OUR SENATOR AT WORK DOING CONSERVATIVE BUSINESS

Heller Requests Expedited Hearing and Markup of Yerington Mining Bill

(Washington, D.C.) – This week U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) sent a letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) urging them to schedule a hearing and markup of the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act (S. 2228).
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed legislation that included the companion bill introduced by Congressman Mark Amodei (R-NV). This legislation conveys roughly 10,000 acres of federal land for fair market value to the City of Yerington for responsible mineral development and long-term, sustainable planning. The bill will create approximately 500 jobs by 2013, and at full operation in 2015-2016, it is expected to employ nearly 800 people directly.
Click here to view a PDF copy of the letter.
Full text of the letter :

June 21, 2012

The Honorable Jeff Bingaman
Chairman                                                                    
U.S. Senate Committee on                                        
Energy and Natural Resources                                 
304 Dirksen Senate Building                                     
Washington, DC 20510                                            
The Honorable Lisa Murkowski
Ranking Member
U.S. Senate Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources
304 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski,
I am writing today to ask for quick consideration and markup of S. 2228, the Yerington Land Conveyance and Sustainable Development Act.  As you know, the bipartisan House companion to S. 2228 passed out of the House of Representatives, as part of H.R. 2578, the Conservation and Economic Growth Act, with the majority of the Nevada Delegation supporting this job creation bill.
Nevada, with 87% of our land base controlled by the federal government, has the lowest percentage of private land of any state.  We also lead the nation in unemployment.  Our high unemployment coupled with limited ability to expand and grow puts Nevada at a disadvantage to every other state in the country.  To help mitigate this, I authored S. 2228 to provide economic opportunity in one of the most economically depressed counties in Nevada.
S. 2228 will allow the City of Yerington to partner with Nevada Copper to develop roughly 10,000 acres of land surrounding the Nevada Copper Pumpkin Hollow project site.  The land purchased by the city will be used for mining activities, industrial and renewable energy development, recreation, and open space.  This bill paves the way for the creation of approximately 500 construction jobs in the next year and nearly 800 jobs when the property is fully utilized.  Unemployed Nevadans need jobs now and Lyon County and the surrounding areas need the economic benefit this project will bring.  Swift passage of this legislation will put Nevadans back to work and increase funding for schools, law enforcement, and other municipal functions.
I respectfully request an expedited hearing and markup of S. 2228. This legislation is an example of how Congress can act to encourage job growth.  Nevada has led the country in unemployment for the past 32 months, and Congress should focus on every opportunity available to create jobs, and this legislation is simply too important to not pass.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
    Sincerely,

    DEAN HELLER
    U.S. Senate
Cc:       The Honorable Harry Reid, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate

Follow Senator Heller on Facebook

On Twitter @SenDeanHeller

And on YouTube