Nolan Urges House Speaker to Act on Unemployment Benefits for Laid-off Steelworkers

U.S. Representative Rick Nolan is urging Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt to extend unemployment benefits for hundreds of laid-off steelworkers on the Iron Range. 

In a letter sent to Daudt on Tuesday, Nolan asks for the issue to be taken up on day one of the new legislative session. 

Governor Dayton asked the Minnesota Legislature to sign off on 26 weeks of additional benefits for the laid-off steelworkers. 

Dayton pushed for a special session to help the miners, but ended his efforts last week after Republicans were still not on board with the idea. 

The mining industry in the Northland has taken a hit.  Recently, more than 500 workers were laid off at Cliffs Northshore Mining Operation in Silver Bay, and Magnetation announced the idling of Plant 2 in Bovey, impacting up 163 workers. 

The 2016 Legislative Session will start in March.