Representative Beck leads Indiana House in promoting the use of American steel

INDIANAPOLIS – Representative Lisa Beck (D-Lakes of Four Seasons) today led Indiana House members in urging the use of American steel on all projects built with taxpayer dollars.

Indiana House members passed a resolution authored by Beck that encourages public agencies to use American steel for all public works projects. More than 100 steelworkers, District 7 Director Mike Millsap, United Steelworkers local steel producing presidents, and a group from Next Generation from across the state joined Beck today to support her efforts.

“Indiana produces more than 25 percent of America’s steel, ranking first in the country,” Beck said. “More than 20,000 Hoosiers are employed by the steel industry, so it is important for us to do whatever we can to promote an industry that means so much to Indiana.”

She noted that a strong domestic steel industry is essential to the American economy and to national security because of its use in construction, manufacturing, transportation, and consumer products in the U.S. and around the world. Not only is steel valued for its strength, but it is also considered the most recycled material in the world, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and the Steel Recycling Institute.

“As lawmakers, we must do what we can to encourage the use of Indiana steel in our state, and that is why I have authored this resolution,” Beck said. “Any kind of structure that is built with taxpayer dollars – be it a bridge, or a university library, or something to support state or local government – should use Indiana steel. That is how we support our state’s economy. For every steelworker job, 3 jobs are created in the local community.

“The steel production industry has provided many Hoosiers with good paying jobs and will continue to do so, with our support, for many years to come,” she concluded.