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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Davis (R)

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Special legislative update re: Biden's egregious mining moratorium

Friday, January 27, 2023

Dear Neighbor,

Just wanted to send a quick note letting you know that I, along with fellow members of Minnesota’s Iron Range Delegation sent a letter yesterday to President Biden urging him to reverse his administration’s shameful decision to implement a 20-year moratorium on mining in northern Minnesota.

President Biden’s egregious move is bad news for our state and region and I strongly oppose it. A copy of the letter with more details can be found here . It reads, in part:

“Modern technology and global industry best practices mean that non-ferrous mining can be done safely and responsibly in Minnesota. For more than 130 years, mining has sustained our communities in northeast Minnesota. We have long mined safely and responsibly. We know how to get the job done, it’s in our blood.

Today’s order will cause Minnesota and our communities to lose thousands of potential jobs that would have resulted in future mining projects, billions of dollars in future investment in the people of northeast Minnesota, and billions of dollars in revenues that would support students through Minnesota’s School Trust Lands.”

This is a developing issue and, for now, I just want to reinforce that, despite this appalling move by the President, I will continue to support our mining industry and its workers who are so vital to our local economy and the general health of communities in our region.

Sincerely,

Ben