Bringing Congress to the Iron Range
Dear John,
I am proud of our way of life in Minnesota and was pleased as Chair of the U.S. House Energy & Minerals committee to hold an official congressional hearing earlier this week on the Iron Range so some of my congressional colleagues could see firsthand what mining means to our region, state, and nation. While numerous Republican members of Congress attended the hearing, it was telling that not one Democrat bothered to participate in this official hearing. You’ve heard me explain for years what mining means to Minnesota and our country.
So this time, I’ll let my colleague from Virginia, Rep. Rob Wittman, explain: “The mineral resources here in northern Minnesota are a national treasure, a national asset. They will be central to the nation’s security, both from a strategic standpoint and from an economic standpoint. We must, as Pete said, use all of the efforts necessary to make sure that we can access these resources, that we can use them because they are critical for the future of our nation.”
Check out some of the media coverage from our mining hearing:
- Mesabi Tribune: Congressmen hear mining, permitting testimony
- Fox 21: Congressional Hearing on Minerals on Iron Range
- Duluth News Tribune: Stauber hosts mining congressional hearing in Mountain Iron
- WDIO: Field hearing about mining and critical minerals held in Mt. Iron
- E&E Daily: At hearing, Republicans point out Democrats hamstringing mining
I will remain a fierce advocate for our mining way of life. Last month, I was pleased that my legislation to modernize the antiquated and obsolete permitting process passed Congress as part of an America First energy bill that increases our critical mineral and energy dominance. Read more on that here.
