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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Steel has always been a core part of the
3industrial and manufacturing sector of the United States; in
4Illinois, the steel industry employs over 9,000 workers and
5supports approximately 64,000 jobs; and
 
6    WHEREAS, At its height in the 1940s and 1950s, American
7steel accounted for about 40% of production worldwide, and the
8industry employed over 650,000 workers; today, China has taken
9over the steel market, producing 49% of the 1.7 billion metric
10tons produced globally in 2017, while the United States ranked
11fifth with 5% of production; and
 
12    WHEREAS, China's overwhelming grip on the industry has
13forced prices down and pushed American companies out of
14business, leading to the layoff of thousands of American
15workers; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Currently, there are approximately 140,000
17Americans working in the steel industry, a decline of over
18500,000 from the industry's peak; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The U.S. is the world's top importer of steel; in
202017, we imported 36 million metric tons of steel, while only
21producing 10.1 million metric tons; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The total U.S. trade deficit with China was $375
2billion in 2017; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Despite these troubling trends, public contracts
4continue to be awarded to Chinese companies that have undercut
5our market with predatory prices; the Chicago Transit Authority
6recently awarded a $1.3 billion contract for new rail cars to
7the Chinese CRRC Corporation, further undermining U.S. steel;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, American tax dollars should be used to back
10American companies, support American jobs, build up our
11infrastructure and encourage long term growth in our industrial
12and manufacturing sector; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Illinois should implement a "Buy America" policy
14which would give preference to American companies for publicly
15funded infrastructure projects; such a policy would improve our
16infrastructure, create jobs, and give Illinois a tool to use
17against unfair pricing from foreign companies; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Illinois should also institute a "Buy Illinois"
19policy, which would give further preference to companies
20located in Illinois; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, It is within our power to fight back against
2Chinese control of the steel market by using taxpayer dollars
3to support American jobs, families, and communities;
4therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we recognize the importance of steel to the manufacturing base
8of the United States, and we support American steel workers and
9American steel companies; and be it further
 
10    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois should implement both
11a "Buy America" policy and a "Buy Illinois" policy, which would
12help grow the steel industry, create jobs, build the middle
13class, and protect American companies and workers.