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house Bill H.R. 4735

Should EPA Funds Go to Reimbursing People Harmed by the Gold King Mine Spill?

Argument in favor

The Gold King Mine spill caused damage to homes and businesses, and property owners are still waiting for the government to adequately compensate them for the damages caused by the EPA accidentally dumping 3 million gallons of acid mine drainage into rivers.

ManTrees's Opinion
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10/13/2018
Yes. It’s environmental justice. EPA then can enforce/ fine the mining company to recoup the costs. But those people need help now.
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Grace's Opinion
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10/13/2018
The EPA must be held accountable for its own actions.
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davidf's Opinion
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10/13/2018
If the EPA was involved in the dump they need to be part of the cleanup. If they need more money let them take it from the monies being used to incarcerate refugee children.
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Argument opposed

The EPA has already spent a lot of money on Gold King Mine spill cleanup and recovery efforts, and taking more money to pay claims out of EPA’s budget may hobble the agency.

Robert's Opinion
···
10/13/2018
The root cause of this issue was not the EPA. The EPA was there because greedy corporations choose profit over we the people. Hold the corporations, their suppliers and customers accountable.
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Lynne's Opinion
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10/13/2018
The corporations that released the contaminated wastewater should be required to foot this bill. Anything else is just money laundering tax dollars into private profit.
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Tan's Opinion
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10/13/2018
The federal government should pay compensation for its role, but it should not come from the EPA budget. This bill seems designed cynically to further erode the ability of the EPA to do its job. Further context: the amount spilled by the EPA was about as much as was already leaking from the mine every 10 days.
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bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on Agriculture
      Committee on Energy and Commerce
      Environment and Climate Change
      Committee on the Judiciary
      Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
      Water Resources and Environment
    IntroducedJanuary 3rd, 2018

Bill Activity

  • action
    Introduced in House
  • referral
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • referral
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • referral
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • referral
    Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • referral
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
  • referral
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on Agriculture
      Committee on Energy and Commerce
      Environment and Climate Change
      Committee on the Judiciary
      Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
      Water Resources and Environment
    IntroducedJanuary 3rd, 2018
    ManTrees's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/13/2018
    Yes. It’s environmental justice. EPA then can enforce/ fine the mining company to recoup the costs. But those people need help now.
    Like (101)
    Follow
    Share
    Robert's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2018
    The root cause of this issue was not the EPA. The EPA was there because greedy corporations choose profit over we the people. Hold the corporations, their suppliers and customers accountable.
    Like (155)
    Follow
    Share
    Lynne's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2018
    The corporations that released the contaminated wastewater should be required to foot this bill. Anything else is just money laundering tax dollars into private profit.
    Like (96)
    Follow
    Share
    Tan's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2018
    The federal government should pay compensation for its role, but it should not come from the EPA budget. This bill seems designed cynically to further erode the ability of the EPA to do its job. Further context: the amount spilled by the EPA was about as much as was already leaking from the mine every 10 days.
    Like (64)
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    Fg's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/13/2018
    The gold mine owners responsible Had been leaking and EPA tried to fix. Did not creat problem. Suits should be directed to company, stockholders and successors
    Like (32)
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    Grace's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/13/2018
    The EPA must be held accountable for its own actions.
    Like (26)
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    operaman's Public Comment
    ···
    10/13/2018
    Let me get this disaster straight. The EPA and the Federal Government allowed the King Gold Mine Corporation and insurance companies escape paying? Maybe we taxpayers don't need the EPA. BESIDES, is this a state issue? Why must taxpayers pay for Government failures?
    Like (25)
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    davidf's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    10/13/2018
    If the EPA was involved in the dump they need to be part of the cleanup. If they need more money let them take it from the monies being used to incarcerate refugee children.
    Like (25)
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    thirdpartyparagon's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    The EPA has already paid their share. This bill seems like an opportunity to further depress the already depleted budget of the EPA. The onus for payment should now be placed on the corporations that allowed the contamination to occur in the first place.
    Like (20)
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    Anna's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    Make the mine who left the pollution behind pay for the cleanup and compensate citizens hurt by their waste. This bill wants to prevent the EPA from making any rules, but then blames the EPA when the waste of a corporation spills and harms citizens. That makes no sense. Let the EPA do it’s job and hold corporations accountable when their irresponsible greedy behavior harms people and our lands. Holding the real culprit responsible is the only way to put a stop to this.
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    David's Opinion In Favor
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    10/13/2018
    The EPA is a typical big government bureaucracy, irresponsible and unaccountable with our money and our environment. It’s time to hire an outside auditing firm to go through its books and it’s time to downsize and streamline its operations and it’s time to take away its power to regulate and punish. They should only serve a research and advisory roll to congress and the executive branch. Only congress should create laws (regulate) and only the courts and law enforcement, through due process of law, punish.
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    Rebecca's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    The damage was done by the mining companies. Let them pay the damages.
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    TuckerWantsLiberty's Opinion In Favor
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    10/13/2018
    If it's the EPA's fault, the EPA should pay for it. Out of their own budget. And if that is the only thing they can afford to do this year then shut down until you get a new year's budget. No new appropriations to cover their error.
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    Phillip's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    If the EPA were doing its job trying to check the site for compliance then it is NOT their fault. If the dam had been cleaned and built properly then it would not have collapsed. The blame lies and should be paid by the mining company. All mining companies should be held accountable to return the land as they found it after mining. Including filling and or appropriate revegetation after finishing.
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    Letitia's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    I think the companies who caused the spill should take care of that.
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    IllWill's Public Comment
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    10/13/2018
    The government should compensate the people affected by the mine spill. However, don’t gut the EPA’s budget in order to do it!
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    Daniel's Opinion In Favor
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    10/13/2018
    EPA is for protecting the environment they caused this and even took responsibility. It is their responsibility to clean this up. The company was under contract from EPA too, so if the company is at fault it is still epa’s issue by not overseeing their contract companies correctly..
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    Kurt's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    The mining company needs to pay!
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    mlwhit03's Opinion Against
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    10/13/2018
    In the info section it states that the EPA (itself) accidentally dumped the toxins? Not the mines? If this is so they should pay. If not, the mines should.
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    MS's Opinion Against
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    10/14/2018
    Enforce accountability. If the EPA should be doing anything, they should be charging a fine to the corporation for every day they are not handling up on this issue.
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