Stauber Calls on Smith and Klobuchar to Support Mining in Minnesota After They Expressed Concerns Regarding Minerals Trade Deal with Indonesia
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, is calling on Minnesota’s Senators to support critical mineral mining projects in his district after they sent a bipartisan letter, expressing several concerns regarding a potential mineral trade agreement with Indonesia.
This letter, which was led by Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), was sent following reports that the Biden Administration is in negotiations with Indonesia on a limited free trade agreement for critical minerals, mainly nickel.
In the letter, the Senators outline concerns with Indonesia’s weak labor protections, Chinese influence in Indonesian mining, and Indonesia’s lack of environmental standards. They also emphasize the need to prioritize domestic producers.
Of this letter, Stauber stated, “Since taking office, President Biden has chosen to rely on foreign countries with poor labor and environmental standards for the critical minerals necessary for his green energy push. These reported negotiations with Indonesia are just the latest example of Biden’s ‘anywhere but America, any worker but American’ mining policy. I am glad to see Minnesota Senators Klobuchar and Smith finally push back on this blatant hypocrisy. Now, I encourage them to go one step further and call on this Administration to allow critical mineral projects within the Duluth Complex to move forward, just as I have for years. Minnesota’s miners are ready and eager to responsibly source the copper and nickel located in the Duluth Complex, and all of Minnesota’s leaders should be unified in support of this worthy goal.”
Senator Kevin Cramer stated, “Developing the United States’ natural resources with the highest labor standards and best environmental stewardship should not be a partisan issue. Rather than adopting the Biden philosophy of exporting our environmental guilt to polluting countries, we should be prioritizing American workers and miners who do it best. Minnesota and North Dakota have a great deal to offer our critical supply chains.”
The Duluth Complex, located in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, is the largest copper-nickel find in the world. Yet, the Biden Administration cancelled long held mineral leases and declared a mining moratorium in the Duluth Complex.