Ruppersberger Supports American Steel First Act

All indications are that Rep. C.A "Dutch" Ruppersberger will back the American Steel First Act introduced in the House last week by Reps. Pete Visclosky (ID., IN) and Timothy Murphy (R., PA), co-chairmen of the Congressional Steel Caucus.

Introduced Friday, HR 1703, if passed, would require the Departments of Transportation, Defense and Homeland Security to use American-made steel and iron.

"Especially in this difficult economy, we need to do everything we can to promote American businesses and take pride in the quality products they provide us," Ruppersberger told Patch in an e-mail. "We must create jobs, rebuild our manufacturing base and support our own businesses before we support those overseas.”

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Steel Manufacturers Association, the steel industry’s two major trade associations, strongly support the American Steel First Act.

The  bill's introduction precedes the restart of "L" blast furnace at Sparrows Point by new mill owners RG Steel by just a couple of days. Last week, the United Steelworkers formally approved a working agreement with RG Steel.

“At a time when America is set to lose its position as the global leaders in manufacturing—to China no less—taxpayer dollars should be used to buy products made in America by Americans,” Murphy said in a written statement quoted in the Pittsburgh Business Times. “Taxpayer dollars should not be sent overseas to buy inferior steel from China for rebuilding our bridges and protecting our troops. The American Steel First Act guarantees American steel will be used for public projects and support American manufacturing jobs.”

But similar legislation in past years has been opposed by both the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, groups where large multinational companies wield significant influence.

Ruppersberger and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D., MD) both belong to the Congressional Steel Caucus.

On the Senate side, Democratic Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin are both members.

Former Reps. John Murtha (D., PA) and Ralph Regula (R., OH) founded the steel caucus in the early 1970s.