ST. PAUL, MN – Today Rep. Carly Melin (DFL—Hibbing) testified before the House Government Operations and Transportation Finance Committees to tout two bills that create jobs and economic growth on the Range.
One of the bills, HF 548, requires public works projects financed in whole or in part by local or state tax revenue to use American-made steel products. Northeastern Minnesota’s mining industry employs thousands of workers who produce iron ore pellets used to make steel.
Rep. Melin brought together both workers and employers to testify in support of the bill.
John Rebrovich, a United Steel worker whose family has mined iron ore on the Range for over 70 years, praised the bill and said it will “promote growth and expand the tax base.” Craig Pagel, President of the Iron Mining Association, said the bill will help the industry compete with imports coming from China that undercut domestic prices.
“This bill makes sure taxpayer dollars are being spent on American jobs, not Chinese jobs,” said Rep. Melin.
The House Government Operations Committee passed HF 548 on a voice vote and re-referred the bill to the House Capital Investment Committee.
The second bill authored by Rep. Melin that received a hearing today was HF 467, which provides $5 million to fund much-needed improvements to the Range Regional Airport in Hibbing.
Rep. Melin said the airport’s importance to the regional economy “could not be overstated.”
Shaun Germolus, Executive Director of the Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Authority, testified in support of the bill, telling House Transportation Finance Committee members that “we’ve outgrown our facilities” but noted that it’s a good problem to have because the proposal would support economic development in the region.
Germolus said that the Range Regional Airport currently supports 30 jobs and added that if funding is made available, the design and construction of the project would create 80 jobs.
HF 467 was laid over for consideration for a larger bill with the House Capital Investment Committee.