1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Vote against the Congressional Review Act resolution that repeals mining protections for the Boundary Waters. This 50-49 Senate vote opens over a million acres of pristine wilderness to sulfide-ore copper mining despite overwhelming opposition from environmentalists, outdoor recreation businesses, neighboring communities, and the US Forest Service itself. Using the CRA to overturn a Public Land Order passed three years ago is legally questionable and sets a dangerous precedent. The CRA was designed to repeal rules within 60 days of passage, not to attack land management decisions years later. This abuse could expose every protected area in the country to political interference. Senator Mike Lee has already proposed using it against Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The Forest Service determined in 2016 that a mine like Twin Metals proposes would cause "extreme" and "serious and irreplaceable harm" to the watershed. This repeal also violates tribal treaty rights guaranteed to the Bois Forte Band, Fond du Lac Band, and Grand Portage Band of Chippewa under the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe. The primary beneficiary is Twin Metals, a Chilean mining subsidiary that would likely ship ore abroad for processing rather than building domestic capacity. The Boundary Waters deserve protection based on science and law, not political favors to foreign mining companies.