Vote Against H.J. Res. 140 to Protect Boundary Waters Wilderness

The Senate will vote this week on House Joint Resolution 140, which would open the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to copper-nickel mining by Chilean mining giant Antofagasta Plc. I urge you to vote against this measure that threatens one of America's most treasured wilderness areas. The BWCAW comprises over a million acres of pristine forests, glacial lakes, marshes, and streams in northeastern Minnesota's Superior National Forest. President Theodore Roosevelt dedicated these lands in 1909, and they have been protected by presidents of both parties for over a century. The area became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1964, and Congress passed the BWCAW Act in 1978 to restrict mining and protect this irreplaceable ecosystem. This resolution targets Public Land Order 7917, issued by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in 2023, which closed more than 350 square miles to mineral leasing for 20 years. That decision followed a U.S. Forest Service review finding that sulfide-ore copper mining could cause irreparable damage. Minnesota has never had a copper-sulfide mine because water compounds the dangers of sulfide mining. When sulfide minerals are exposed to air and combine with water, they create sulfuric acid and heavy metals that contaminate watersheds. The economic case against this mine is compelling. The BWCAW draws approximately 250,000 annual visitors, contributing over $17 million annually to the local economy through outdoor recreation. Mining would destroy these sustainable jobs while benefiting a foreign corporation that will likely send extracted metals to Chinese state-owned smelters and sell them on the open market. This resolution dangerously expands the Congressional Review Act to target agency actions issued three years ago, far beyond the 60-day window Congress intended. Legal experts warn this threatens the stability of countless long-settled agency actions protecting public lands nationwide. Four direct descendants of Theodore Roosevelt recently wrote to senators opposing this measure, marking the first time they collectively co-signed a letter. They understand what is at stake. I ask you to honor Roosevelt's conservation legacy and vote against H.J. Res. 140.