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ROCKEFELLER PRESSES BUSH COMMERCE SECRETARY NOMINEE TO SUPPORT STEEL
INDUSTRY
-- Evans Commits to Level Playing Field for American
Steelworkers --
WASHINGTON, D.C. —At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing today,
U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) sharply questioned President-elect
Bush's Commerce Secretary nominee, Don Evans, on the new Administration's
plan to support the steel industry. In addition, Rockefeller also severely
criticized the recent Export-Import Bank's decision to guarantee a loan to
a Chinese steel company which would increase its steelmaking capacity.
Rockefeller offered his support for Evans' nomination based on his
commitment to pursue a level playing field for U.S. Steel.
Rockefeller made the following comments today:
"Our nation's steel industry is in a true crisis, jobs are at stake,
and steel communities across America need aggressive action from the
next Administration to combat the flood of imports that are throwing
major domestic steel producers into bankruptcy. What you do as Secretary
of Commerce can make the difference between saving a vital U.S. industry
and preserving America's manufacturing base, or losing that capacity and
jeopardizing our national security. As Commerce Secretary, I hope you
will be a strong advocate for our domestic steel interests. My support
for your nomination depends on your commitment to champion the interest
of the U.S. steel industry and its workers.
"We could lose our steel industry if there isn't action soon. The new
Administration must intervene to ensure that our unfair trade laws are
aggressively enforced and the flood of steel imports stops. I pushed the
Clinton Administration during the past several years to act before we
reached a crisis. They did not do enough to prevent our steel industry
from suffering serious financial injury. Now that we are again in a real
crisis, I intend to push the new Administration to step in immediately
to address these import levels. We can't go much longer without
meaningful action from the Administration.
"I urge the President-elect to initiate a Section 201 investigation
that can provide the comprehensive relief our steel industry needs. The
Clinton Administration has already documented the abuses in global steel
trade -- now it's time to act. Only timely and comprehensive relief can
save our steelmakers.
"Furthermore, the Export-Import Bank's decision to guarantee a loan
to a Chinese steelmaker is an outrage to West Virginia steelworkers and
producers who have seen little help from our government. The United
States did not spend a single dime to increase the productivity of our
own steel industry. Nearly $50 billion in private investment made us the
most modern and competitive steel producers in the world -- if we are on
a level playing field. Although the Clinton Administration objected to
the Ex-Im Bank's loan guarantee, it was approved nonetheless. This loan
is a slap in the face to our steelworkers who want a fair fight on steel
trade, and I intend to let the Ex-Im Bank know that Congress does not
approve of this ill-conceived decision.
"The larger problem of massive subsidization of foreign steel is one
of the reasons we are suffering from the current crisis. We need
comprehensive relief, and we need it now."
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