Ohio Politicians Lobby Commerce Secretary To Visit Closing Steel Plant

LORAIN, OH - Three Ohio politicians are lobbying US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to make a trip to Lorain to meet with US Steel workers and see the impact the closing of a portion of the company's tubular operations plant will have on the surrounding community.

Senators Sherrod Brown (Democrat) and Rob Portman (Republican), along with Representative Marcy Kaptur, sent the letter to Ross on March 27, imploring him to visit the Northeast Ohio town. The group said unfair trade practices have contributed to layoffs and plant closures throughout the US and in Lorain.

Lorain has long been a steel town. US Steel and Republic Steel are two of the largest employers in Lorain County, with 923 employees between them, according to the Lorain County Auditor. The letter from the congresspeople says since 2015, more than 1,000 steelworkers have been laid off in Lorain alone. Nationwide, there were 14,000 steelworkers laid off between Jan. 2015 and Dec. 2016.

“If unfair trade practices by China and other trading partners are left unaddressed, more steelworkers will be laid off and more steel mills will be closed,” the lawmakers said in their letter. “We were pleased to hear President Trump highlight the importance of the steel sector on the campaign trail, and we know you have extensive experience in the sector as well. We hope you will work with us to schedule a visit to Lorain in the near future so you can discuss with these workers and their families the Administration’s plan to restore strength to the sector by creating a level playing field for U.S. steel producers.”

The congresspeople say that Ross has committed to coming to Lorain in private meetings with both Brown and Kaptur.

The closure of the plant also brought out State Representative Dan Ramos, Democrat from Lorain. Rather than lobby Ross for a visit, Ramos went straight to the leader of the executive branch.

"If President Trump wants to put “America First”, he can start here. I want him to understand this is not just an economic issue, but a national security issue as well. Our community needs leadership from the White House and Congressional leaders, and we haven’t gotten it," Ramos said following the plant's closure was announced in early March.

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