Senator Dennis DeConcini

1994 Special Citation

Dennis DeConcini was born and raised in Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1962. After service in the United States Army Adjutant General's Corps for three years, he returned to Tucson and private law practice. He was elected Pima County Attorney in 1972 and United States Senator in 1976. During his 18 years in the United States Senate, Senator DeConcini has been an important friend to the mining industry. With an understanding of both the significance of the industry and the economy of the State of Arizona, he sponsored legislation and otherwise provided a critical voice in the debates of great importance to the mining industry.

He helped found two Senate coalitions, the Copper Caucus and the Western States Senate Coalition, to work on issues important to the copper industry and Western issues. He initiated efforts to create stockpiles for copper and sponsorship of legislation and numerous diplomatic initiatives to help level the international trading field for U.S. copper producers. He provided guidance and assistance in placing reasonable limitations on Arizona wilderness legislation to balance protection of sensitive areas with the potential for mineral development. He sponsored legislation to provide funding assistance to enable the conduct of field studies and experiments on in situ leaching of copper. Finally, Senator DeConcini has been an effective voice and has used his influence to craft reasonable compromises in the debate over changes in the mining law legislation before Congress.

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