WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the statement below following news that Cleveland-Cliffs is reopening Northshore Mining. 

“After meeting with miners impacted by the Silver Bay plant and Babbitt mine idling, working with local northern Minnesota legislators to push for the extension of state unemployment benefits, and most recently, meeting in Washington with Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves about reopening, I’m glad mining operations will be reopening in Babbitt and Silver Bay and the miners will be returning to work.”

Klobuchar pushed for the extension of state unemployment benefits for residents who were impacted by the layoffs, which were reinstated in January 2023. State unemployment benefits for laid-off workers originally expired in November 2022.

In December 2022, Klobuchar was in Silver Bay to meet with residents who have been impacted by the layoffs at Northshore Mining. Klobuchar was also joined by Silver Bay Mayor Wade LeBlanc. 

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