Minnesota Session Laws - 1984, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1984 

                       RESOLUTION 20-S.F.No. 2164 
 A resolution memorializing Congress to enact H.R. 
5081, the Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1984. 
    WHEREAS, the American steel industry has engaged in 
extraordinary self-help efforts, including the commitment of 
billions of dollars to modernization and the reduction of 
employment costs; and 
    WHEREAS, the United States steel industry is being 
devastated by subsidized imports now accounting for over 20 
percent of the steel consumed in the United States; and 
    WHEREAS, over 200,000 steelworker jobs have been lost in 
the United States since 1977, about 5,000 jobs in Minnesota; and 
    WHEREAS, over 175 steel plants and facilities have been 
closed in the past five years; and 
    WHEREAS, during the last five years, the United States has 
lost 44 percent of its taxpaying steelworkers and 13,000,000 
tons of steel production capacity; and 
    WHEREAS, every major nation in the world, except the United 
States, subsidizes its steel industry and restricts steel 
imports; and 
    WHEREAS, steel imports into the United States are expanding 
at an ever-increasing rate; and 
    WHEREAS, the United States steel industry simply cannot 
compete with such unfair trade practices by other nations; and 
     WHEREAS, the United States steel industry provides 
stability, tax revenue, employment, and support to local 
communities throughout the nation; and 
     WHEREAS, the United States steel industry cannot survive 
without some relief from the influx of imports; and 
     WHEREAS, the implementation of H.R. 5081 would result in a 
gain of at least 1.3 billion dollars in government taxes as well 
as a 6.1 billion dollar favorable impact on gross national 
product, and the creation of 92,000 additional jobs; NOW, 
THEREFORE, 
     BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
that the Congress of the United States should promptly enact 
into law H.R. 5081, the Fair Trade in Steel Act of 1984, that 
will temporarily limit steel imports to not more than 15 percent 
of our domestic consumption in the United States and limit 
foreign iron ore imports to 25 percent of our nation's domestic 
consumption and provide the industry with the means to modernize 
and become fully competitive in the world market.  The monetary 
gain which results from the implementation of H.R. 5081 should 
be used primarily to modernize the steel industry. 
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
State of Minnesota is directed to transmit certified copies of 
this resolution to the President of the United States, the 
President and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker 
and Chief Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, 
and to each Senator and Representative from Minnesota. 
    Approved April 26, 1984