IUN hosts summit on crisis in American steel industry

Visclosky, Kernan lead national, state panels

The briefing paper also reported that the industry was operating at less than 65 percent of its capacity by the end of last year, the lowest operating level in more than 14 years.

To further the ongoing dialogue on how to tackle the crisis that continues to plague the domestic steel industry, U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky and the IU Northwest School of Business and Economics recently teamed up for an “American Steel Industry in Crisis Summit” in the campus’ Savannah Center Auditorium.

Visclosky is vice chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, and along with U.S. Rep. Jack Quinn of New York, introduced the Steel Revitalization Act of 2001 (HR 808). The legislation is designed to prevent the steel industry in the United States from being crushed between an unprecedented wave of imports and rock bottom steel prices resulting from both the dumping of illegally priced foreign steel and sharply reduced demand in a softening economy.

"Illegally traded steel has created nothing short of an emergency situation for the domestic steel industry and communities that it supports nationwide, including northwest Indiana. Our distinguished panel of guests presented a well-rounded perspective on the steel crisis and what it means to families throughout the nation," said Visclosky.

A standing-room-only crowd packed the auditorium to listen to two panels of national and local business and steel industry leaders led by Visclosky and Indiana Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan. The first panel, “The National Dilemma,” was moderated by Visclosky and included Leo Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers of America; Gary Lynch, IU Northwest professor of economics; and Andy Sharkey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute.

The second panel addressed the steel crisis’ “Threat to Hoosier Communities,” with Kernan facilitating. It included David Bochnowski, president and CEO of Peoples Bank; Stephen Hewlett, superintendent of the Duneland School Corporation; Beth Kaminiski, president and CEO of Ancilla Health Systems, Inc.; Jack Parton, director of the USWA District 7; and Joe Turner, president of Primary Energy: A NiSource Subsidiary.

A graduate of IU Northwest, Visclosky says he was thrilled to partner with the university in hosting the summit. Randy Jacobs, IU Northwest’s School of Business and Economics executive dean, agreed that the partnership was an excellent opportunity to provide a forum for the community on a “very critical issue.”

http://www.indiana.edu/campus/iu-northwest.html