Opposition to H.J. Res. 140 – Protect Boundary Waters and American Interests

As an Ohioan who values both our nation’s natural treasures and the "America First" principle of protecting domestic resources from foreign exploitation, I am writing to urge you to vote NO on the resolution to overturn the mining moratorium near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). While I can support responsible domestic mining, this specific project (Twin Metals) does not serve the American worker or our national security for several reasons: -- Foreign Profits, Domestic Risk: The project is owned by a Chilean conglomerate, Antofagasta Plc. This company intends to extract American minerals and likely ship them to Chinese state-owned smelters. This is the opposite of a "USA First" energy policy; it uses American land to enrich a foreign billionaire and a global adversary. 
 -- Economic Threat to Tourism: The Boundary Waters supports a massive, self-sustaining outdoor recreation economy. Opening the watershed to copper-sulfide mining—the most toxic industry in America—threatens thousands of existing jobs and pristine hunting and fishing grounds that Ohioans and other Americans travel to every year. 

-- Ethical Concerns: I am deeply troubled by reports of potential conflicts of interest regarding the owner of this mining company and his business dealings with the President's family in Washington, D.C. At a minimum, this project requires a high level of scrutiny to ensure that federal policy is being made in the interest of the public, not well-connected foreign landlords. Ohioans expect our leaders to prioritize American land and American citizens over foreign mining giants. Please protect the Boundary Waters and reject this resolution.