[Page: S2940]---
Ms. MIKULSKI. I am proud to join Majority Leader Daschle, Senator Rockefeller and the other cosponsors today in introducing the Steel Industry Consolidation and Retiree Benefits Protection Act, a bill that seeks to maintain the viability of a critical domestic industry, and maintain a safety net for its workers and retirees who today live in fear of losing their healthcare coverage.
I am on the side of steel and steelworkers. I will stand up for steelworkers and make sure that their voices are heard in the Senate.
On March 20th, President Bush announced that he would impose tariffs on steel imports, the tariffs weren't as high as we believe necessary to give America's steel industry the opportunity to consolidate and get back on its feet. The tariffs imposed under section 201 were a first step, but we can not afford half-measures. Congress now needs to take the next step and address retiree health care benefits.
I recently held a hearing to listen to the people behind ``legacy costs''--the workers; the retirees; the widows; the executives; and worker representatives whose voices are not being heard. I heard from retirees and widows from the Bethlehem Steel plant at Sparrow's Point in Baltimore. I will never forget hearing Gertrude Misterka tell me that she would have to spend nearly $7,000 on her prescriptions if she lost her husband's health care benefits. She would be in tough shape if she lost those health benefits that her husband, a proud Korean War veteran, Charlie, worked so hard for.
I will not forget Jeff Mikula who has a job at Sparrow's Point but if that plant closed, he lose the benefits he has worked so hard for over the last 26
[Page: S2941]
HOW WOULD THE ROCKEFELLER BILL HELP STEELWORKERS AND RETIREES?
This bill would help protect the U.S. steel industry and would provide health care and life insurance to steel retirees of those companies directly effected by unfair trade practices.
This bill helps companies consolidate by addressing the liability costs that have served as barrier to the restructuring that many argue that is needed by this industry in order to be able to compete. At my hearing on the steel industry, I heard how restructuring would help to maintain a competitive U.S. steel industry, which is in the national interest and would preserve American jobs today and tomorrow good paying, American jobs.
This bill would mean that promises made are promises kept. Steel retirees, their families and dependents would have the retirement security earned through decades of hard work and sacrifice. This bill would establish a health benefits program for retirees modeled on the most popular health care for Federal employees the Blue Cross/Blue Shield standard plan. This is not the Cadillac, gold-plated health plan that some claim these retirees have. These are the benefits that our steel workers worked hard for. Under this bill, any steelworker with at least 15 years of work in our nation's steel mills would have a basic health benefit package that they can count on. This bill would also provide a very modest death benefit of $5,000 to the widows of steel retirees.
WHO WOULD THIS BILL HELP?
Now, there are now about 142,000 active steelworkers, but there are about 600,000 retirees counting on these benefits. By helping those with more than 15 years of hard work in our mills, this bill would help many of our Nation's active and retired steelworkers. In my own State of Maryland, 3,700 people work at the Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point facility, but there are 23,000 retired steelworkers, widows and dependents. These workers and retirees deserve a basic health benefit package that they can rely on.
I agree with President Bush when he said, ``Steel is an important job issue. It is also an important national security issue.'' We need to see the President join us on this issue in fighting for American jobs and for national security. A sound domestic steel industry is critical as we fight the war on terrorism. Steel builds our tanks, our planes and our ships. Bethlehem Steel produced the armor to repair the USS Cole.
The policy of our government is to support producers when it is in the national interest. National interest means national responsibility. Congress voted for nearly $80 billion in farm support over the next 10 years. It is important to support farmers to make sure we have the producers to be food-independent. I voted for the bill that is now in conference, and I am happy to stand up for American farmers. Congress gave the airlines $15 billion after September 11 because of a national emergency. It was the right thing to do.
Now, we need to stand up for steel. We need to have producers here in America to be steel-independent and be ready for national emergencies. Make no mistake: This is a national emergency for steel. Standing up for steel is in the national interest just like farmers, just like airlines.
There is much to do to ensure that there is a viable U.S. steel industry. We need to make sure that the Section 201 tariffs are being implemented properly. Steel legacy costs are also a vital, necessary, crucial part of ensuring a viable U.S. steel industry. This is part of the comprehensive solution. We can not afford half-measures, not with a critical industry at the brink of collapse, not with the retirement security of hundreds of thousands at risk.
I urge my colleagues to join us to protect American steel.
END