On Monday, The Minnesota House voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill extending unemployment benefits for workers at Northshore Mining, which has been idled since May 1. The bill passed 127-7, and is now on its way to Gov. Tim Walz (D) for his signature.

The bill, which had previously passed the Senate 56-10, would extend jobless benefits for another six months retroactively and would cost the state $10.3 million. The bill was introduced in response to the approximately 410 laid-off workers who, due to a royalty dispute between the company’s owner and a trust, have found themselves laid off.

Cleveland-Cliffs, the owner of Northshore Mining, has said that the mine will remain shut down at least through April. This means that this bill, if passed, will help to ensure that the laid-off workers have jobless benefits for the duration of the shutdown.

The 7 representatives who voted against the bill expressed their concerns about the cost to the state for the extended benefits, though their concerns were outweighed by the positive responses to the bill. The bill was supported by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Iron Range legislators, who recognized the need to back the laid-off workers while the mine is closed.