Press Releases

Today, Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04) released the following statement after 27 Members of the House and Senate sent a letter to Assistant to the President for National Security Richard O'Brien and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Larry Kudlow urging the revocation of the more than 1 million acre uranium withdrawal in Northern Arizona: 

Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar (AZ-04): "Uranium is a critical component of America's national security apparatus, and energy needs. It defies common sense that America is currently importing nearly ninety-three percent of our uranium from countries with Russian influence. Too often, President Obama's Interior Department was used as a political tool in the war against American energy and rural communities. The Arizona Strip withdrawal is no different. Locking up millions of acres of land was a hallmark of the previous administration, but it doesn't have to be this way. Scrapping this political withdrawal will help secure our energy and national security needs."

Background:

Today, 27 Members of House and Senate sent a letter to Assistant to the President for National Security Richard O'Brien and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Larry Kudlow  urging the revocation of the more than 1 million acre uranium withdrawal in northern Arizona.

In 2012, then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, imposed a 20-year mineral withdrawal of approximately 1,006,545 acres of federal mineral estate in northern Arizona from location and entry of new mining claims under the General Mining Law of 1872. Within this area are 4,204 acres owed by the Arizona State Land Department for the benefit of Arizona's school children as well as 19,789 acres of private land. 

Uranium is critical for nuclear power, the most reliable and clean, zero-emission energy source, as well as America's national defense apparatus.

Revoking the withdrawal and replacing unfriendly and unstable foreign uranium sources with northern Arizona's vast quantities of domestic uranium is a national security priority, and will help achieve national energy independence.

The letter's signatories include: Senators: Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Kevin Cramer (ND), and Reps: Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Robert Alderholt (AL-04), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Rob Bishop (UT-01), Ken Buck (CO-04), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Paul Cook (CA-08), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Matt Gaetz (FL-01). Greg Gianforte (MT-At Large), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Steve King (IA-04), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Mark Meadows (NC-11), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Chris Stewart (UT-02), and Scott Tipton (CO-03). 

The letter can be viewed HERE.