Washington, D.C. – Following a recent trip to Northern Minnesota led by Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) and Congressman Rick Nolan (MN-08), dozens of members in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke urging the rejection of an application issued by the Obama administration to withdraw large portions of Northern Minnesota from mineral development and exploration.

Northern Minnesota is home to several resource development projects that still require environmental assessments before implementation. Congressman Emmer’s trip and subsequent letter are in response to the Obama Administration’s anti-mining actions that would restrict access to more than 400,000 acres of land, result in the loss of thousands of good paying jobs, and have a drastic impact on Minnesota’s local economies.

“I proudly represent the great state of Minnesota, and sometimes that requires me to speak for Minnesotans outside of my district,” said Emmer. “Through numerous meetings, tours and phone calls, it was clear that Minnesota’s workers and industry officials speak with one voice on this issue – a voice I was happy to convey to my colleagues in Washington, D.C. The result was resounding support for reducing this roadblock put in place in the waning days of the Obama Administration. Throughout our nation’s history, the mining and mineral industry in northern Minnesota has worked to fulfill our resource needs. It deserves a chance to show once again that it can develop these areas in an environmentally responsible manner.”

“I have no doubt that we can find a way to preserve our state’s pristine landscape without ensuring it becomes devoid of the economic development or job creation needed to thrive,” said Emmer. “Underground mining can take decades to plan and execute and must be done in accordance with the appropriate environmental and permitting regulations. With the potential to bring jobs to Northern Minnesota for decades to come, we must get government out of the way so that leases can be renewed, studies can be conducted, and Minnesotan’s can ensure the safe, responsible, and precise development of our state.”

To read the full letter and list of signers, click here.