SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Gov. Tim Walz signed into law a bill chief authored by Sen. Grant Hauschild and Rep. Dave Lislegard to extend unemployment insurance benefits for laid off Northshore mining workers.
“Getting this bill to the governor’s desk in short order was a top priority to support our Iron Range economy,” said Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL – Hermantown), the chief author of the bill in the Minnesota Senate. “These benefits will help the workers keep a roof over their heads and food on the table as they await the opportunity to get back to work. This is what Minnesota is all about – taking care of our neighbors and looking after one another so that nobody in our state is left behind.”
“Right now, over 400 workers are facing an uncertain future. This Unemployment Insurance extension will play a major role in helping these folks get through this difficult time,” said Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora), the author of the bill in the House of Representatives. “Today is about us coming together to demonstrate our commitment to workers, their families, and their communities in a time of need. I’m grateful to Speaker Hortman and my colleagues for their support to move this bill quickly, and to Governor Walz for signing this urgent legislation into law.” The bill will allow those 400+ mining workers that were laid off due to the idling of Northshore Mining last May an additional 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, retroactive to last fall when their benefits ceased.
