[Pages S2711-S2712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-4. A joint memorial adopted by the Legislature of the 
     State of Idaho requesting that Idaho's Governor, Attorney 
     General, and congressional delegation work cooperatively with 
     incoming cabinet officials to ensure they implement laws and 
     regulations consistent with the President of the United 
     States's agenda and to facilitate the permitting of critical 
     mineral development and processing production of these 
     minerals; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

                     Senate Joint Memorial No. 102

       Whereas, the Legislature of the State of Idaho recognizes 
     the importance of the domestic mining industry to the 
     nation's manufacturing, technology, agriculture, and food 
     security; and
       Whereas, Idaho contains a number of critical minerals such 
     as molybdenum, cobalt, antimony, copper, phosphate, rare 
     earths, uranium, gold, and silver. Because these minerals 
     cannot be produced synthetically, they must be mined and 
     processed. Outside of the United States, most of these 
     minerals are produced by countries whose interests are not 
     aligned with the United States and/or do not require minimum 
     environmental standards; and
       Whereas, Idaho has a number of mines, considerable mineral 
     exploration, and several phosphate processing facilities that 
     are the backbone of state a and local economies. These 
     operations provide high-quality products for the United 
     States, such as phosphate fertilizer for national food 
     security, and thousands of high-paying jobs and also support 
     many other vital local community industries and services; and
       Whereas, over the past decade, Idaho companies have 
     expended millions of dollars to improve the environment and 
     implement best-in-industry practices and innovative solutions 
     to protect Idaho's natural resources. Such efforts have been 
     effective and successful; and
       Whereas, the Legislature applauds the current 
     administration for its commitment to cut bureaucratic red 
     tape, expedite permitting on federally managed lands, and 
     ensure that domestic companies can continue to operate and 
     mine in a predictable and cost-effective manner, thus 
     benefiting the country's economy; and
       Whereas, the federal government is vital to the 
     continuation of the mining and mineral industry as most of 
     these critical mineral deposits are located on federally 
     managed lands. Idaho companies need efficient and predictable 
     permitting processes for mines and processing facilities, 
     including mine permits and land exchanges and acquisitions. 
     Unfortunately, well-intended environmental laws have been 
     weaponized by certain groups to delay, thwart, and end 
     domestic mining and mineral processing production. These 
     misguided efforts have caused bureaucratic inaction and 
     overreach resulting in environmental studies and 
     administrative records that can reach upwards of 100,000 
     pages and take decades to complete; and
       Whereas, after these exhaustive administrative processes 
     are completed, companies still face uncertainty given the 
     prospect of costly litigation, unfavorable court decisions, 
     and presidential administrations that may altogether decline 
     to defend these critical decisions. The tension caused by the 
     byzantine and antiquated administrative process has reached 
     the United States Supreme Court through the Amicus Brief of 
     the State of Idaho, et al., in State of Utah v. United States 
     of America, Docket No. 220160; and
       Whereas, there are several federal agencies involved in the 
     permitting and oversight of mineral development and 
     processing, including the United States Department of the 
     Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the 
     Environmental Protection Agency. Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, By the members of the First Regular Session of 
     the Sixty-eighth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives concurring therein, that the Idaho 
     Legislature requests that Idaho's Governor, Attorney General, 
     and congressional delegation work cooperatively with incoming 
     cabinet officials to ensure they implement laws and 
     regulations consistent with President Trump's agenda and to 
     facilitate the permitting of critical mineral development and 
     processing production of these minerals; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Legislature requests that Idaho's 
     Governor, Attorney General, and congressional delegation work 
     with the current administration to examine the relevant 
     federal statutes, such as the Federal Land Policy and 
     Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., and the 
     National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., 
     and take any and all legislative, executive, and judicial 
     action necessary to remove roadblocks that impede the 
     production and processing of critical minerals in Idaho. This 
     request also extends to state agencies that are involved in 
     the leasing, permitting, and regulation of the mining and 
     mineral processing industry; and be it further

[[Page S2712]]

       Resolved, That the Idaho Legislature recognizes the 
     critical tipping point in this country's efforts to 
     domestically produce vital goods and services. It appreciates 
     past efforts and requests the continued and focused efforts 
     of Idaho's Governor, Attorney General, and congressional 
     delegation to ensure that Idaho's mining and mineral 
     processing industry continues to remain a vital cornerstone 
     of the state's economic makeup; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is 
     hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this 
     Memorial to the President of the United States, the Senate 
     and the House of Representatives of the United States in 
     Congress Assembled, and to the congressional delegation 
     representing the State of Idaho in the Congress of the United 
     States.
                                  ____

       POM-5. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     Minnesota expressing condemnation of the President of the 
     United States's pardon of criminal participants of the 
     January 6 insurrection who had been found guilty of violent 
     crimes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
       Whereas, on January 6, 2021, a violent mob in Washington, 
     D.C., and other locations around the United States vandalized 
     public buildings; threatened the lives of lawmakers, staff, 
     and the general public; physically assaulted members of law 
     enforcement for several hours; and jeopardized the peaceful 
     transfer of Presidential power; and
       Whereas, in the following four years, the biggest criminal 
     investigation in United States history, which involved 
     cooperation from partners in local, state, and federal law 
     enforcement, secured charges against more than 1,500 people 
     for crimes connected to the attack, including 400 for violent 
     crimes; and
       Whereas, every single one of these convictions was erased 
     on January 20, 2025, the first day of President Donald 
     Trump's second term, when he used his power to issue a full 
     and unconditional pardon for all those who had been found 
     guilty of crimes that day, including those guilty of violent 
     crimes; and
       Whereas, these assailants used bats, flags, chemical 
     sprays, poles, stun guns, tasers, and stolen police shields 
     and batons to beat law enforcement officers for hours; and
       Whereas, officers who showed up to work that day to keep 
     our nation's Capitol safe were choked, crushed and pinned in 
     doorways, tased repeatedly, dragged, and beaten for hours; 
     and
       Whereas, law enforcement officers in our state and nation 
     put their lives on the line each day to protect and serve our 
     communities; and
       Whereas, members of our law enforcement community should be 
     treated with the utmost respect; and
       Whereas, law enforcement in Minneapolis and many other 
     cities across our country have faced abuse fueled by 
     inflammatory rhetoric of activist groups, extremist 
     politicians, and other protesters; and
       Whereas, violence against our brave men and women in 
     uniform at any time and in any place is reprehensible, and 
     should be condemned at every turn; and
       Whereas, several convictions were for carrying loaded 
     firearms in the melee, mere yards away from members of 
     Congress and their staff and Vice President Mike Pence; and
       Whereas, President Trump's pardon included the commutation 
     of 14 people linked to the extremist groups Oath Keepers and 
     Proud Boys, who had planned elements of the attack; and
       Whereas, granting full, complete, and unconditional pardons 
     to those who violently assaulted police, causing the death of 
     one officer, the suicides of four, and injuries to 174 
     others, sends a message to law enforcement that violence 
     against police is excusable and that their lives are 
     expendable; and
       Whereas, these pardons undermine our justice system and 
     devalue the service and sacrifices made by United States 
     Capitol police and all law enforcement officers to keep our 
     country and the seat of government safe; and
       Whereas, erasing convictions of these violent attacks 
     politicizes public safety and deals a heavy blow to morale of 
     law enforcement across the country, including Minnesota; and 
     be it further
       Resolved, By the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it 
     condemns President Trump's pardon of those found guilty of 
     violent crimes for their participation in the January 6 
     attack; and be it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate is directed to 
     prepare a copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by his 
     signature and that of the Chair of the Senate Rules and 
     Administration Committee, and transmit it to Governor Tim 
     Walz, the President of the United States, the President and 
     the Secretary of the United States Senate, and the Speaker 
     and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.

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