Rep. Nolan Named “Steel Champion” By American Iron and Steel Group

HIBBING, MN – Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today jointly announced that U.S. Representative Rick Nolan (D-MN) was honored with the “2016 Congressional Steel Champion Award” from AISI. The award recognizes Rep. Nolan for his dedication to and support of the American steel industry and its employees. Lourenco Goncalves, Cliffs’ Chairman, President and CEO, and Thomas J. Gibson, AISI President and CEO, presented the award at a gathering of Cliffs’ employees at Hibbing Taconite mine in Hibbing, MN. “What an honor to receive this Steel Champion award from the American Iron and Steel Institute,” Nolan said. “We’ve been fighting hard in Washington to support and protect Minnesota’s workers in the iron ore and steel industries. The progress we’ve made is due to numerous appeals to the White House, the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission to bring the hammer down on illegal steel imports that devastated the Iron Range economy. Thanks to cripplingly high new tariffs and taxes, Range iron ore prices are up, steel imports are down, and the glut of foreign steel is disappearing. America’s steel industry – the foundation of our economic and military security – is on the rebound.” In presenting the award, Goncalves said, “Congressman Nolan was instrumental in focusing the attention of the White House on the steel import crisis. Over the past two years, the American steel industry has been under attack from record levels of illegally dumped steel imports, resulting in hardships for the companies and workers of the iron ore and steel sectors. In recognition of these challenges, Congressman Nolan has fought for aggressive enforcement of our trade laws to combat these illegal imports in order to protect mining jobs on the Iron Range and to preserve our all-important domestic steel industry. Rick Nolan has used his political stature to bring White House officials to the Iron Range to see first-hand the devastation caused by illegal steel dumping. We are grateful for the Congressman’s leadership on this, and so many other issues. This award today is much-deserved, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Congressman Nolan and Minnesota’s congressional delegation.” SOURCE: New Steel