[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 15 (Friday, February 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            STEEL 201 REMEDY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2002

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today is Valentine's Day. But for 
thousands of American steelworkers whose jobs have been lost, this is a 
day filled with bitterness. I stand here today in protest of the low-
priced steel imports that have ravaged the American Steel industry and 
the 3,800 LTV steelworkers in my district whose lives have been 
devastated as a result of these imports.
  Today I urge the administration to take decisive action against the 
cheap imports that are destroying the U.S. steel industry. This is an 
industry that has been a cornerstone of our economy and national 
security over the last 100 years.
  The administration, as part of its steel plan, has taken the 
important step of initiating a section 201 investigation to examine the 
devastating impact that steel imports have had on the American steel 
industry. The International Trade Commission found, unanimously, that 
American steel companies and thousands of American workers and their 
communities have been seriously injured by these imports. I say, and 
know firsthand, that they have been devastating. The ball is now in the 
President's hands. He must decide what measures his administration will 
take to correct the wrong that has been caused by low-priced imports. I 
urge the administration, in the strongest possible terms, to impose 
strong and effective tariff-based relief. The President must impose a 
tariff of at least 40 percent against all foreign low-priced steel 
imports.
  I urge the President to impose this tariff for at least 4 years, as 
the law allows. Most importantly, I urge the President not to waiver 
from his commitment to the American steel industry and its workers 
because strong tariff-based relief is the only remedy that can 
realistically assist the industry.
  It is no secret that low-priced imports are due to excessive global 
steel production. The Department of Commerce has released a study 
showing that global steel overcapacity results from subsidization and 
anticompetitive practices around the world. We must not allow steel 
imports that originate from such distorted markets to destroy a vital 
component of our economy. We must not allow those foreign producers to 
destroy thousands of good American jobs and the financial security that 
those jobs represent. Families depend on these jobs. Cities and 
communities depend on these jobs. Workers in my district depend on 
these jobs.
  Thousands of American steelworkers are anxiously awaiting a trade 
remedy decision in the current 201 investigation. Their future depends 
on strong and effective trade relief and an administration that will be 
unrelenting in reducing global excess steel capacity. I urge the 
President to impose a strong tariff-based remedy against all foreign 
steel imports over the next 4 years.

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