Washington, D.C. – On September 27, 2012, U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding hundreds of mine workers that were denied part or all of their hard-earned pension benefits.  The National Steel Pellet Company filed for bankruptcy on March 6, 2002, affecting the workers at the mine in Keewatin.  A group of the affected miners who refer to themselves as the Hard Rock Miners believe there was collusion between National Steel and the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) in calculating contributions for their pension fund.  A 2011 audit of the bankruptcy by the Inspector General of the PBGC revealed irregularities.  As of today, October 16, 2012, Cravaack’s office had not received a response from the Department of Justice.

 “These miners lost their pension benefits.  It is incumbent on this Administration to review their claims- these workers have waited long enough,” said Cravaack.

Representative Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee – the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in central and northeastern Minnesota.

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