of freshwater in the world directly in the path of inevitable acid mine drainage. One hundred percent of copper mines have failed, leading to polluted waters.

"Antofagasta/Twin Metals, a Chilean mining company, has been lobbying to remove the protections from this watershed and renew their mine plans to extract American minerals. They have contracts to ship the ore they extract to China to be smelted and sold on the global market. This resolution does nothing to help bolster our domestic supply of critical minerals.

"This bill now goes to the Senate. Should the Senate Republican majority take up and pass this resolution, it will overturn protections that are rooted in scientific evidence and strong public support.

"This fight is not over. I will continue to fight to stop this resolution and to pass the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act, my legislation to permanently protect the BWCA."

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