Political Quotes

“the American steel industry is on the ropes, and the flood of steel imports from Brazil, Japan, Korea, Russia, and other countries has gone unchecked in recent months. Last year, steel producers from Russia were allowed to dump 47 percent more steel on our markets than in 1997. Foreign corporations are selling steel at $100 per ton below their production costs. While U.S. and international trade laws are being grossly violated by these foreign corporations, the President and his administration stand idly by, allowing thousands upon thousands of hardworking steelworkers to lose their jobs and their livelihood. Last month, after watching the families of steel workers in my district suffer as a result of job losses, reduced hours and reduced production at the plant, I decided that I could no longer be a bystander to foreign steel dumping. Steel workers in Illinois work hard every day, every week, every year, and earn their living. They don't deserve to lose their jobs as a result of illegal trade practices. Typically, I am hesitant to support trade and import restrictions which could disrupt the flow of commerce in our global economy. However, because of the administration's inaction, and the gravity of the steel crisis before us, I decided to stand up for steel, and became a sponsor of H.R. 975, legislation to freeze steel imports at their 1997 levels and establish a steel import notification and monitoring program.”