| TRAFICANT, James A., Jr., |
Youngstown, Ohio – U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant, Jr. (D–OH) will be the keynote speaker at a Stand Up For Steel rally this Thursday in Weirton, West Virginia. "The American steel industry is facing a serious crisis," said Traficant. "Now is the time for elected leaders to join with the steel industry and say, with one voice, that we want our government to fight against the illegal actions of foreign steelmakers. I'm honored and excited about the Weirton rally," added Traficant. THE RALLY WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH AT 3:00 P.M. AT COVE FIELD IN WEIRTON, WEST VIRGINIA.
The rally is being sponsored by Stand Up For Steel, a national campaign to bring attention to the crisis facing the U.S. steel industry. In addition to Traficant, other speakers at the rally will include West Virginia Governor Cecil Underwood (R), Weirton Steel Corporation President Richard Riederer, Independent Steelworkers Union President Mark Glyptis, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel President James Bradley, United Steelworkers Union local president John Saunders and U.S. Reps. Bob Ney (R–OH) and Alan Mollohan (D–WV).
Last month the House overwhelmingly approved a resolution authored by Traficant calling for a ban on steel imports from countries found to be in violation of anti-dumping laws. Following the House vote on his resolution, Traficant wrote to the President urging him to take concrete and immediate action on the steel crisis. Earlier this month, Traficant filed an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed in October by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel against 15 foreign steel manufacturers. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel is based in St. Clairsville, Ohio.
The crisis has been caused by foreign steel manufacturers dramatically increasing their imports of steel into the U.S. at below market prices. The foreign steelmakers are doing so in response to severe economic conditions in their own countries. Year-to-date steel imports are up 130 percent from Japan, 93 percent from South Korea, 93 percent from South Africa, 120 percent from Australia, 51 percent from Ukraine, 374 percent from Indonesia, and 57 percent from India. "America has the most productive, hard working and skilled steelworkers in the world – period," noted Traficant. "On a level playing field American steelworkers will always beat the competition. But the field is not level. Insisting that our trading partners adhere to international law and play by the rules is not protectionism. It's basic fairness.