After Call from Klobuchar, Franken, and Nolan, Department of Labor Approves Trade Adjustment Assistance for Steel Workers and Miners Impacted by Layoffs

Press Release

Lawmakers urged the Department of Labor last month to expedite approval of TAA petitions at both plants; Klobuchar and Franken both spoke by phone with Labor Secretary Perez on behalf of the federal delegation to call for speedy approval

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representative Rick Nolan, today announced that the Department of Labor (DOL) has approved Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) petitions for steelworkers and miners who have been impacted by recent layoffs at the Magnetation and United Taconite plants. ‎Nearly a thousand Iron Range workers are eligible for the TAA program, which provides training and education benefits and other services to these workers. The lawmakers urged the Department of Labor last month to expedite approval of TAA petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations, including Magnetation and United Taconite. Klobuchar and Franken both spoke by phone with Labor Secretary Tom Perez on behalf of the federal delegation to call for speedy approval.

"This is good news for the hard-working steelworkers and miners who were affected by recent layoffs on the Iron Range," Klobuchar said. "The Department of Labor responded to our call to approve these benefits, and now our Iron Range workers will have the support they need and deserve to help them get back on their feet."

"One of my top priorities is to help Minnesotans find jobs and support their families," Franken said. "But right now, the livelihoods of our Iron Range workers are being threatened by the idling and closing of several mining operations-and I want to make sure that affected workers can get the support and assistance they need. I'm glad that, at our urging, the Department of Labor is going to ensure that Minnesotans who were hurt by layoffs will be eligible for critical training and education benefits."

"Our miners and mining families need and deserve this assistance, and today's announcement is very good news. But more importantly, workers who are laid off across the Range want their good paying jobs back. To that end, we've got to put a stop to the dumping of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel and other knock-offs of high-grade American manufactured goods into our marketplace and start enforcing our trade agreements. And we need to defeat the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement that will only serve to send more good jobs overseas."

Since February, six mining operations have idled or closed, resulting in a wave of layoffs for Minnesota steel workers and miners. Minnesota's federal delegation also worked closely with state officials to secure immediate funding for job retraining and educational opportunities

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