releases: http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mesabi-daily-news-top-state-officials-stress-urgency-for-obama-meeting-on
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mesabi-daily-news-top-state-officials-stress-urgency-for-obama-meeting-on | Mesabi Daily News: Top state officials stress urgency for Obama meeting on illegal imports | 2015-12-02 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Rick Nolan | N000127 | nolan.house.gov | legacy | ST. PAUL Minnesotas highest elected officials want a face-to-face meeting and soon with the president to impress on him the urgency of action for the devastation that is happening to the ore and steel industries. And they want Democratic President Barack Obama to implement similar actions taken by former Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush on illegal steel imports. Gov. Mark Dayton, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and state Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk of Cook will lobby hard for such a meeting with the president. We want to meet and press action with the administration, Dayton said in an informal news discussion with reporters following Bakks annual fundraiser in the Twin Cities for Iron Range food shelves on Monday. Dayton specifically cited steps taken by Bush in June 2001 under Section 201 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1979, which gave the president authority to impose temporary trade barriers, known as safeguards, to protect domestic industries that have been injured or threatened by increased imports. That made a difference, Dayton said of Bushs Section 201 action. Illegally subsidized steel imports have been noted for more than a year now as causing pain for ore and steel producers and forcing layoffs and plant closings, including on the Iron Range. Dayton said he is considering talking with other Midwest governors whose states are impacted by the illegal steel imports, and Sen. Klobuchar will be talking with her Michigan counterpart in the Senate on the issue. Dayton said Sen. Bakk said the countrys steel industry is near being tipped over the brink, and if that happens it could be virtually impossible to bring it back. There are currently only three of six taconite plants operating on the Range Minntac in Mountain Iron, ArcelorMittals facility north of Virginia, and Hibbing Taconite. In addition, Mesabi Nugget near Hoyt Lakes and Mineral Resources in Chisholm have been shuttered, perhaps for good, and Magnetation has closed a plant and filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Steelworkers with Cliffs Natural Resources and ArcelorMittal are working under expired contracts and no new negotiations have been scheduled. Several steel plants around the country have also been closed. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |