Senate narrowly votes to end mining ban near Boundary Waters
Senator Tina Smith spoke on the Senate floor against the resolution, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for rescinding public land orders.
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Senator Tina Smith spoke on the Senate floor against the resolution, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for rescinding public land orders.
The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to overturn a 20-year moratorium on mining in Minnesota's Rainy River Watershed. The measure, which now heads to President Trump, is a major victory for mining advocates but a blow to environmentalists.
President expected to sign the resolution
Left-leaning outlets like Mother Jones frame Senator Smith’s five-hour floor speech as a defense of the environment against Republican exploitation of obscure laws. In contrast, center-leaning sources such as CNBC and GV Wire highlight Smith’s geopolitical arguments, focusing on her warnings that the project benefits foreign conglomerates at the expense of America First interests.
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