Leaders Standing Up For Domestic Steel

A broad, bipartisan chorus has already spoken out against the proposed U.S. Steel/Nippon deal and in favor of workers and their communities. These include:

“It is important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers. I told our steel workers I have their backs, and I meant it. U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”

— PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

"I feel very strongly that U.S. Steel needs to remain a U.S. company, and that the people working there need to be American workers. It is my priority to keep the jobs in Pittsburgh, understanding again that the folks who are doing that work are doing hard work, good work. It is part of not only a tradition of American industry to do that work but it is part of what we need to invest in the future."

— VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS

"I will stop Japan from buying United States Steel. They shouldn't be allowed to buy it."

— FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

“Nippon’s conduct over the past nine months has only heightened USW’s concerns that Nippon will not commit to support steelmaking in the United States over the long term. U.S. Steel has not addressed these critical concerns.”

— SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (MA)

“Nippon and U.S. Steel have insulted American steelworkers by refusing to give them a seat at the table and raised grave concerns about their commitment to the future of the American steel industry.”

— SEN. SHERROD BROWN (OH)

“The United States’ marquee steel company should remain under American ownership. From initial reports, this deal appears to be a bad deal for Pennsylvania and for Pennsylvania workers. I’m concerned about what this means for the Steelworkers and the good union jobs that have supported Pennsylvania families for generations, for the long-term investment in the Commonwealth, and for American industrial leadership."

— SEN. BOB CASEY (PA)

“The acquisition of @U_S_Steel by a foreign company is wrong for workers and wrong for Pennsylvania. I’m gonna do everything I can to block it.” 

— SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (PA)

“This is a major blow to the American steel industry which has been instrumental in making us the superpower of the world and a direct threat to our national security.”

— SEN. JOE MANCHIN (WV)

“The United States used to lead the world in production of steel, but we have fallen behind. The sale of U.S. Steel to a foreign-based company only exacerbates that problem.”

— SEN. DICK DURBIN (IL)

“I want to make sure that if anything goes forward, it’s to the benefit of the workers and the benefit of this region. I think U.S. Steel has shown an utter disregard for this region in recent years.”

— PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO

“The union representing the U.S. Steel workforce, the United Steelworkers (USW), has raised significant concerns about Nippon’s planned acquisition of U.S. Steel, including a failure by both parties to consult USW in the process – which appears to be a violation of U.S. Steel’s partnership agreement with USW. The proposed acquisition of a major American steel producer by a foreign company also raises questions about the implications of this acquisition for U.S. national security and domestic steel production capabilities.”

— BIPARTISAN LETTER FROM THE CONGRESSIONAL LABOR CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS REPRESENTATIVES MARK POCAN, DONALD NORCROSS, DEBBIE DINGELL, STEVEN HORSFORD, MARCY KAPTUR, CHRIS DELUZIO AND EMILIA SYKES, AND 45 OF THEIR COLLEAGUES

“Our region knows all too well what it’s like to get screwed over, to see our hard work tossed aside and our good union jobs shipped overseas by corporate executives and Wall Street chasing cheap labor and fatter profits. Today’s announced sale to a foreign company feels like déjà vu all over again.”

— REP. CHRIS DELUZIO (PA)

“Now that we are poised for robust growth in the coming months and years from these actions, we must not allow foreign ownership of U.S. Steel to jeopardize the strength of our economy, our national security, and the livelihoods of steel-producing communities throughout our nation.”

— REP. FRANK J. MRVAN (IN)

“This sale would deliver a major blow to the American steel industry, which has been instrumental in building the United States into the superpower it is today.”

— REP. FRANK BURNS (PA)

“Once again, shareholders want to line their pockets while leaving union workers behind and harming domestic manufacturing. U.S. Steel should remain a U.S. company and should put @steelworkers and their families above their own greed.”

— REP. RASHIDA TLAIB (MI)

“We spent yesterday talking to community members + workers & we feel the same—blindsided & concerned by the sale of US Steel to Nippon. Labor must be centered in the process, yet workers weren’t even informed nor do they feel confident their hard-earned agreements will be honored.”

— REP. SUMMER LEE (PA)

“I am deeply concerned that Nippon’s acquisition of U.S. Steel could lead to the further decline of the U.S. steel and manufacturing sector.”

— REP. JOHN GARAMENDI (CA)

“The acquisition of U.S. Steel by a foreign owned company should never have occurred without the buy in and support of @steelworkers. Haven't we learned from the offshoring debacle with steel? Workers deserve a seat at the table.”

— REP. RO KHANNA (CA)

“This deal is a betrayal of these workers, and I join in their calls and with all of my elected colleagues in calling for regulators to scrutinize this sale in order to protect these family-sustaining jobs in Pittsburgh.”

— PITTSBURGH MAYOR ED GAINEY