Cravaack Secures Passage of Minnesota BWCA Land Exchange Legislation, Defends Attacks on Iron Range Mining Jobs

Press Release

Today, by a bipartisan vote, the House passed H.R. 5544, the Minnesota Education Investment and Employment Act. Authored by U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack (MN), this legislation would end a 34-year dilemma by federally enacting the bipartisan state plan passed by the Minnesota Legislature and signed by the Governor. H.R. 5544 now awaits action in the Senate.

"H.R. 5544 is the solution to exchanging 86,000 acres of federal lands to earn revenue for Minnesota's School Trust Fund. This will allow the opportunity for revenue to be provided to public school children. In this time of dwindling resources, this is a positive action," said Dr. Jim Hess, Superintendent of Bemidji Area Schools.

Previously, On March 22nd of this year, an overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans in the State Senate passed Senate File 1750 by a vote of 53-11. Then, on April 3rd, the Minnesota House of Representatives followed suit, passing the bipartisan bill by 90-41 before being signed into law.

"This legislation will produce good paying jobs while providing the revenue obligated to students and our teachers in the classroom. I promised Minnesotans I would do my best to see this bill through the House, and while we have never have been closer to resolving this 34-year problem than we are now, much work still remains," said Rep. Cravaack.

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