FreedomWorks Statement in Response to Democrats’ Attack on American Mining Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the inclusion in Democrats’ $3.5 of royalties and fees aimed at the American mining industry, as well as the cancellation of a major Arizona mining project, Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks President, commented:

“If Democrats really support transitioning to renewable energy, why are they making it more costly to produce the very minerals necessary to produce solar panels here in the U.S.? After all, this would only benefit the Chinese mining industry, which is so well known for its strict environmental standards and emphasis on workplace safety.”

“Since January, we’ve seen that Democrats intend to wage war on every industrial sector in the country. They’ve gone even further in their $3.5 trillion dollar budget package to levy royalties and fees on the American mining industry. The proposal would set an eight percent royalty on existing mines and a four percent royalty on new mines, as well as a seven cent fee for every ton of rock moved. This is a blatant attempt to hamper America’s production of copper, lithium and other minerals from federal lands.

“Furthermore, Democrats are attempting to reverse the federal land swap approved in 2015 that would have allowed the construction of a copper mine in Oak Flat, Arizona. Will Sen. Mark Kelly push back on this job-killing overreach by his progressive colleagues in Congress? I’m sure his constituents will take note.”