[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE DUMPING OF CHEAP, ILLEGAL STEEL IN U.S. MARKETS BY JAPAN, BRAZIL, 
                               AND RUSSIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 1999

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of legislation to 
be introduced by Representative Visclosky, imposing steel import quotas 
on countries that are dumping steel in our markets, and by 
Representative Traficant, to impose a short-term ban on steel imports 
in the foreseeable future. I also support Representative Regula's bill 
calling for immediate changes in the Section 201 procedures used to 
indicate or prove that foreign imports are causing grave injury to 
industries and workers in the United States.
  The jobs of steel workers are at risk: 10,000 have already lost their 
jobs, and 24 more will be pushed out of the workplace every day the 
steel dumping continues.
  In 1998 alone, 18 million tons of foreign steel poured into the 
United States--12.4 million in the third quarter alone. This represents 
56 percent more than the third quarter in 1997.
  By contrast, America exported a mere 5.5 tons of domestic steel in 
1998--the same period in which Russia, Brazil, and Japan unloaded the 
exact same 5.5 tons of hot-rolled steel imports here.
  The United States Steel industry adds $70 billion a year to the gross 
domestic product--and you can put a face on that $70 billion if you 
think about the thousands of steel workers--their spouses and 
children--who will suffer even more if we continue to allow illegal 
steel dumping from foreign markets into ours--for there will be no 
jobs, no house mortgage or car payment, and no hope for their continued 
quality of life.
  It is time, Mr. Speaker, for the Administration to take care of 
Americans--and American jobs.
  I do not intend to demean the Banana industry--those workers have to 
be able to earn a living too--but if the President will do for steel 
what he has done on behalf of bananas, then all will be well.
  There have been times in our history when a resource vital to the 
United States was threatened by foreign producers, and it could happen 
again. Steel is a vital resource to our national security--our military 
complex. If we are forced to rely on foreign producers to provide our 
steel, the entire industry will fold and we could find ourselves held 
hostage once again.
  Mr. Speaker, somebody needs to tell the Administration that it is 
steel on which our military depends for its weapons and equipment in 
times of crisis, not bananas, and he must act to stop steel dumping 
now.

                          ____________________