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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to today’s decision by the International Trade Commission (ITC), Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) said he is deeply disappointed and frustrated by the inadequate recommendations.

"The Commission has worked very hard over the past six months to put together the list of specific recommendations announced today. However, the recommendations, as a whole, are completely inadequate. The ITC did not return the strongest remedy it could on steel.

"The President should take a look at the injury that the industry has suffered and give it the strongest and most effective relief he can. He should also implement it for four years in order to allow the industry time to recover. The statute allows the President discretion in this matter, and I know that he is aware of how important this phase is to American steel workers.

"We are losing steel companies at a rate of one every nine days. I have written to the President requesting that he expedite action on this matter. The President now has the recommendations from the ITC and he must act quickly in order to make this relief as effective as possible. I hope the President will choose the most aggressive remedies possible.

"And even more important, he must act quickly. If the President fails to act quickly or his remedies are too weak we will surely lose our domestic steel industry.

"As we are waiting for the President’s decision, we cannot forget that the steel industry still faces massive legacy costs and we can help the workers who will lose their health care and benefits. We must look for an effective solution to the legacy cost problem. This is the only thing that will truly make the industry viable and competitive for the foreseeable future."

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