Washington, D.C.  –  Congressman Pete Visclosky, Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, today amended the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to include American Steel First provisions during a House Appropriations Committee markup of the legislation.  Visclosky’s amendment, which passed by a vote of 55 to zero with one Member voting present, makes projects funded by the bill use only American-made steel.

“My American Steel First Amendment sends a clear message to American steel makers:  We support you, and want you to be a part of our economic recovery,” said Visclosky.  “Our steel mills are operating under capacity, ready to make the steel we need to rebuild America.  Buying all our steel from domestic producers will send steelworkers back into the mills, adding to the benefits of the infrastructure projects.”

Visclosky’s amendment applies the principles of his American Steel First Act, which he introduced last week, to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so that all steel bought with monies appropriated by the bill be made in America.  Under Visclosky’s leadership, the Steel Caucus had previously sent a bipartisan letter to House Leadership urging the inclusion of American Steel First provisions in the economic revitalization legislation, but they were omitted.  This amendment rectifies their exclusion.

American steel mills are running at 44 percent of their capacity, but could quickly ramp up production to meet the demands of the economic stimulus package.  For example, ArcelorMittal’s Burns Harbor plant recently laid off 490 workers and has 900 more on a shortened workweek.

“I firmly believe that my amendment will give the economic stimulus package the broad, lasting impact on our workers and our economy that it needs to,” said Visclosky.  “If we are going to expend such a massive sum of money, it must be spent on American products and workers.  This bill coming out of the Appropriations Committee will do just that for our steel and steelworkers.”