[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 36 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             STEEL TARIFFS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 2003

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to mark the one-year 
anniversary of the Section 201 temporary tariff relief for the domestic 
steel industry. This is an issue that, unfortunately, I have worked on 
of for too many years. However, the current section 201 remedies are 
working, and I urge the President to continue to support our domestic 
steel industry by continuing the relief program over the original three 
year plan.
  As many of my colleagues are aware, from 1997 to 2002, 35 domestic 
steel companies were forced into bankruptcy through illegal dumping 
practices. One of these companies was Northwestern Steel & Wire 
Company, which was in Sterling, Illinois, in my district. Northwestern 
Steel and Wire was forced to close its doors and 1,400 employees lost 
their jobs. The Department of Labor determined that Northwestern Steel 
employees were eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance because 
``various customers increased their reliance on imported steel and wire 
rod.'' This reliance came from a system of foreign steel being dumped 
into the U.S., thereby preventing American steel companies from fairly 
competing.
  In March 2002, the President imposed 3 years of declining tariffs on 
various steel products and raw materials. This has allowed the domestic 
steel industry to deal with changes in the market in a way that does 
not simply bankrupt all producers or displace thousands of workers. By 
preventing illegal dumping, the Section 201 relief has allowed a new 
company to move into Sterling, Illinois. Sterling Steel is currently 
working with the community to use the Northwestern Steel facilities, 
and bring steel jobs back to the area. They have created 200 steel 
related jobs in an area that had lost all steel industry. The ability 
to open more efficient steel factories and creating jobs in a more 
stable steel market can only occur with a level playing field. Steel 
tariffs provide that.
  The U.S. steel industry provides not only jobs for communities like 
Sterling, Illinois, but it also helps secure our national defense. Many 
vital products that protect and defend our nation's troops are made of 
steel. Not, just any steel, American steel. Without the opportunity and 
protection of the 201 relief, we could not guarantee the men and women 
of our armed services the protections of new ships and tanks. The 
domestic steel industry is necessary for our nation's vital 
infrastructure, making up parts of our roads, power plants, and 
pipelines. By reducing competition by allowing dumping to close down 
domestic steel producers, we make our nation and our economy more 
vulnerable.
  I want to encourage the President to continue with his plan for 
three-year declining tariffs. This action will allow the domestic steel 
industry to stabilize and help communities like Sterling to adjust to 
the new market without massive layoffs. We must continue to support 
domestic industry in order to properly turn our economy around.

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