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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) attended an important hearing about sub-standard Chinese steel imports and measures to protect the American public from dangerous Chinese steel.

The Executive Board of the Congressional Steel Caucus held the hearing in response to allegations that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used Chinese pipe to construct the new border fence between the U.S and Mexico. During the hearing Wilson listened to a representative from Custom and Border Protection describe the inspection process of steel coming into the U.S.

“The steel isn’t inspected in China. It’s not inspected when it enters our Ports. And again, the steel isn’t inspected as it’s used to build some of our nation’s critical infrastructure – like a border fence.” Wilson said.

“Given the serious problems our country has encountered recently with Chinese imports I believe we need to be more careful,” Wilson added.

Within the past year millions of “made in China” toys have been recalled as a result of lead paint. The FDA believes that contaminated Heparin, a blood thinner, from China has led to 81 patients dying since January, 2007.

“We’ve learned the hard way that some imports can have dangerous consequences,” Wilson said. But Wilson’s concerns don’t stop there.

Michael Bolt of the United Steelworkers testified at today’s hearing that he and his fellow workers at Wheatland Tube Co. in Sharon, Penn. were hopeful that the U.S – Mexico border fence would be the type of large federal project that might help secure their jobs. While he and his fellow steel tube makers kept hearing reports of sections of the border fence being constructed, his plant never saw any orders. Bolt testified that about the time that his plant closed, costing 500 jobs, he received a photo showing a section of the border fence clearly stenciled, “made in China.”

DHS reported that it had followed the provisions of the Buy America Act which requires that 50 percent of the project materials be domestic content. Bolt testified DHS offered his Congressional Representative, Rep. Phil English (PA-3), a creative alternative when English continued to push for a response. “The agency suggested they would send someone to that section of the fence and use black spray paint to cover up the ‘made in China’ identifying stencils on the pipe,” Bolt said in the hearing.

“A little spray paint may cover up a federal embarrassment but it won’t bring thousands of lost jobs back to this country,” Wilson said. “A strong and viable U.S. steel industry is critical to America’s infrastructure, national economic security and homeland security.”

Today Rep. Wilson, Rep. English and Rep. Peter Visclosky (IN-1), along with other Members of Congress, introduced 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.

“This just makes common sense,” Wilson said. “Tax payers shouldn’t have to subsidize projects that then force their jobs overseas.”

Wilson has been a member of the Executive Board of the Congressional Steel Caucus since January, 2006.