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Dear friends and neighbors on the Iron Range,
Much of my time this week has been focused on working with community members and my fellow Iron Range legislators on a bill that will provide support for those effected by the Cleveland-Cliffs layoffs. I will share more about the provisions of this bill below. In other news, we reached our first and second committee deadlines today. Reaching these deadlines means that we will not be introducing any new bills but instead stay focused on the budget.
Minnesota Miners Relief Act – HF 3030
While the challenges facing our miners and their families remain significant, we have also made meaningful strides in advocating for their needs. The recent layoffs at Cleveland-Cliffs will deeply impact our communities, and we are doing everything we can to provide relief and long-term security for those affected. To that end, I was proud to co-author HF3030 with Rep. Spencer Igo. Together, we introduced the Minnesota Miners Relief Act to the Labor, Workforce, and Economic Development Committee. The MMRA is a bill designed to address both the immediate hardships our mining community faces, and the broader policy changes necessary for the future stability of our local mining industry.
We had huge support from leaders across our region as they testified in support of the bill in committee: Al King, President of United Steelworkers Local 6115 at Minorca; Chris Johnson, President of United Steelworkers Local 2705 at HibTac (joined via Zoom); John Arbogast, Staff Representative from the USW District 11; Cathy Chavers, Bois Forte Band Member; Mike Jugovich, St. Louis County Commissioner; and Paul Peltier, Executive Director of RAMS. Their voices provided the message we need to move this initiative forward.
The Minnesota Miners Relief Act (MMRA) focuses on three major areas that are critical to supporting the people of our region and ensuring the viability of mining operations for years to come.
First, the MMRA extends unemployment benefits for displaced miners. As it stands, benefits for those impacted by the layoffs are set to expire around Christmas of 2025. If passed, this legislation would provide an additional 26 weeks of unemployment support, helping our workers and their families pay their bills through June 2026.
Second, the bill calls for an update to Minnesota’s outdated sulfate standard, which has not been revised since it was enacted in 1973. This nearly 50-year-old regulation does not reflect current science or best practices, and it places unnecessary burdens on mining operations and also every municipality in our state. We need to keep existing mines open and expand mining opportunities in the region, therefore, it is critical that our environmental standards be updated.
Finally, this legislation seeks to establish clear and effective guidelines for the safe storage of reactive mine waste. Modernizing these regulations will provide mining companies with a well-defined framework that allows projects to move forward while ensuring compliance with environmental protections. By taking a comprehensive approach, this bill aims to provide real solutions that will help our people in the near term and create a stronger foundation for the future of mining in Minnesota.
 After Tuesday’s committee, we held a bipartisan press conference to bring attention to this critical legislation. The event demonstrated the strong support this issue has across the state, as miners, labor leaders, and community representatives gathered at the Capitol to share their stories and emphasize the importance of the MMRA and our local mining industry.
Carpenter Legislative Reception
On Thursday evening, I was invited to attend the Regional Council of Carpenters Legislative Reception. Constituent (and cousin!) Paul Warwas is a member of the Local 606, and it was great to see him at this event. It was also a pleasure to see (Cherry resident) Jack Ridlon, the Business Agent for the Local 606, and also have time to visit with Greg Pierce of Lakehead Constructors and Dan Gilbert from the Local 49. It’s always great to meet with our family in Labor - thank you all for the opportunity to connect and for taking the time to visit here in St. Paul.
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