Minnesota lawmakers meet with top federal officials to discuss steel industry jobs
The Iron Ore Alliance is grateful for the leadership of U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith, and U.S. Representative Rick Nolan, who met last week with top administration officials at the White House in an effort to determine what immediate steps can be taken to stop mining and steel industry job losses stemming from declining iron ore prices and unfair dumping of foreign steel. These state leaders understand the importance of Minnesota’s taconite industry. Below are quotes from a press release issued last week by the Minnesota congressional delegation.
Senator Klobuchar: “Minnesota’s steelworkers can compete with anybody in the world when it comes to providing quality steel – but they need a level playing field. Today’s meeting focused on the need to stand up for the workers who help drive our economy forward by making it easier to crack down on illegal trade practices, and we will continue working to keep the Range strong.”
Senator Franken: Today, we pressed the White House and top U.S. trade and economic officials to understand what families and workers in Keewatin are going through, and to not only step up and help reverse the job losses that are happening in Minnesota, but to also let overseas competitors know that they can no longer unfairly dump their steel. Our steel industry needs a level playing field now.”
Lieutenant Governor Smith: “Minnesota produces 70 percent of the iron ore consumed in the United States at some of the best prices. We can compete with anyone in the world if we have fair play.”
Representative Rick Nolan: “Thousands of good paying mining jobs across the nation – including more than 450 on Minnesota’s Iron Range – are in jeopardy due to millions of tons of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel from Asia being dumped into the U.S. marketplace. Our message to the Administration is that now is the time to act before our domestic steel industry is lost entirely in a race to the bottom that’s jeopardizing jobs, our economy and our national security.”