HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Swartzmiller, Amores, Anderson, Angotti, Ashley, Azinger, Beach, Beane, Boggs, Border, Brown, Browning, Butcher, Campbell, Cann, Canterbury, Caputo, Carmichael, Coleman, Compton, Craig, DeLong, Dempsey, Douglas, Doyle, Ellem, Ennis, Evans, Fahey, Faircloth, Flanigan, Fleischauer, Fletcher, Fox, Fragale, Frederick, Givens, Hall, Harrison, Hatfield, Hrutkay, Hubbard, Keener, Kominar, Kuhn, Leach, Leggett, Louisos, Mahan, Manchin, Manuel, Marshall, Martin, Mathews, McGraw, Mezzatesta, Michael, Morgan, Overington, Paxton, Perdue, Perry, Pethtel, Pino, Poling, Proudfoot, Prunty, Riggs, Romine, Schadler, Shaver, Shelton, Smirl, J. Smith, L. Smith, Spencer, Stalnaker, Staton, Stemple, Stephens, Susman, R. Thompson, R. M. Thompson, Trump, Tucker, Varner, Walters, Warner, Webb, Webster, C. White, G. White, H. White, Williams, Wills, Wright and Yeager)


[Introduced February 1, 2002; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]


A RESOLUTION urging President Bush to act quickly on the recommendations of the United States International Trade Commission regarding the domestic steel industry.

Whereas, The steel industry remains vital to the economy and national security of the United States and provides family sustaining jobs as well as health care and pensions to thousands of West Virginia families; and
Whereas, West Virginia is home to Weirton Steel Corporation and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation, the seventh and eighth largest domestic integrated steel companies, respectively; and
Whereas, Since the steel industry crisis began in 1998, nearly 30 steel companies (approximately one half of all active steel companies in the United States) with over sixty thousand employees have filed for bankruptcy; steel and stock prices continue to plummet and illegal steel imports continue to be dumped on our shores threatening the future of the entire industry; and
Whereas, The domestic steel industry is prepared to work together in the spirit of cooperation with government leadership to build a strong and globally competitive steel industry; and
Whereas, It is of the utmost importance that action be taken quickly by the federal government to help the domestic steel industry recover; and such action provides relief from the industry?s legacy cost burden - primarily pension and retiree health-care costs thereby removing the most significant barrier to the necessary consolidation and rebuilding of the American steel industry; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That pursuant to serious injury findings by the International Trade Commission and its? recommendation for remedy, that the West Virginia Legislature urges President Bush to take swift action to implement a tariff rate of at least 40 percent, for four years, which will cover the full range of products where injury has been found by the International Trade Commission; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Legislature urges President Bush to address the important issue of legacy costs thereby providing the environment necessary for rebuilding for the long term a strong and globally competitive United States steel industry; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to President George Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, the West Virginia Congressional Delegation and Governor Bob Wise.