[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO NUCOR STEEL-JACKSON INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2006

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, the United States of 
America has always stood for economic opportunity and freedom. And in 
recent generations our nation has strived to provide an even better 
model for equality of opportunity. The work has been long and arduous, 
and it has not been without its setbacks.
  We have struggled in the schools, the halls of government, in the 
workplace to make equality of opportunity something that is written on 
our hearts as well as in our laws.
  Some of the most successful undertakings in the struggle for equality 
have been in our mills, and foundries and factories. Mississippi's 
manufacturing sector has provided generations of our citizens the 
opportunity to enter the middle class and realize The American Dream.
  Manufacturing jobs have traditionally provided above average wages 
and the medical and other benefits that strengthen families and 
society. These jobs have also provided Mississippi workers with the 
satisfaction that comes from seeing their work transform raw goods and 
materials into finished products of usefulness and value.
  Since 1998 the United States has lost more than 3.3 million 
manufacturing jobs. Here in Mississippi the manufacturing job loss 
approaches 60,000, and this has undercut the strength and resilience of 
our state's economy. The erosion of our state's manufacturing sector 
presents a significant barrier to our state's long-term economic 
progress.
  Mississippians are especially mindful of the need for economic 
strength and resilience as we rebuild from the devastation of last 
year's hurricane. The world has witnessed the stunning economic 
setbacks wrought by Hurricane Katrina, but they have also witnessed the 
strength of our spirit and our resolve to rebuild Mississippi better 
and stronger than before.
  If we are to accomplish this we must create a sound economic 
foundation for manufacturing. This means we face several additional 
important tasks as we continue to rebuild. We must ensure that 
international trade agreements--either in their drafting or their 
enforcement--do not discriminate against Mississippi manufacturers 
because they adhere to the world's highest environmental, health and 
safety standards. We must redouble our efforts to root out and halt all 
unfair trading practices among our trading partners because these 
practices place Mississippi manufacturers at a significant and unfair 
disadvantage.
  One American manufacturer is leading a national grass-roots effort to 
bring back the level playing field to global trade and the global 
economic arena in which our manufacturers compete. Nucor Corporation is 
underwriting and leading an unprecedented series of grass roots town 
hall meetings across the country to inform voters and inspire action 
among elected officials at every level of government.
  These meetings have been held in states across America and have drawn 
as many as 4,000 citizens. Nucor Steel--Jackson, Inc., which employs 
250 workers in Mississippi, is hosting the eleventh Nucor Town Hall 
Meeting on June 29, 2006 in Jackson, Mississippi. It is noteworthy that 
in a political age where we often focus on personalities and scandal 
that this meeting will feature in-depth presentations and discussions 
of substantive issues.
  Voters and elected officials are provided an important forum to look 
at the underlying causes of our massive job losses and to propose 
policies and actions that can reverse the trend and put American 
manufacturing back on track.
  Rebuilding Mississippi in the wake of the hurricanes has proved a 
daunting challenge, but we have demonstrated the spirit and resolve to 
get the job done. We also face the long-term challenge to restore 
manufacturing to its rightful status as a cornerstone of our economy. 
We offer our appreciation to Nucor Steel--Jackson for their leadership 
as we face this challenge and make our commitment to Mississippi's 
future.




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