Deluzio Statement on His Successful Push to Protect 1,100+ Steel Jobs in Western Pennsylvania
Deluzio Joined Energy Secretary Granholm at Butler Works to celebrate Energy Department rule that not only protects Western Pennsylvania steel jobs, but also shores up the domestic supply chain, strengthens grid reliability, cuts emissions, and delivers billions in energy savings
CARNEGIE, PA – Yesterday, Congressman Deluzio (D-PA-17) joined United States Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), union leaders, and local officials to celebrate a final department rule on Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES) production that protects more than 1,100 local United Autoworker (UAW) jobs from threat of closure, supports our domestic transformer industry, and offers opportunities for the plant to expand.
Following Congressman Chris Deluzio’s (PA-17) visit with the Secretary of Energy and tour of Butler Works, the only plant that makes GOES in the country, Congressman Deluzio addressed the crowd of local officials, union workers, and industry leaders to celebrate this important win.
Below is an excerpt of his remarks, as prepared for delivery. Photos from Congressman Deluzio’s visit to and remarks at Butler Works are available here.
“For too long, politicians and corporate giants were drunk on the Wall Street ideology that chases the cheapest labor, the worst environmental rules—all to squeeze the maximum profit, no matter the costs to communities like ours.
“They didn’t bat an eye at shipping good jobs away if it meant a penny more in profit. Well, I’ve got good news for everyone in Western Pennsylvania who remembers those dark days or heard about them from older generations.
“That’s not how things are gonna go anymore. We’re fighting for our jobs and dignity, and we’re winning. And you see it right here, today. We’re standing up for Western PA workers, for industry, and for the union way of life.
“Once my team and I heard about the Department’s rule and its potential impact on this plant, its workers, and the supply chain, we jumped into action.
“I joined forces with my neighbor and congressional colleague Congressman Kelly to send a letter to the Department of Energy and to introduce a legislative alternative to the proposed rule. This was an important bipartisan collaboration, and I’m glad we were able to combine forces in this effort.
“And we had help in the Senate, from our Senators and others. And guess what?Energy Secretary Granholm and the Department heard us—they heard all of you—and they listened.
“Today, we celebrate that we have an Administration—a Secretary of Energy and a President of the United States—that respects us in Western PA.
“We celebrate that we have an Administration that took the time to do this right and turned around and partnered with us, Cleveland Cliffs, and UAW to create a final version of the rule that protects these jobs and shores up our grid to meet the energy needs of the future.
“But ultimately this new rule is so good for Grain Oriented Electrical Steel, that it’s going to create opportunities for expansion and growth in our region. That’s a huge deal.
“Add this result onto the President’s announcement last week in Pittsburgh calling for higher tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from China, and it’s clear that the Biden Administration is 100% committed to supercharging our domestic steel industry and defending the union way of life. That’s so important, especially for regions like ours.
“I’m all in on that work to keep good, union jobs in America, grow American businesses, strengthen our supply chains, and hold job-stealing trade cheaters accountable.”
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