Today the U.S. Senate passed H.J. Res. 140 to lift a 20-year mining ban on the Iron Range. State Senate Republicans from the Iron Range responded with praise and appreciation for those who support the mining economy in Minnesota.

Senator Robert Farnsworth, District 7 – Hibbing: I applaud the U.S. House and Senate for supporting the Iron Range economy today. Mining isn’t just an industry; mining is the storied legacy of the Range passed down through generations.  And yet, we still have some of the most beautiful land and cleanest water in America. With Minnesota’s rigorous permitting process, I’m confident we can keep mining alive for the next generation while continuing to cherish and protect all the natural beauty that makes the Iron Range so special.

Senator Keri Heintzeman, District 6 – Nisswa: The U.S. Senate did the right thing, and northern Minnesota will be better for it. This vote restores balance and ends the practice of locking up our resources with the stroke of a pen. It ensures Minnesota’s process, not politics in Washington, decides the future of mining. Mining is our past, our present, and our future. I look forward to President Trump signing the bill.