Earlier this year, Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon proposed H.R. 5887, a federal bill that will bring final resolution to our long-standing issue with mining in Soledad Canyon .  We are writing you today to update you on the exciting progress we have made in the past months and to let you know how you can help get H.R. 5887 passed as we prepare for the bill to take an important step in the legislative process: committee hearings.

As you are likely aware, the Soledad Canyon Mine Act will provide the Secretary of the Interior with a mechanism to cancel mining contracts in Soledad Canyon that are currently held by CEMEX USA.  The bill will additionally eliminate the chance for future mining at the site by removing the Soledad Canyon mining sites from the federal mineral entry. It will fairly compensate CEMEX for the company's investment in pursuing the development of the contracts by granting CEMEX designated federal lands near Victorville, CA. H.R. 5887 will not trade one mine for another- CEMEX has no plans to mine the property near Victorville, but has a separate agreement with the City of Victorville to sell these lands in accordance with local land use and economic development goals.

H.R. 5887 is a winning solution for all involved and we need your help to get it passed through Congress and signed into law.

KEY ELECTED LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORT THE SOLEDAD CANYON MINE ACT

Thanks to a tremendous response to our previous request, our list of groups and individuals that have declared their support for H.R. 5887 has grown to nearly 1,100 individuals and organizations.  So far, elected leaders from both parties and on the federal, state and local levels have lent their support to make the Soledad Canyon mine act a bi-partisan bill.  Legislators and local governments that have declared support for the bill include:

* U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D- Sherman Oaks)
* California State Senator George Runner (R-17)
* California Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-37)
* California Assemblymember Cameron Smyth (R-38)
* Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
* Santa Clarita City Council
* Victorville City Council
* Glendale City Council

H.R. 5887 has received equally impressive support from the air quality and environmental community.  Prominent additions to the environmental/air quality section of our supporter list include organizations such as:

* The Sierra Club (with analysis of the bill by the Sierra Club's Santa Clarita Valley and Mojave Groups as well as the Angeles Chapter)
* Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
* Coalition for Clean Air

You can view a complete H.R. 5887 Supporters List here.
 
HOW YOU CAN HELP- SPEAK UP BEFORE THE FIRST COMMITTEE HEARINGS TENTATIVELY SET FOR THIS FALL
 
Once Congress returns to session in September, the House Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will likely schedule H.R. 5887 for a committee hearing, an important step in the legislative process.
   
As the bill approaches its committee hearings, it is important that individuals and organizations declare their support for the bill.  If you haven't done so already, fill out an Individual or Organizational supporter form and send it in to join the coalition in support of the Soledad Canyon Mine Act.  
   
You can also help us spread the word about these exciting recent developments by forwarding this message to friends, colleagues or members of your organization.  By spreading the word about H.R. 5887, we can continue to grow our coalition of support and let Congress know that H.R. 5887 deserves their attention and expedited approval!
   
Thank you very much for your time and efforts.  We will continue to update you as we receive news about the progress of the bill.