U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) declared that a strong steel industry is an essential part of a healthy U.S. economy and pledged to continue fighting to strengthen it during a visit with USW members in New Jersey on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
Booker, who met with USW Local 8228 members and toured their workplaces at MRP Steel Fabricators and Harris Structural Steel in South Plainfield, N.J., said cracking down on unfair trade, promoting Buy American policies and curbing outsourcing are essential to the survival of American manufacturing.
“There is no simpler way to say it – manufacturing is important to America, to our economic well-being, and to New Jersey families and communities,” Booker said.
The senator, running for re-election this fall, recently sent letters to the U.S. International Trade Commission and U.S. Dept. of Commerce urging them to defend U.S. companies and workers against unfair trade practices and illegal dumping.
“There are more than 7,800 manufacturers in New Jersey and they support 242,400 jobs in the state,” Booker said. “That’s why I am doing what I can in Washington to level the playing field for U.S. steelmakers and their employees, which make up 6 percent of total employment in our state.”
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney, State Rep. Nancy Pinkin, and Mark Musho of Alliance for American Manufacturing joined Booker for the visit.
“Businesses right here in our own community, like MRP, are drivers of economic growth in this country, and we must ensure that we are opening new doors for them so that they can continue to innovate and create jobs here at home,” Pallone said. “But, in the face of China’s continual targeting of our manufacturing base, we must act quickly and enforce our laws in order to protect American steel. Given the chance, American workers can out-compete anyone.”
Workers at the facilities, which provided much of the materials used in construction of New York City’s $3.8 billion One World Trade Center project, have been vocal supporters of Buy American legislation on the local, state and federal levels and praised Booker for his leadership on the issue.
“Senator Cory Booker has been a true champion of working people – protecting good jobs by fighting for fair trade, promoting Buy American laws and pushing for modernization of our infrastructure,” said USW District 4 Director John Shinn.
The senator’s visit comes in the wake of a controversial decision by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to use imported steel in the Bayonne Bridge project, bypassing bids from MRP and Harris.
“Their decision is a slap in the face of every hard-working American who has poured their pride into rebuilding our economy,” said Local 8228 member Gregorio Leon. “New Jersey must put the workers who live here, pay taxes here, and are raising their families here first when making these decisions.”