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.

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Media Contact:
Nancy Norr
nnorr@mnpower.com
218.590.6978

Mesabi Daily News
Congressman Rick Nolan

As a born and bred Cuyuna Ranger, I spend a lot of time talking mining with my colleagues out in Washington. I tell them that up on the Range, mining is who we are. It’s in our blood, our history and our way of life.

I explain that mining is about jobs. Mining is a big job that drives thousands of jobs. Two-thirds of all the iron ore used to make steel in the United States is mined right here — a capitol investment of more than $4 billion dollars. Mining puts food on tables, kids through college and money in the bank.

I share a little history. Mining’s “Greatest Generation” won World War II. Mining’s unions created a middle class that’s built thriving businesses, schools and communities.

I invite them to join all of us, and the thousands of visitors from all over the nation, who enjoy our clean air, clear lakes, pine forests, hunting, fishing and camping. No one appreciates the great outdoors more than us Rangers.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/mine/article_18a4b848-419e-11e3-a875-001a4bcf887a.html

Mesabi Daily News
Senator Al Franken

For generations, mining has played a unique role in the economy, and the culture, of our state.

I travel to the Iron Range as often as I can. And whenever I’m there, I meet with workers who are rightly proud to be earning good paychecks in good jobs, producing steel for skyscrapers, iron ore nuggets for electric arc furnaces, and much more.

Mining is a true Minnesota tradition. So, too, is respect for our environment and careful stewardship of our natural resources — not just for our own sake, but for the sake of our children, grandchildren, and future generations.

Nobody knows this better than Iron Rangers, who enjoy both the economic opportunities offered by mining and the quality of life provided by Northern Minnesota’s beautiful landscape and abundant recreational opportunities.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/mine/article_e83c973e-41a2-11e3-b0eb-001a4bcf887a.html

Mesabi Daily News
Bill Hanna

Dick and Pam Backstrom are a lifetime mining couple.

How important is mining to their lives, their marriage, their family, their community? Well, when they talk mining, they often finish each other’s sentences. Literally.

The founders of IDEA Drilling who still continue as part-owners of the company, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June.

IDEA is currently doing exploratory work for Twin Metals Minnesota, which has offices in the Twin Cities, Ely and Babbitt, and plans a long-term nonferrous mining project that would create more than 1,300 permanent jobs, thousands more spin-off positions for other businesses and vendors and about 5,000 construction jobs.

Read more: http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/article_86515948-4106-11e3-b8bf-0019bb2963f4.html

Hibbing Daily Tribune

Building off the success of our first special 48-page section called MINE, today we present to you MINE II, the second ACM newspapers publication focusing on the importance — past, present and into the future — of mining to the Iron Range.

The MINE venture is a cooperative effort of the Mesabi Daily News, Hibbing Daily Tribune, Grand Rapids Herald-Review and Chisholm Tribune Press.

Mining is the very foundation of the Iron Range. It cuts to the core of our heritage and traditions, and holds so much continued financial promise for the region. And the stories of mining’s history, its current status and its promise for a better future for the Range are never-ending.

Read more: http://www.hibbingmn.com/news/local/article_81066318-4109-11e3-8912-0019bb2963f4.html