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For Immediate Release October 23, 2007 Contact: Steve Ellis 202-546-8500 x126 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE PASSES MINING REFORM LEGISLATION Washington, D.C. - The following is a written statement by Ms. Ryan Alexander, President of Taxpayers for Common Sense, on the passage of the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007 today in the House Natural Resources Committee. The bill includes a four percent royalty on currently operating mines on federal land and an eight percent royalty for all new mining operations on federal lands.  Today a core principal of mining reform was upheld by the Natural Resources Committee.  Chairman Rahall and the Committee have taken the first step in making sure that the mining industry pays their fair share for extracting minerals on public lands.  After 135 years, the time has finally come to end the exploitation of federal lands for the private profit of mining companies.  In the coming weeks, the full House of Representatives will consider this legislation. We expect the House to quickly adopt this common sense reform to the anachronistic Mining Law of 1872. The mining industry cannot be allowed to walk away with gold, silver and other precious metals from federal lands without fairly compensated federal taxpayers for the resources they extract.

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Taxpayers for Common Sense is a non-partisan budget watchdog that serves as an independent voice for American taxpayers.  Now in its second decade of service to the nation, TCS works to ensure that our government spends taxpayer money efficiently and responsibly by working to eliminate wasteful and harmful federal spending.