THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF OHIO CONGRESSMAN CHARLIE WILSON.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, April 30, Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) will attend an important hearing about sub-standard Chinese steel imports and measures to protect the American public from dangerous Chinese steel. The hearing is for members of the Executive Board of the Congressional Steel Caucus. Wilson has been on the Executive Board of the Steel Caucus since January, 2006.

The hearing, at 10 a.m. in Washington, is being held in response to the discovery that Chinese pipe is being used in the construction of the new border fence between the U.S and Mexico.

“The use of cheap foreign steel for our nation’s Homeland Security projects amounts to U.S. taxpayers subsidizing Chinese steel,” Wilson said. “This is unacceptable.”

From 1997-2005 Ohio has lost 11,000 steel jobs.

“One of the biggest reasons we’ve lost those critical Ohio jobs is China,” Wilson said. “China’s export of steel and iron products has increased by more than 50 percent over the past year. I’m eager to hear what the witnesses will tell us at the hearing,” Wilson said.

Witnesses at the hearing will include:
• Daniel Baldwin, Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of International Trade
• Will Boggs, Executive Director and General Counsel, Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports and Vice President of Allied Tube and Conduit
• Bill Upton, President of Vulcan Threaded Products, a division of Vulcan Steel Products
• Mikey Bolt, United Steelworkers of America

On the same day as this important hearing, Rep. Wilson, Rep. Peter Visclosky (IN-1) and Rep. Phil English (PA-3), along with other Members of Congress, will introduce the American Steel First Act. This legislation would require that federally funded construction projects under the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security use 100-percent American steel.

“A strong and viable U.S. steel industry is critical to America’s infrastructure, national economic security and homeland security,” Wilson said. “Not only are cheap Chinese steel imports hurting our job market, we don’t even know if this Chinese steel is strong enough to keep our nation's families safe.”