[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 152 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REGARDING STEEL IMPORTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 1998

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 598, the 
resolution calling on the President to take all necessary steps to 
respond to the surge of steel imports resulting from the financial 
crises in Asia, Russia, and other regions for other purposes. I commend 
my Ohio colleague, Representative James Traficant, Jr., for introducing 
this resolution that calls for the President of the United States to 
impose a one year ban on steel imports from Japan, Russia, and Brazil.
  During the 1980's, there were massive layoffs in Ohio that I will 
never forget. There were two steel mills that had gone bankrupt in 
Warren County, Ohio. Companies that depended on steel dollars filed for 
bankruptcy. Our tax base was eroded. Ohio had to cut back on vital city 
and council services.
  My State, Ohio and the United States as a whole suffered dramatically 
from 1980 to 1992. The U.S. steel industry's workforce was cut by 57 
percent, eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs as 450 facilities 
were closed. Ohio's residents have made extraordinary and painful 
sacrifices, losing hundreds of thousands of jobs. But out of this, the 
American steel industry was rebuilt into the most efficient and 
productive, and the most competitive in the world.
  Unfortunately, the dire situation of well over a decade ago is 
happening again. Newspapers across Ohio carry articles about layoffs at 
various steel plants. As a nation, we cannot afford to remain silent.
  In Cleveland, coils of imported steel are stacked high in every 
direction. These thousands of coils, as well as the warehouses that are 
full of imported steel throughout Ohio are just one indication of the 
surge of imports hitting our shores in recent months. This caused spot 
prices to fall to levels that we have not seen since the mid 1980's.
  Mr. Speaker, the Congress must call on the President to pursue 
vigorous enforcement of United States trade laws relating to unfair 
trade practices especially with respect to the significant increase of 
steel imports into the United States. There is a great need for the 
President to pursue consultations with officials of Japan, Korea, the 
European Union, and other nations that may play an important part in 
eliminating import barriers that affect steel mill products. It is very 
clear that we must take action to preserve U.S. jobs in the vital 
sector.
  Mr. Speaker, vote ``yes'' on H. Res. 598.

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