TOPLINE: Whip Scalise is committed to exposing President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ giveaways to radical special interest groups and the far-left provisions buried in their 2,135-page big government tax-and-spending spree. There are many “hidden gems” that Democrats are handing the socialists, and Whip Scalise will be highlighting them throughout the next few weeks.   Burdensome Regulations on American Miners, More Reliance on Foreign Nations For Mineral Production   Section 71101 provides $3 million to revise rules and regulations to prevent “undue degradation of public lands due to hardrock mining activities.”  

  These funds will likely be used to implement burdensome regulations that will impose new taxes and fees on minerals produced in America.   Democrats’ proposals fail to recognize the need to prioritize domestic mining to address severe supply chain risks that threaten our nation’s economy. This will only deepen the United States’ reliance on foreign adversaries who do not adhere to our environmental standards.   This provision grants the Secretary of the Interior broad authority to enact an extreme “keep it in the ground” agenda that will drive up the cost of raw materials necessary for modern life and increase our reliance on natural resources produced overseas through deplorable environmental and labor practices.   Instead of driving the United States into the arms of the Chinese Community Party, Congress should be modernizing permitting and regulatory challenges to domestic resource development and minimizing America’s reliance on China for critical minerals.   BOTTOM LINE: Democrats voted to increase fees and royalties on hardrock mining, which will raise the cost of domestic production, put more Americans out of work and raise the costs of everyday consumer goods. Unlike President Biden and Speaker Pelosi, Republicans are committed to promoting America’s mining industry and reducing the United States’ reliance on foreign minerals.