“Rockefeller (has) many contributions to West Virginia and its residents over the years, both in an official capacity and by offering his efforts to solve problems at a personal level. Ohio Valley steelworkers, for example, are well aware of Rockefeller’s up-close and personal approach to protecting their industry and their jobs.”

"Mr. President, hear our voices. Now is the time for you to live up to the promise you made to safeguard American markets against unfair practices like dumping. Without your effective 201 remedy, foreign steel will continue stealing American jobs. Without your leadership, the fight to resolve legacy costs will fail."

Monitoring the Effectiveness of the Section 201 Tariffs: Rockefeller, along with Senator Arlen Specter (PA), chaired a Steel Caucus hearing with representatives from across the industry to focus on the issue of legacy costs (retiree health care) and to push for the continuation of the 201 tariffs enacted in 2002 that are slated to phase out completely in 2005. Senator Rockefeller will continue to hold these meetings, and will press the administration to work with Congress to address legacy costs, tariffs and other critical domestic steel issues.

Charting Government’s Role in the Sustainability of the Domestic Steel Industry: In early April, Senator Rockefeller, who was stuck in Washington, D.C. with Senate business, taped a video message for the Appalachian Institute conference on the sustainability of the American steel industry at Wheeling Jesuit University. He outlined the continuous challenges that lie ahead and advanced the discussions on the government’s role in helping the domestic industry to recover.

Finally! Wheeling-Pittsburgh Receives Loan Guarantee: In late March, Senator Rockefeller applauded the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Board decision to approve the Wheeling-Pittsburgh steel’s loan guarantee application. Only a month earlier, the loan board rejected Wheeling-Pittsburgh’s loan application. Rockefeller had strongly encouraged the administration to revisit the application and he outlined its strengths. With this approval, Wheeling Pitt will receive funding that is critical to maintaining jobs, domestic steel, and improving the economic climate of the entire upper Ohio Valley.

Asking the Tough Questions: Rockefeller questioned Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) Director Steven Kandarian in March at a Senate Finance Committee hearing over the agency's decision to seize Wheeling Pitt's pension plan. His questions focused on whether this was the right thing to do for the pensioners and why the action was taken without consulting the company or its workers. Rockefeller encouraged the PBGC to reconsider its decision.

Challenging the World Trade Organization: In March, Senator Rockefeller, a longtime fighter for fair and legal trade, disputed the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) ruling that the Section 201 tariffs were illegal, calling the decision a travesty. The Section 201 tariffs were imposed in 2002 in order to help the domestic steel industry rebound from years of illegal steel dumping. Rockefeller said the WTO’s ruling is an example of the consistent bias against the United States, and vowed to continue fighting for fair trade practices for the U.S. steel industry.

‘Senator Steel’ Continues the Fight for Industry: A long-time fighter for steel, Rockefeller was honored in February by the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) with the Paul Wellstone Award. The award, named after the late senator from Minnesota, is given to the top legislator from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who best represents Wellstone’s convictions as a fighter to maintain a vibrant domestic steel industry.

ITC 201 Recommendations:  On December 19, Senator Rockefeller gave a mixed review to the ITC’s remedy recommendations in the Section 201 investigation. Rockefeller emphasized the recommended remedies of 40 percent on most steel products, however, he was disappointed with the majority recommendations of 20 percent tariffs. He urged the president to impose the maximum, 40 percent for four years.

More Affordable Prescription Drugs for Steelworkers:   Senator Rockefeller helped to secure a Medicare demonstration project for Wheeling-Pittsburgh employees that reduced the cost of prescription drug medications under their health care plan.

Opposing Fast Track: On December 13, Senator Rockefeller voted in the Finance Committee to oppose legislation granting the president fast track trade negotiating authority.

Protecting our Trade Laws: On December 14^th, Senator Rockefeller and his Senate colleagues sent a letter to the Administration asking it not to negotiate away the country’s antidumping laws. These laws have been used numerous times to protect our steel industry, but at WTO negotiations the United States Trade Representative agreed to put our laws on the negotiating table.

Pressing the Administration:  Senator Rockefeller, along with 23 other senators, sent a letter to the president urging him to expedite his consideration of the ITC’s 201 recommendations. A quick, effective decision is crucial in order to keep steel companies running.

Protecting our Trade Laws: In November, Senator Rockefeller successfully requested that the Finance Committee hold a hearing on the WTO negotiations in Doha in which USTR Zoellick compromised the trade laws of the United States. Zoellick made an agreement allowing the WTO members to negotiate the extent and effectiveness of the United States’ antidumping and countervailing duty laws.

Finishing the job: Senator Rockefeller again testified before the ITC held its remedy phase of the 201 hearing on November 6, 2001 urging the ITC to make the right decisions and impose tough tariffs for four years. He also implored the Commission to return its decision in an expedited manner. During his testimony, the senator handed the Commission a letter asking it to do just that.

Following through on 201: In October, Senator Rockefeller testified before the ITC during the injury phase of the 201 investigation. Rockefeller argued that the ITC adhere to the law and find that the American industry has been injured. The ITC later returned with affirmative injury determinations on nearly all flat-rolled products and in a vote on tin, which proved there was injury or the threat of injury.

Enforce Our Unfair Trade Laws: Senator Rockefeller in July, joined by other senate steel supporters, sent a letter to the ITC urging that it consider the dire state of the steel industry and particularly the higher number of steel companies that have gone bankrupt during the steel crisis. The letter explained that these bankruptcies are only the most visible symptoms of an industry that is plagued by illegal steel dumping.

Supporting Our Industry: On July 26, Senator Rockefeller led a bipartisan coalition of Finance Committee members in reinforcing the Administration’s request for a Section 201 investigation on steel. The Finance Committee, on which he is second in seniority, endorsed the investigation. The request sent a strong signal to the ITC that the health of our domestic steel industry is of critical importance to our national interest and must not be compromised.

Protecting Worker Benefits: On July 19th and 20th, Senator Rockefeller underscored the importance of Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) in a pair of Finance Committee hearings on the matter. During the negotiations, he asserted the need to protect our domestic workers from the unfortunate and unforeseen consequences of trade. Rockefeller cited TAA as an important safety net before opening our markets and allowing free trade. TAA provides unemployment compensation and vocational training to those who have lost their jobs due to imports or factory relocation to Canada or Mexico. This has helped many West Virginians, and particularly steel workers who have been hit especially hard by imports.

Rallying the troops: Senator Rockefeller spoke before a rally in Washington on June 6th, reminding steelworkers that the initiation of a Section 201 investigation was not the end of the fight, but the beginning, calling for more pressure and the passage of key legislation in Congress to help the industry. He also reminded workers that it is necessary to keep up the pressure for good remedies and that the global industry still faces the issue of overcapacity.

Protecting the industry: On June 5, 2001, Senator Rockefeller praised President Bush’s decision to initiate a Section 201 investigation into illegal foreign steel imports. The Senator has been calling for just such an investigation for nearly three years.

Working with Congress: On May 17, 2001, Senator Rockefeller proposed the "Save the American Steel Industry Act of 2001" to Congress. This Act would create a program to provide payments to designated steelworker group health plans in order to offset the huge obligation companies have to their retirees. In addition, the bill would create a program in the Department of Commerce to aid with mergers and ensure that companies retained the maximum number of workers and capacity as are possible.

Questions in the Finance Committee: On May 16, 2001, Senator Rockefeller questioned Linnet F. Deily, a nominee for Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, on the administration’s commitment to a Section 201 investigation on steel in the Senate Finance Committee. Deily affirmed that the Administration would seriously consider a 201 Action.

Addressing AISI: On May 15, 2001, Senator Rockefeller spoke at the American Iron and Steel Institute’s (AISI) Annual Meeting to remind the group of the need for unity in the quest for Section 201 action and his soon-to-be introduced bill supporting legacy cost relief and a consolidation grant. AISI is an organization of more that 225 North American steel companies.

Discussing with Steel Manufacturer’s Association: On May 9, 2001, Senator Rockefeller spoke before the Steel Manufacturer’s Association. He told the group that they needed to get together behind a potential Section 201 initiation and he pointed out the strengths of his upcoming bill.

Proposing Action from Congress: On May 8, 2001, Senator Rockefeller asked the Finance Committee to initiate a Section 201 action. Senator Rockefeller simply decided that he could wait no longer for the president to take action. He still believes action from President Bush is preferable to a Finance Committee initiation, but believes action cannot wait.

Shaping the Council of Economic Advisors: On May 8, 2001, Senator Rockefeller wrote to President Bush to express his concern with the nomination of Professor Anne Krueger as a Member of the Council of Economic Advisors. The Council will play an important roll in the Section 201 case. Professor Krueger was previously employed by Japanese steelmakers and has testified against US industry in trade cases before the ITC. Professor Krueger’s name was subsequently withdrawn.

Demanding a Section 201 Investigation from the Administration: On May 2, 2001, Senator Rockefeller wrote to President Bush a second time, strongly urging an immediate investigation into a Section 201 case and renewing his call for an Emergency National Steel Summit.

Helping the Northern Panhandle: On March 23, 2001, Senator Rockefeller wrote to the Department of Treasury, asking it to consider re-instituting private letter rulings that had to do with solid synthetic fuels to help the companies that supply vital energy to the steel industry. This would have allowed some clean coal technologies to receive a tax credit that had previously been suspended. The Department of Treasury did in fact allow private letter rulings.

Pressing the Administration: On February 22, 2001, Senator Rockefeller met with Vice president Dick Cheney and called on the administration to initiate a Section 201 investigation and convene an emergency National Summit on Steel at the White House. Rockefeller followed up with a handwritten note repeating his concerns.

Implications on Defense: On February 20, 2001, Senator Rockefeller wrote to Secretary of State Colin Powell asking him to urge the president to initiate a Section 201 investigation because of steel’s importance to national security.

Shoring up the ITC: On February 15, 2001, Senator Rockefeller sent a second letter to President Bush asking him to withdraw Thelma Askey’s nomination as a Commissioner to the International Trade Commission. Ms. Askey is not a friend of the industry and has voted against domestic industries on most of the ITC cases.

Cabinet-level meetings: In January, Senator Rockefeller held private meetings with Commerce Secretary-designate Don Evans, Treasury Secretary-designate Paul O’Neill, and United States Trade Representative-designate Robert Zoellick to convey his deep concerns about our domestic steel industry. He later questioned all three nominees at their confirmation hearings about their commitment to enforcing U.S. trade laws.

Straight to the top: Senator Rockefeller sent a letter to President Bush on January 29, 2001, calling for (1) an immediate investigation under Section 201 of the trade laws, (2) an Emergency National Steel Summit, and (3) emergency multilateral steel negotiations with non-WTO countries.

Administration response on steel: On January 4, 2001, Commerce Secretary-designate Don Evans said, "I am disturbed when I hear that our laws are not being enforced. I am disturbed when I hear that our trade agreements are not being complied with ... [W]hat I will pledge to you, as I look at ... the implications of steel imports ... is that compliance is going to be an absolute with me." He spoke in response to Senator Rockefeller’s questioning at Evans’ confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Making our Trade Laws Fair: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored Senator Durbin’s Fair Trade Law Enhancement Act of 1999, S. 1741. This bill would have again strengthened the domestic industry by making it easier to prove injury in trade cases and helping to curb imports. It would have eased the restrictions so that only a casual link is needed between imports and a cause of injury. The bill prohibited the Secretary of Commerce from entering into an agreement with a country against which duties had been levied in order to relieve it of those duties. It also required the Commerce Department to monitor and report on steel imports.

Financial Assistance for the Industry: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored Senator Byrd’s Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Bill which guarantees loans to approved steel companies. Once the companies gain approval from the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee Board, the government guarantees 85 percent of the money loaned. The loan guarantee is intended to make it easier for companies to get working capital in order to stay out of bankruptcy and continue operating at full force. The bill passed and has been in effect since early 2000.

Testimony Before the ITC: On May 4, 1999, Senator Rockefeller testified in support of American steelmakers before the ITC in a trade case against Japan, Russia, and Brazil over hot-rolled steel products.

Imposing Quotas: On February 10, 1999, Senator Rockefeller introduced S. 395, legislation that would have directed the president to impose quotas and/or tariff surcharges, or negotiate enforceable voluntary export restraint agreements to ensure that the volume of imported steel products returns to pre-crisis level. This bill limited the amount of steel that could be imported to the amount that was imported before the crisis. It set June of 1994-1997 as target dates for pre-crisis import levels and took an average of those months in order to keep imports near those levels and set the quotas.

Making the Case for Unfair Trade: In the Finance Committee, at the first meeting of the year and during a hearing on unfair trade practices, Senator Rockefeller made it clear that steel would be his top priority and that he would be asking the administration for its help to make the American steel industry a viable global force by stopping steel dumping into the United States.

Rallying Cry: On January 20, 1999, Senator Rockefeller spoke at the Stand Up for Steel rally on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. He spoke to thousands of steel workers, calling for stronger trade laws, and announced legislation he was introducing to help the steel industry.

Introducing Fair Trade Legislation: On January 19, 1999, Senator Rockefeller introduced the Trade Fairness Act of 1999 with Senator Arlen Specter. This bill would have reformed Section 201 of the trade laws to make it easier to prove injury to the domestic market. This would have allowed the steel industry to more easily receive a Section 201 designation from the administration in order to curb illegal imports.

Averting Disaster: Senator Rockefeller served as an intermediary during the ten-month Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Company strike. He was able to bring both sides into the same room to talk about the issues that divided them. He also met with the parties separately in order to broker an agreement.

Trade Vote in Support of Industry: Senator Rockefeller voted against NAFTA in support of our major domestic industries which were most vulnerable to international competition.

Making Sure Trade Stays Fair: Senator Rockefeller sponsored S. 757, the Pipe and Tube Inverted Tariff Correction Act of 1993. This bill would have amended the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States to make additions to those products protected under the schedules, and raised duties on other products.

"President Bush, Help the Steel Industry Internationally": Senator Rockefeller continued pushing president George H. W. Bush to conclude a multilateral steel agreement and reminded him of his 1988 campaign promise not to abandon the domestic steel industry to unfair trade practices.

Keeping Steel Competitive: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored a bill, S. 2345, the Specialty Steel Voluntary Restraint Agreement Extension Act.

Negotiating Across the Board: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored a resolution, S. Res. 278, expressing the Sense of the Senate that the president should continue the bilateral arrangements limiting the export of steel to the United States until the president concluded a multilateral steel agreement.

"We Must Provide the Funds to Enforce Our Laws": Senator Rockefeller spoke out against insufficient levels of funding in the Commerce-State-Justice conference report on the enforcement of our unfair trade practice laws.

To Correct Tariffs: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored a bill, S. 703, which would have amended the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to correct the tariff rate inversion on certain iron and steel pipe and tube products. This bill would have imposed a duty on galvanized non-alloy iron and steel pipes and tubes with a specific thickness, and would have increased the duty on certain stainless steel pipes and tubes.

"Use Our Steel in Kuwait": Senator Rockefeller cosponsored an amendment which expressed the Sense of the Senate that United States businesses engaged in the rebuilding of Kuwait should use U.S. subcontractors and all available American goods and services. The demand for steel girders in buildings in Kuwait meant jobs for West Virginia steel workers.

Liberalizing Steel Trade: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored a bill, S. 1701, the Steel Trade Liberalization Program Implementation Act, a compromise piece of legislation which would have extended the Voluntary Restraint Agreement (VRA) for two and a half years rather than the five Senator Rockefeller had originally supported. This compromise would have brought the bill in line with what the Bush administration would support.

Stabilizing Imports: Senator Rockefeller sponsored S. 378, the Steel Import Stabilization Extension Act. The legislation was designed to extend the VRA authority for five years to help protect the domestic steel industry from unfair trading practices.

Steel Research and Development Through the Department of Energy: During 1988, Senator Rockefeller cosponsored an amendment to S. 2470, the Steel Technology Competitiveness and Energy Conservation Act, earmarking $5 million in funds already available at the time to the Department of Energy for new steel making research and development initiatives.

Keeping Steel Money in the United States: Senator Rockefeller cosponsored S. Res. 388, a resolution expressing the opposition of the Senate to a proposed $400 million World Bank loan to restructure Mexico’s steel industry. In March of 1988, Senator Rockefeller voted to support this legislation in amendment form (of which Senator Rockefeller was also a cosponsor) by opposing a motion to table.