Policy advice from steel leaders

Feb 01, 2011 | 04:12 AM |

An open letter from the Steel Manufacturers Association's board of directors to members of the 112th U.S. Congress and steel policymakers

America's steel industry is facing the most serious economic challenge it has encountered since the Great Depression. In the last decade, the United States has lost 20 percent of its manufacturing jobs. Other nations have strategies that support exporting goods, while U.S. policies are resulting in importing debt and exporting jobs. However well intentioned, incremental legislative measures are insufficient. The damage has gone far beyond the use of inadequate traditional fixes.

Unless the main core issues are addressed, there will be little improvement within the manufacturing sector. As for steel, our nation needs an adequate domestic supply to maintain our national economic security, to contribute to our national defense, to provide a sufficient domestic source of steel for infrastructure rebuilding and rehabilitation and to help ensure the recovery of U.S. manufacturing.....