The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“STEEL TARIFFS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E386 on March 6, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STEEL TARIFFS
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HON. LANE EVANS
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to mark the one-year anniversary of the Section 201 temporary tariff relief for the domestic steel industry. This is an issue that, unfortunately, I have worked on of for too many years. However, the current section 201 remedies are working, and I urge the President to continue to support our domestic steel industry by continuing the relief program over the original three year plan.
As many of my colleagues are aware, from 1997 to 2002, 35 domestic steel companies were forced into bankruptcy through illegal dumping practices. One of these companies was Northwestern Steel & Wire Company, which was in Sterling, Illinois, in my district. Northwestern Steel and Wire was forced to close its doors and 1,400 employees lost their jobs. The Department of Labor determined that Northwestern Steel employees were eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance because
``various customers increased their reliance on imported steel and wire rod.'' This reliance came from a system of foreign steel being dumped into the U.S., thereby preventing American steel companies from fairly competing.
In March 2002, the President imposed 3 years of declining tariffs on various steel products and raw materials. This has allowed the domestic steel industry to deal with changes in the market in a way that does not simply bankrupt all producers or displace thousands of workers. By preventing illegal dumping, the Section 201 relief has allowed a new company to move into Sterling, Illinois. Sterling Steel is currently working with the community to use the Northwestern Steel facilities, and bring steel jobs back to the area. They have created 200 steel related jobs in an area that had lost all steel industry. The ability to open more efficient steel factories and creating jobs in a more stable steel market can only occur with a level playing field. Steel tariffs provide that.
The U.S. steel industry provides not only jobs for communities like Sterling, Illinois, but it also helps secure our national defense. Many vital products that protect and defend our nation's troops are made of steel. Not, just any steel, American steel. Without the opportunity and protection of the 201 relief, we could not guarantee the men and women of our armed services the protections of new ships and tanks. The domestic steel industry is necessary for our nation's vital infrastructure, making up parts of our roads, power plants, and pipelines. By reducing competition by allowing dumping to close down domestic steel producers, we make our nation and our economy more vulnerable.
I want to encourage the President to continue with his plan for three-year declining tariffs. This action will allow the domestic steel industry to stabilize and help communities like Sterling to adjust to the new market without massive layoffs. We must continue to support domestic industry in order to properly turn our economy around.
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