1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose House Joint Resolution 140, which passed the House on January 21st with a vote of 214-208 and is now before the Senate. This resolution uses the Congressional Review Act to overturn the 2023 Public Land Order that protects 225,504 acres of federal land around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from mining. This would be the first time the CRA has been used to rescind a Public Land Order, setting a dangerous precedent for public land protection nationwide. The Boundary Waters is a 1.1 million-acre wilderness area in Northeastern Minnesota that serves as America's most visited wilderness. Millions of people visit annually for camping, fishing, paddling, dog sledding, hunting, and hiking. This area is not just a recreational treasure but an economic engine for the region and a place of profound personal value to me and countless others. The threat comes from Twin Metals, owned by Chilean mining giant Antofagasta, which wants to build a copper-nickel mine immediately upstream of the Boundary Waters. The proposed mine location sits along waterways that flow directly into and through the heart of the wilderness, then downstream to Voyageurs National Park and Quetico Provincial Park in Canada. Toxic runoff from copper mining operations would irreversibly damage these pristine waters and the ecosystems that depend on them. The Department of Interior's 2023 mining ban came after extensive review and public input. It represents sound policy that balances resource management with wilderness protection. Overturning this carefully considered decision through the CRA circumvents the thorough environmental review process that protects our public lands. I urge you to vote against H.J.Res. 140 and stand with the millions of Americans who value the Boundary Waters and expect their representatives to protect our public lands from industrial threats that would cause permanent harm to this irreplaceable wilderness.