SR2433 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2433 LRB099 24030 MST 51628 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Granite City Works steel mill has operated since 1878; it was originally founded by brothers, William and Frederick Niedringhaus, as the Granite Iron Rolling Mills, and most recently, owned by United States Steel Corporation; and

WHEREAS, The Granite City Works has been an industry leader in sheet steel products for customers in the construction, container, piping and tubing, service center, and automotive industries; and

WHEREAS, Granite City Works has an annual raw steelmaking capability of 2.8 million net tons; and

WHEREAS, Global influences in the market such as reduced steel prices, unfair trade practices, imports, and fluctuating oil prices, continue to have a dramatic negative impact on the steel production industry; and

WHEREAS, Domestic steelmakers continue to lose substantial sales to foreign countries, particularly China and South Korea, which have "dumped" their steel products into the United States market at prices below fair market value; and

WHEREAS, Operations at Granite City Works were suspended in early 2016, with over 1,600 people losing their jobs; and

WHEREAS, The chief executive officer of U.S. Steel has said the company does not have a timeline to restart production at the Metro-East plant; and

WHEREAS, Granite City Works is a vital part of the Metro-East economy, and the suspension of the operations of the mill is devastating to thousands of families and the financial well-being of the entire region; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President of the United States and Congress to only use American made steel in any national infrastructure plan that may be signed into law; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the President of the United States and Congress to consider all possible trade and economic policies to protect this vital American industry and minimize the financial impact on these hardworking men and women; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.