[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 108 (Thursday, September 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1482-E1483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REPORT OF THE NORTHEAST-MIDWEST CONGRESSIONAL COALITION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2000

  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, today I apprise members of the House of 
issues that were raised during the May 5th Northeast-Midwest 
Congressional Coalition field hearing I chaired in Pittsburgh. This 
field hearing examined the future of the U.S. Steel and the role of 
Technology, and was held in conjunction with the U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Industrial Technologies Steel Showcase. I, along with 
Representative Klink, Representative Mascara, and Senator Santorum, 
gathered testimony from steel company executives and their partners 
regarding initiatives designed to increase the competitiveness of U.S. 
steel makers by developing advanced technologies for steel production. 
For the record, I am including

[[Page E1483]]

an executive summary from the field hearing as part of my statement.
  The panelists at the Pittsburgh Steel Showcase field hearing 
described the role of steel in the United States economy at the 
beginning of the 21st century. In compelling detail, Robert Riederer, 
CEO and President of Weirton Steel, fleshed out the struggle to 
surmount challenges to the continued viability of an industry that 
remains as vital today to our national security and American 
manufacturing as it has in the past. Paul Wilhelm of U.S. Steel spoke 
candidly of the need to protect the environment without adversely 
affecting the industry. Collectively, from the panelists' testimony 
emerged a vision of a bedrock industry competitive in world markets, 
environmentally and technically advanced, but threatened on two fronts: 
waves of imports dumped by countries reeling from constricted domestic 
markets, desperate to prop up exports, and heightened environmental 
standards at home. In response to this discussion, members of Congress 
and panelists explored the following solutions: tighter enforcement of 
anti-dumping provisions, close monitoring of steel scrap to ensure the 
purity of recycled steel, increased funding for various offices within 
the U.S. Department of Energy for research and development of new steel 
production technologies, and tax credits for investment, research, and 
development.
  It is my hope that all House members will take time to read the full 
report as it contains a host of important information. And as always, I 
stand ready to work with my colleagues on issues in support of the 
steel industry.


                           Executive Summary

  The panelists at the Congressional field hearing at the Pittsburgh 
steel showcase described the role of steel in the United States economy 
at the beginning of the 21st century. In compelling detail panelists 
like Robert Riederer, CEO and President of Weirton Steel, fleshed out 
the struggle to surmount challenges to the continued viability of an 
industry that remains as vital today to national security and American 
manufacturing as it has been in the past. Candidly Paul Wilhelm of U.S. 
Steel spoke of the need to protect the environment without killing the 
industry. From the panelists' testimony emerged a vision of a bedrock 
industry competitive in world markets, environmentally and technically 
advanced but threatened on two fronts: by waves of imports dumped by 
countries reeling from constricted domestic markets, desperate to prop 
up exports, and by ever tightening environmental standards at home. 
Panelists and Members of Congress explored the solutions: increased 
funding for U.S. Department of Energy Office of Industrial 
Technologies' Industries of the Future research and development of new 
steel production technologies, tighter enforcement of anti-dumping 
provisions, close monitoring of imported steel scrap to ensure the 
purity of recycled steel, and tax credits for investment and research 
and development.

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