The Region News

Washington, DC – Below, please find the opening statement as prepared for delivery from Congressman Frank J. Mrvan, Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, during June 7, 2023’s hearing on the State of the Steel Industry.

A video of the hearing is available here, and below the statement are the names and testimony of the witnesses, including representatives from the United Steelworkers, Cleveland Cliffs, and U.S. Steel.

Opening statement from Congressman Mrvan:

Thank you Chairman Crawford for the recognition, and thank you for your leadership and bipartisan collaboration for convening this hearing on the State of the Steel Industry, and on all of our initiatives to benefit workers and the steel industry in the 118th Congress.

Thank you as well to all of our witnesses here today for your participation and for your dedication to supporting the strength of our manufacturing base and the economic vitality of steel-producing regions throughout our nation. 

I am proud to represent Indiana’s First Congressional District, which as you are well aware is home to an incredible steel workforce and steel production capabilities.   As the grandson of a card-carrying member of the United Steelworkers, who spent 50 years in the steel mills in East Chicago, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, and to join everyone in this room in supporting and advocating for the long-term success and vitality of the domestic steel industry.

In my first term of Congress, I was proud to be able to support several laws that aim to strengthen our economy and make historic investments in our nation’s economic and transportation infrastructure.  For example, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is continuing to deliver necessary investments in our roads, bridges, rail, and ports, and as these funds are dispersed, we will continue to conduct oversight of and promote the maximum benefit of the expanded Buy America requirements.  

I also was proud to support the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which will continue to support improvements to our supply chain network and advancements in environmentally-friendly technologies.  I am grateful for the dedicated efforts of the domestic steel industry to make such committed efforts in sustainable technologies, and look forward to hearing about your latest advancements in this area.  

And finally, I appreciate the collaboration of Chairman Crawford and other Members of the Caucus on recent communications to support the full and fair enforcement of our trade laws, including letters advocating for the continuation of Section 232 steel tariffs, addressing the recent surge of Mexican steel imports, and supporting additional funds for the work of the International Trade Commission and the International Trade Administration.  We know that American workers can compete with anyone in the world when given a level playing field, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with my colleagues to enhance our trade remedy abilities.

Thank you again to all of our witnesses for participating in today’s hearing.  I am grateful for your dedicated initiatives to support our workers, our national economy, and our national security.  I look forward to your testimony and the subsequent discussion.   

Witness list and testimony:

• Roy Houseman, Legislative Director of United Steelworkers (USW), click here.
• Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., click here.
• Richard Fruehauf, Senior Vice President of U.S. Steel, click here.
• Leon Topalian, Chair, President and CEO of Nucor Corporation, click here. 
• Barbara Smith, CEO of Commercial Metals Company, click here. 
• Andy Annakin, Chief Commercial Officer & EVP of Bull Moose Industries, Inc., click here.

Original source can be found here.