1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent regarding H.J.Res.140, which recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 214–208 and has now moved to the United States Senate for consideration. This resolution would overturn Public Land Order No. 7917, a long-standing withdrawal that has protected federal lands in Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, Minnesota, including the headwaters and surrounding watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. That protection exists for a clear and lasting reason: this land drains directly into one of the most ecologically sensitive and economically vital freshwater systems in the country. The House’s use of the Congressional Review Act to reverse a public land protection order raises serious concerns about precedent and process. The CRA was designed to review federal agency rules, not to unwind long-standing land withdrawals that safeguard watersheds, ecosystems, and regional economies. Applying it in this way risks creating a pathway for future rollbacks of protected lands without the level of scrutiny, public input, and environmental review these decisions deserve. If enacted, this resolution would clear the path for copper-nickel sulfide mining near the Boundary Waters’ headwaters. This form of mining has a well-documented history of generating acid mine drainage and releasing heavy metals into surrounding water systems, often resulting in contamination that can persist for generations. Once water quality is compromised, restoration is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible. The Boundary Waters is not only a national environmental treasure, but also the backbone of a regional outdoor economy that supports thousands of jobs through tourism, guiding services, and conservation-related industries. Protecting clean water in this region means protecting both livelihoods and a public resource held in trust for future generations. With this resolution now before the Senate, I respectfully urge you to oppose H.J.Res.140 and uphold the protections established under Public Land Order No. 7917. The Senate’s role at this stage is critical in determining whether these federal lands remain safeguarded or whether a door is opened to irreversible environmental risk. Thank you for your time and for your service. I would appreciate knowing your position on this resolution and how you intend to vote.