Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Vice Chair Pete Stauber (MN-08) hosted a summit in Virginia, MN, with Western Caucus Members, regional mining leaders, national industry advocates, and members of the local community to discuss the benefits domestic mining plays for Minnesota’s communities and America’s energy security.
 
“As I’ve been saying during our various forums and discussions surrounding these issues, the mining potential in Minnesota should be a national priority – not just a priority for Minnesota,” said Chairman Newhouse. “As we transition to more clean energy technologies and electric vehicles, why wouldn’t we want to source the minerals we need right here at home? Instead, the Biden Administration seems intent on making us reliant on countries like China and the Congo – it’s nonsensical and, frankly, offensive. I couldn’t be more proud to stand by Mr. Stauber in these efforts, and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with him to tell the great story of Minnesota’s mining past, present, and future because it truly is vital to our national economy, our defense, and our energy security.”
 
“In Minnesota, every single ton of ore mined means more funding for every single school in Minnesota, and other economic development projects in the region. It is no accident that our great cities, schools, and communities are built along the veins of iron snaking its way through the northland,” said Vice Chair Stauber. “…As we know too well, our country is moving in the wrong direction on import reliance. According to the US Geological Survey, we are more import-reliant on the metals we need now than we were last year, and that is only projected to get worse.
And that’s why northern Minnesota will continue to lead. Just like we lead with iron mining, we will lead with precious metal development.”
 
The summit featured Western Caucus Members, including Vice Chair Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Rep. Tom Tiffany(WI-07), Rep. Jerry Carl (AL-01), and Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-08), as well as two panels of experts:
 
The first panel included local Minnesota mining leaders: 

• Ms. Teresa Appelwick, President and CEO, Laurentian Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. Frank Ongaro, Executive Director, Mining Minnesota
• Ms. Kelsey Johnson, Executive Director, Iron Mining Association
• Ms. Sandy Karnowski, Community and Government Relations Manager, Cleveland-Cliffs
• Ms. Chrissy Bartovich, Director, Environmental, U.S. Steel
• Mr. Mike Syversrud, President, Iron Range Building and Construction Trades Council

The second panel consisted of national industry advocates: 

• The Honorable David Bernhardt, Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior
• Mr. Mark Compton, Executive Director, American Exploration and Mining Association
• Mr. Ryan Jackson, Senior Vice President of Government and Political Affairs, National Mining Association

 
The summit follows a Congressional Western Caucus Field Tour throughout northern Minnesota, where Western Caucus Members toured the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Drill Core Library and visited the U.S. Steel Corporation’s Minntac mine site to learn about the advancements the mining industry is making to both support local economies and protect the environment.
 
Background:
 
Northern Minnesota has mined iron for over 130 years, supplying the resources that built America and won two world wars. Currently, 80% of America’s steel originated as taconite on the Iron Range.
 
Now, Minnesota has the opportunity to develop critical minerals. However, in October 2021, the Biden Administration requested a 20-year mineral withdrawal within the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, triggering a two-year pause on new federal mining permits and leases in the area. The action mirrors the Obama-Biden Administration’s 2016 action to initiate a mineral withdrawal in northern Minnesota.
 
Northern Minnesota is home to the world’s largest known undeveloped copper-nickel deposit. In January 2021, Rep. Stauber introduced the Saving America’s Mines Act to prevent the executive branch from eliminating mining jobs and economic activity in rural communities.
 
In January 2022, the Congressional Western Caucus and House Natural Resources Republicans hosted a joint forum to highlight the economic, national defense, and energy security benefits of mining in northern Minnesota and the development of the Twin Metals mine. Click here to learn more.
 
Just days later, the Biden Administration announced the cancellation of existing mineral leases for the Twin Metals mine in Minnesota’s Superior National Forest.
 
The Twin Metals mine would tap into mineral resources like copper that are necessary for U.S. manufacturing, and the project would create roughly 750 direct full-time jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs. The project continues to undergo robust regulatory reviews and environmental permits.