ST. PAUL, MN (Oct. 30, 2013) – Jobs for Minnesotans today celebrated the introduction of The Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013 in the U.S. Senate. Co-sponsored by Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, the bipartisan legislation would help rejuvenate the United States’ supply of critical minerals and prevent future supply shortages for minerals needed for the defense, energy, electronics, and medical industries.

“We depend on these minerals in our daily lives,” said Nancy Norr, director of regional development for Minnesota Power and chair of Jobs for Minnesotans. “Copper, nickel, platinum, palladium and gold are necessary for innovation and the green technologies we depend on. From wind energy to automobiles to the medical industry, these are the metals that will push our economy forward and bring prosperity to Minnesota businesses and employees.”

The bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a list of minerals critical to the United States economy and develop policies to guide the discovery, production, use and re-use of these mineral resources.

This action represents a strong step forward by the U.S. Senate in recognizing the roles these minerals play in the national and Minnesota economies. By modernizing mineral policies and streamlining the permitting process, this bill would allow minerals found in the state of Minnesota to bring thousands of jobs and a sustainable economy to the Minnesota force.

In addition to Sens. Franken and Klobuchar as co-sponsors, the bill was introduced by U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and 11 of their Senate colleagues.

About Jobs for Minnesotans
Jobs for Minnesotans was co-founded in October 2012 by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council representing 55,000 workers and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce representing 2,300 companies and 500,000 employees. This coalition represents businesses, middle class workers, labor, local governments and other supporters of job creation in the state of Minnesota. Jobs for Minnesotans was created to educate and provide information about the direct and ancillary job creation that the strategic metals mining can produce for the state.

###

Media Contact:
Nancy Norr
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978