[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2559-H2560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMERICAN STEEL COMPANIES AND STEEL FAMILIES REMAIN IN GRAVE DANGER FROM 
                             STEEL DUMPING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 2 minutes.
  Mr. MOLLOHAN. Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues today are point out, the 
latest trade figures are in and they confirm what we feared but also 
what we expected. They confirm, Mr. Speaker, that the steel dumping 
crisis is not over. In fact, just the opposite, they confirm that our 
American steel companies and our American steel families remain in 
grave danger.
  It turns out that the recent drop in imports was not the start of a 
trend, it was only our trading partners catching their breath and then 
pumping up their March shipments by 25 percent. That includes a 39 
percent increase from Japan and a 54 percent increase from Brazil, two 
of the main targets of complaints filed by our U.S. steelmakers.

[[Page H2560]]

  It is clear that these countries are not very impressed with 
America's resolve to enforce our trade laws. What about our 
steelmakers? How are imports affecting them? Thanks to imports, LTV is 
reporting a first quarter loss of $29 million; Bethlehem a loss of $26 
million, and in my district, Weirton Steel is reporting a loss of 
almost $28 million, the worst in 6 years. Seven hundred Weirton Steel 
employees remain out of work, putting a terrible strain on communities 
all along the upper Ohio Valley.
  Mr. Speaker, our trading partners do not care about our communities. 
They do not care about our families. They do not even care about 
following our trade laws. But this Congress and this administration 
must care, because when the playing field is level, we can compete with 
anyone on Earth.
  This Congress must come full circle and pass tough trade legislation, 
and this administration must use every tool at its disposal to enforce 
basic, fair, trade laws. I repeat, Mr. Speaker, the crisis is not over. 
We cannot afford to act like it is.

                          ____________________