Steel-state lawmakers vow to save "Buy American"

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers from steel-producing states insisted on Wednesday that a Buy American provision remain in a huge economic stimulus plan after President Barack Obama said Congress should look at dropping or changing the measure to avoid starting a trade war.

"If it's not in, I'm not supporting this package and I'll bring a lot of votes with me," House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat, told reporters after a Congressional Steel Caucus hearing.

Obama, in television interviews on Tuesday, said the United States had to be careful not to include any provisions in the stimulus plan that could "trigger a trade war."

"I think it would be a mistake ... at a time when worldwide trade is declining, for us to start sending a message that somehow we're just looking after ourselves and not concerned with world trade," Obama said on the Fox television network.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5135MN20090204

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Today, the press secretary said, "We will abide by our treaty obligations" Translation... We can't create jobs in our own country because it's illegal!

[ogneopasno]

1. Way to go, Jim! Keep it up! You're not from the Fighting Eighth for nothing!

I love Jim Oberstar.

[ogneopasno]

2. Of course, how frustrating that he has to fight his own party on this.

[nc4bo]

3. Pete Visclosky

Congressman Pete Visclosky

On April 30, 2008, I held a Steel Caucus hearing to investigate the matter and look into legislative solutions. At the hearing, we heard from representatives of the steel industry. They testified that Chinese steel often does not meet U.S. safety standards, that there is no way to ensure that Chinese steel meets international safety standards, and that American steelworkers are losing their jobs because they cannot compete with China’s unfair trade practices.. We also heard from USCBP’s Assistant Commission for the Office of International Trade, who explained that there is no federal government process to ensure that steel imports are safe.

Steel is used in all aspects of our infrastructure, and we cannot wait for a disaster to ensure that the steel we import is safe. Due to these incidents of sub-standard imports and their role in increasing job losses, I introduced the American Steel First Act. It will ensure that our national infrastructure is safe and that the steel industry and its workers are secure in their jobs. I once again thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for their consideration of this important measure, and respectfully urge all the Members of the Committee to favorably report the measure.

January 15, 2009:

http://www.house.gov/list/press/in01_visclosky/pr090115a.html

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky, Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, today introduced the American Steel First Act along with Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA), Vice Chairman of the Steel Caucus, and 27 other bipartisan original cosponsors. The legislation would strengthen the Buy America law to ensure only American-made steel is used in construction projects executed by the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Transportation.

“As we work to revitalize our economy by modernizing and expanding our infrastructure, we can take the effort a step further by using only American construction materials, especially steel,” said Visclosky. “My American Steel First Act will help ensure that American steel makers are an important part of our economic stimulus so that Northwest Indiana’s mills stay running.”

The American Steel First Act is intended to support domestic steel producers and address the public safety threat posed by substandard steel imports. Last month, Visclosky, Murphy, and 42 other bipartisan Members of Congress sent a letter to House Leadership urging them to include American Steel First provisions in the economic stimulus package.

More here:

http://www.house.gov/list/press/in01_visclosky/~list.html

[Sandrine for you]

13. I like it. Obama look to have a better ...

understanding of the situation than most of you.

:headbang:

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Obama should not have backpedaled on this.

The re-industrialization of America is overdue.

[Mudoria]

5. If this provision is taken out

we can expect the best steel-making stimulus will be in China.

[nyc 4 Biden]

6. Buying Made in the USA solves many problems.

It helps undue the harm put upon us by our own governments crappy trade deals (ie..NAFTA or any other that ends in FTA).

[nykym]

7. Geeez!

we get so stuck on a small point and tend to rally behind it.
Drop the clause and write in the American safety standards as the rule and leave the bidding open to all.

As noted in OP
At the hearing, we heard from representatives of the steel industry. They testified that Chinese steel often does not meet U.S. safety standards, that there is no way to ensure that Chinese steel meets international safety standards,

So who says we have to take the cheapest offer if they can not meet the standards.

It's like going on that job interview when you know its only for show and the CEO's girlfriend is getting the job.

[pampango]

11. Well said. Thank you. n/t

[pasto76]

8. as an Ironworker by trade

I see alot of my steel columns and beams "heche en mexico"

[Oregone]

9. This wouldn't create any jobs anyway

They would dry up the second the stimulus funds were gone. We need to fix the real problem, and that has to do with trade agreements and tariffs.

[Waiting For Everyman]

10. If they're going to sink the working people, then sink all of them.

Fuck it! No leaving our population behind while the exploiters roll on.

Way to go, Oberstar! :applause:

[w4rma]

12. Good! It's the most important part of the entire stimulus bill. And it needs to include, not exclude

Information Technology.

[derby378]

14. Not just American jobs - MANUFACTURING JOBS

This is exactly what we need. Time to turn the Rust Belt into the Steel Belt once again!

[shaniqua6392]

15. Kind of like our new digital transition conversion......

Millions of our taxpayer dollars going to give $40.00 coupons to people so they can buy a converter box. Not ONE of those boxes were made in America. They are all Chinese. The Chinese are the only ones who made any money on this deal. Obama should not backpedal on this issue. I will be extremely disappointed if he does. The steel should be American and the workers who build the infrastructure projects should be Americans, preferably union workers. He will lose the support of unionized labor and many other American workers if he does take the buy American clause out of the legislation.

[Earth_First]

16. But, but, but...the vast majority of Americans are against this provision anyways...

:eyes:

[commanche]

17. death to globalization.yay!

hopefully this signals the end of globalization and so called world government or new world order. Since the conception of the council of foriegn relations and the united nations, there has been nothing but death and destrcution around the globe(manufactured by the way) hopefully obamas buy american big 'fuck you' to the rest of the rest of the globe, will make countries focus on smaller governance, as appose to the fascist dictatorship of centralized power.

[IndianaGreen]

18. It is crazy and immoral to buy foreign steel while our mills lay idle

FRAK the WTO!

This issue hits very close to home:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=151x7015