In Columbus, Tester Meets with Montanans Impacted by Layoffs at Sibanye-Stillwater Mine

Senator continues push to support Montanans at Sibanye-Stillwater, urges Department of Labor to approve assistance for workers affected

U.S. Senator Jon Tester met this week with Montanans in Columbus as part of his continued efforts to support the workforce at Sibanye-Stillwater mine after layoffs were announced for its Montana operations. Today, Tester sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, continuing to urge the agency to approve federal resources for employment and training services for local workforce affected by layoffs.

“I was fortunate to meet face-to-face with hardworking Montanans about the challenges they and their communities are currently facing, ” said Tester. “This mine is a big deal for local economies and our national security, and I’m going to continue to push for more Montanans to keep their jobs while supporting resources for those that are impacted. Make no mistake, Montana and this country are stronger when these folks are able to do their jobs at full capacity.”

Within hours of Sibanye-Stillwater’s announcement, Tester personally spoke with Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo and pressed him on the need for the Biden Administration to support the impacted workers. Tester also introduced a bill to ban Russian importation of palladium and other critical minerals indefinitely.

Last month, Tester also urged the Biden Administration to provide federal assistance to miners and communities impacted by the layoffs in a letter to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

Tester has long fought to rebuild domestic manufacturing and onshore supply chains to reduce America’s dependence on foreign adversaries like China and Russia. In February, Tester sent a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressing concerns that domestic critical mineral production at places like Sibanye-Stillwater was being curbed by reliance on foreign adversaries like China. Last month, Tester called on the Biden Administration to follow Congressional intent as written in the Inflation Reduction Act and apply the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit to domestic production of critical minerals.

Watch Tester’s full statement on the Sibanye-Stillwater mine layoffs HERE.

You can read the full text of the Senator’s recent letter urging federal assistance to miners HERE.