Discussion · House of Representatives
Jared Huffman Democrat
“I oppose this bill. Supporters say we need it to compete with China for critical minerals, but it speeds up permits for common things like sand and gravel that we already have plenty of.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, a little blinding flash of the obvious: When it comes to sand and gravel, we are not dependent on China or any other foreign adversary or any other foreign country. We have a lot of sand and gravel in this country. This is not about critical minerals. This is not about our competitiveness. It is about sand and gravel which we can mine, as we always have. It is not what FAST-41 was intended to do or intended to benefit. But you just heard it right here on the floor in this debate, Mr. Speaker, that my colleagues on the one hand are selling this bill as urgent to meet our competitive situation with China. On the other hand, they are opening FAST-41 wide open to anything that can be pulled from the ground including sand and gravel. It just makes no sense whatsoever. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle).”
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, a little blinding flash of the obvious: When it comes to sand and gravel, we are not dependent on China or any other foreign adversary or any other foreign country. We have a lot of sand and gravel in this country. This is not about critical minerals. This is not about our competitiveness. It is about sand and gravel which we can mine, as we always have. It is not what FAST-41 was intended to do or intended to benefit. But you just heard it right here on the floor in this debate, Mr. Speaker, that my colleagues on the one hand are selling this bill as urgent to meet our competitive situation with China. On the other hand, they are opening FAST-41 wide open to anything that can be pulled from the ground including sand and gravel. It just makes no sense whatsoever. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle).