[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5663-S5664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        STEEL REVITALIZATION ACT

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Steel 
Revitalization Act of 2001. This is the companion measure to H.R. 808 
which, as of this moment, has 189 cosponsors in the House of 
Representatives. The measure represents a comprehensive approach to a 
serious crisis which is facing our domestic iron ore and steel 
industry.
  Several of the provisions contained in this act are ones that my 
colleagues in the bipartisan Steel Caucus have introduced in the 
Senate. I particularly thank Senators Rockefeller and Specter for their 
work in cochairing this caucus, and Senator Byrd for his unflinching 
support of the entire steel industry and his creative efforts on behalf 
of the industry's working families. A special thank you to Senator 
Rockefeller, who has been absolutely the leader on this issue.
  The Steel Revitalization Act includes the following components:
  First, there is import relief. We go back to a 5-year period of 
quantitative restrictions on the import of iron ore. We go back prior 
to the import surge in 1997. We go to a 3-year average. That is where 
we hold the line. Between February and March, 2001, there was a 40-
percent surge in the import of steel or semifinished steel, way under 
the cost of production, constituting unfair trade and putting people 
out of work.
  Second, there is creation of a steelworker retiree health care fund 
which is administered by the steelworker retiree health care board at 
the Department of Labor. This fund would be underwritten through a 1.5-
percent surcharge on the sale of all steel products in the United 
States, both imported and domestic.
  One of the awful things about what is going on is many of the 
retirees worked their whole life, thought they had health care 
coverage, and are terrified they will not have the health care 
coverage. A 70-year-old struggling with cancer now is worried there 
will be no health care coverage.
  Third, we have the enhancement of the current Steel Loan Guarantee 
Program which provides the steel companies greater access to funds 
needed to invest in capital improvements to take advantage of the 
latest technological advancements.
  Finally, we have the creation of a $500 million grant program at the 
Department of Commerce to help defray the costs of environmental 
mitigation and the restructuring as a result of

[[Page S5664]]

consolidation--again, assuming these companies make a commitment to 
invest in our country; again, assuming these companies make a 
commitment to the workers.
  I think all Senators can appreciate this legislation. The Iron Range 
of Minnesota, and if you think of our sister State of Michigan, this is 
a part of the United States of America with a proud history of 
providing key raw materials to the producers of steel for well over a 
century. In these taconite mines are some of the hardest working people 
you ever want to meet. LTV has closed down in Hoyt Lakes; 1,400 miners 
lost their work. They are steelworkers, but they work in the mines. 
These were good, middle-class jobs. It is not just these workers who 
have lost their jobs; it has the ripple effect on all the small 
businesses, all the subcontractors, all the suppliers--all the 
families.

  I am in schools all the time. There is such pain, such concern about 
the future of these families and concern for the future of their 
children. From my point of view, and I know I speak for Senator Dayton, 
there is probably not a more important piece of legislation to 
introduce.
  The introduction of a piece of legislation is not symbolic politics. 
It does not mean it passes. We have a lot of work cut out for us, but I 
will say to my colleague from Virginia, I thank publicly on the floor 
of the Senate--I certainly have called her--Secretary of Labor Chao. We 
are, again, in a situation right now where there is a lot of economic 
pain, a lot of economic desperation. The Secretary of Labor has 
provided the workers up there with at least some relief, which was 
extremely important. We were so hopeful we could get trade adjustment 
assistance benefits. The Secretary of Labor granted us an additional 
year, above and beyond unemployment benefits that workers receive 
through the State of Minnesota.
  It is additional money for job relocation. For workers and their 
families to get that trade adjustment assistance is a lifeline. It 
gives them more time. It gives them an opportunity to think about what 
ladder there is for career development. It gives them some financial 
assistance for their families. I have told Secretary Chao--I don't know 
if I will get her in trouble with the administration by being so 
glowing about what I have to say about her--I so appreciate it and so 
do the people in the State of Minnesota. I want to publicly thank her.
  I also want to say we are now waiting, of course, for the 
administration on a decision--Secretary Evans will make a decision 
soon--as to whether or not we will be taking some trade action to 
really make sure we have a future for this industry. The next big 
decision is going to be in mid-June about whether or not the taconite 
workers on the Iron Range in Minnesota are going to have a future. This 
industry will not survive if it is continually faced with unfair trade 
practices, if it continues to face this import surge of slab or 
finished steel. Our taconite workers on the Iron Range of Minnesota ask 
nothing more than to have a level playing field. We wait for a decision 
mid-June.
  I think steelworkers and industrial workers all across the country--
and I think they will have a lot of allies--will in a strong voice say 
you have to take some action. For the Iron Range in Minnesota, 
northeast Minnesota, time is not neutral. Time moves on. It is 
extremely important, above and beyond this lifeline assistance, that we 
get serious about a fair trade policy so these workers and their 
families have a future.
  There is companion legislation in the House. Very important work has 
been done by Senator Rockefeller and Senator Specter. I think we can 
get some strong bipartisan support, but it is not going to be enough to 
just introduce a bill. We will need action from the administration and 
we will need legislative action if there is to be a future for this 
extremely important industry--which, by the way, I think is essential 
to our national security.
  This legislation is legislation near and dear to my heart because it 
is so connected to the lives and people I truly love, that is to say 
the steelworkers and their families on the Iron Range of the State of 
Minnesota.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will please call the 
roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be dispensed with.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. DORGAN. I ask consent to speak in morning business for 15 
minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from North Dakota is 
recognized.

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