Political Quotes

“Today there are hundreds of men and women in the 17th District of Illinois who are without work because we have failed to protect them from illegally dumped steel. Last year, when the European Union felt the steel crisis blowing their way, they quickly sealed their borders to protect their industry and its employees. Yet, American steelworkers were left to twist in the wind as the administration dragged its feet on enforcing our antidumping laws and taking an aggressive approach to conquer the crisis. As the months have passed, the crisis has steadily worsened. If we don't stand up for the working men and women of our steel industry, who will? Today, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the answer to the steel problem. By imposing quotas, and establishing a monitoring system to uphold our trade laws, H.R. 975 accomplishes what should have been done long ago--protection for our steelworkers, our steel industry and requiring that other nations share the burden of the steel crisis. I would also like to remind my colleagues of what caused this crisis: the International Monetary Fund's harsh austerity measures that cause developing countries to export cheap steel. Until we stop funding, promoting and enabling the IMF to wreak havoc on financially strapped nations with their 'bad economic medicine', we will continue to watch our trade deficit skyrocket and Americans go without work. I urge my colleagues to vote 'yes' on the Bipartisan Steel Recovery Act.”