Contact: Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/208-6416

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 1995

Statement by Secretary Babbitt House Vote To Recommit Interior Apporpriations Conference Report (September 29, 1995)

"The vote in the House today indicates that members of Congress are gettinga clear message from the American people: Stop the blatant giveaway ofour natural resources. Just this month, I have been forced to sign over towealthy corporations public mineral rights worth billions of dollars.Americans are fed up with such giveaways.

It is my hope that the moratorium on patents will be enacted, and that suchaction will provide impetus for Congress to revise our embarrassinglyantiquated 1872 mining law."

U.S. Department of the Interior