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ROCKEFELLER HAILS ADMINISTRATION DECISION TO CALL FOR A SECTION 201 INVESTIGATION
Senator Insists Investigation Must Be Comprehensive

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After two years of intense lobbying to save our domestic steel industry, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) said today that critical steps are being taken to bring needed relief. Due to intense pressure from Congress, industry, and steelworker unions, the Bush Administration announced today that it will ask the International Trade Commission to pursue a Section 201 investigation, which could impose temporary restrictions on all imported steel products.

Although the Administration did not discuss the details or scope of its request, Rockefeller said the request itself is critical to the success of the ITC investigation.

"West Virginia steel producers, and companies across the nation, are in desperate need of the comprehensive relief that a 201 can provide. Unless there is immediate, comprehensive relief covering all steel products, tens of thousands more jobs will be lost, hundreds of steel communities and millions of Americans will suffer, and our steel manufacturing capabilities will forever be lost." Rockefeller added.

"This action by the White House is going to send a strong message around the world that we will no longer tolerate illegal dumping of steel that has crippled our domestic steel industry and threatened our national and economic security," Rockefeller said.

Rockefeller applauded today’s efforts and added that he still intends to continue his efforts to pursue a Section 201 investigation through the Senate Finance Committee as well. Rockefeller explained that having both the Administration and Congress asking for a 201 investigation will send a stronger message to the ITC that comprehensive relief is absolutely critical, and is the only way to save our domestic steel industry.

Rockefeller noted that efforts to save the steel industry are far from complete and again called for an Emergency National Steel Summit. He said that we must address the long-term economic concerns facing the industry and we must resolve the need for a multilateral agreement with our trading partners to address global overcapacity issues.

Rockefeller also said that Congress must pass legislation such as the "Save the American Steel Industry Act of 2001," a bill he introduced to provide economic relief for companies facing consolidation and mergers, which will help domestic producers of steel who have been hit the hardest by illegal foreign steel dumping.

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