Mrvan Statement at Congressional Steel Caucus Hearing on the State of the Steel Industry

Hearing

Today, Congressman Frank J. Mrvan, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, convened a hearing on the state of the steel industry.

A video of the hearing is available here, the text of the Congressman's opening statement as prepared for delivery is below, followed by the names and testimony of the witnesses representing the domestic steel industry, including representatives from the United Steelworkers, Cleveland Cliffs, and U.S. Steel.

Opening statement from Congressman Mrvan:

Good morning, and welcome everyone to this Congressional Steel Caucus hearing on the State of the Steel industry.

I first want to thank my fellow Steel Caucus leaders, Co-Chairman Lamb, Co-Vice Chairman Bost, and Co-Vice Chairman Crawford, for your partnership to hold today's hearing and for your leadership and collaboration for all of our initiatives in the 117th Congress to advocate for the American steel industry and its incredible workforce.

I also want to thank all of the witnesses here today for your participation and for your dedication to supporting our workers, our manufacturing base, and the strength of our national economy and our national security.

I also want to express my appreciation at the beginning to my friend and predecessor Congressman Pete Visclosky. I remain grateful every day for the example that Congressman Visclosky provided to me and all public servants for how to build bipartisan coalitions to advocate for members of the United Steelworkers, the building and construction trades, and all steel and manufacturing companies and industry members to grow our economy and support jobs for the benefit of everyone.

It is a great honor for me to both follow his example as the Representative for the First District of Indiana, and also be a Co-Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus. As most of you know, Indiana's First Congressional District is home to an incredible manufacturing and steel workforce, and the livelihoods of steelworkers and their families is dependent upon a thriving steel industry and the full and fair enforcement of our U.S. trade laws.

I am proud that one of my formative votes in the 117th Congress was for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included expanded and strengthened Buy America requirements. I also am grateful to have advocated with my fellow Steel Caucus leaders and Members for the value and continuation of the Section 232 steel tariffs, and also expressed support through the Appropriations Committee for adequate funding for the International Trade Administration in the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission. I also am proud to have testified before the International Trade Commission on five different occasions during my first term in Congress, and I look forward to being in front of them again tomorrow. All of these initiatives would not be possible without the support and advocacy of my fellow Steel Caucus leaders, members, industry, and members of organized labor and the United Steelworkers.

As we move forward, I look forward to our continued partnership and standing together with you to advocate for the success of the American steel industry and our workers. Thank you again for taking the time to be here in person to participate in this important hearing. I look forward to all of your testimonies and the discussion.

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