House votes to extend unemployment benefits to Iron Range miners, Senate takes no action

— UPDATED at 10:04 p.m. upon Senate adjournment

In the final few hours of regular session, the House provided what supporters called a lifeline for workers on the Iron Range.  

A bill that would extend the availability of uninsurance benefits for approximately 640 miners was passed 132-0 the House. However, the Senate did not take action on the bill before adjourning. 

Sponsored by Rep. Pete Johnson (DFL-Duluth), HF3023 would ensure workers laid off between March 15 and June 16 would be eligible for an additional 26 weeks of unemployment benefits.

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Rep. Cal Warwas (R- Clinton Township), a third-generation miner, said the unemployment benefits would help laid-off workers stay in their communities, given the economics of the Iron Range. “There’s not 640 other jobs for them to go to.”

On March 20, Cleveland Cliffs reported to the Department of Employment and Economic Development a temporary layoff of more than 600 workers at Hibbing Taconite and Minorca Mine in Virginia.

Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) said he’s fairly certain one won’t reopen by December, which is when regular unemployment insurance would run out.

Extended unemployment benefits for those workers would cost an estimated $15 million per year, according to the Legislative Budget Office.