The House approved legislation Tuesday that would offer limited legal protection for good Samaritan groups willing to cleanup abandoned mines — breaking a decadeslong impasse and sending the bill to the president’s desk.
Bipartisan members passed S. 2781, the “Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024,” by voice vote, marking a victory for sponsors Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho). The Senate unanimously passed the legislation in July. The White House has promised President Joe Biden will sign it.
Proponents have argued repeatedly that the bill would accelerate the cleanup of mines across the country, as opposition from powerful lawmakers have kept similar measures from passing.
“It has taken 25 years of consensus building to craft this version of the [good Samaritan] bill now on the floor,” Democratic Rep. Susie Lee of Nevada said before the vote.
