I'm sure that over the course of these hearings you have heard, and will continue to hear, many different perspectives regarding the state of the U.S. steel industry, the effects of unfairly traded imports, and the need to maintain strict enforcement of fair trade laws. In this regard, I would like to present to you my perspective as a Senator, and former Governor, from the state of Indiana.
Steel production is an industry that is vital to the well-being of our state.
I cannot put it more simply than that. The fate of the domestic steel industry is a critical issue for my constituents. In this regard, from Fort Wayne to Gary to Indianapolis, the steel workers in my state know all too well how the global steel industry operates when it comes to steel imports. When the trade remedies are put in place, the foreign producers back off, but only until another opportunity to flood the market arises. This has been the nature of the global steel industry for decades.