Ehrlich on Washington column, October 28, 2001

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 2 1 093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of October 28, 200 1 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Bush Administration Steps Up to the Plate for the Steel Industry as Bethlehem Steel Reorganizes On October 22, 2001, domestic steel producers finally received some good news in their struggle to remain a viable and competitive industry. On that day, the International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent federal agency charged with investigating the effect of imports on the U.S. market, confirmed what I and many others have declared for years: illegal steel imports from foreign countries have caused substantial injury to the American steel industry. The Section 201 Global Safeguard investigation, which was requested by President George W. Bush, requires the ITC to prepare recommendations as to what action the President should take in response to the illegal import surge. The ITC’s recommendations will be sent to President Bush on December 19, 2001, after which the President will decide whether to adopt, modify, or decline the ITC recommendations. Rest assured I will lobby the Bush Administration to utilize every tool available to penalize those nations that violate our trade laws. The ITC actions are only the first step in resolving the stark crisis in our domestic steel industry. Congress must take the next step by providing additional economic stimulus and addressing so- called legacy costs - or the costs associated with health care and retirement benefits for industry retirees. I recently hosted Maryland Congressman Ben Cardin and Pennsylvania Congressman Phil English for a visit to Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point Plant. My colleagues and I wanted to meet with members of labor and management to gauge the impact of Bethlehem Steel’s filing for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and to develop a meaningful strategy for solving the problems facing Bethlehem Steel and our domestic steel industry.