PA House Steel Caucus meets to discuss importance of state’s steel industry
Legislators come together at Mon Valley Works to review recent study’s findings on the impact of steel manufacturing on the state economy
Rep. Frank Burns May 12, 2023 | 2:39 PM
WEST MIFFLIN, May 12 – On Thursday, May 11, state Reps. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, and Natalie Mihalek, R-Allegheny, – co-chairs of the Pennsylvania House Steel Caucus – held a caucus meeting at U. S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works, Irvin Plant, to discuss relevant public policy issues and the findings of a new study measuring the economic impact of the steel industry in Pennsylvania.
During this event, the Steel Caucus reviewed findings from a study conducted by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development related to the steel industry in Pennsylvania, which analyzed the economic impact to the Commonwealth. The study revealed that the steel industry adds approximately $20 billion of total value to the Pennsylvania economy and approximately $100 billion in economic output across the state.
“Through the years technologies change, but one thing that remains constant is our country's need for steel,” Mihalek said. “Growing up in the Mon Valley community and later serving in our nation’s military, I know firsthand the importance of American steel to our state’s economy and for the country’s national security. I am pleased to co-chair the House Steel Caucus meeting today and highlight the importance of Pennsylvania steel manufacturing.”
The House Steel Caucus is a bipartisan group of Pennsylvania state legislators that support efforts to protect and advance the state’s steel industry and preserve the jobs and economic growth spurred by “Made in America” manufacturing.
“We are very proud that the steel industry provides so many family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania. According to the study, the steel industry supports approximately 300,000 primary and secondary jobs,” said Bernie Hall, co-chair of the PA Steel Alliance. “We are proud to represent many of these workers and we sincerely appreciate the members of the House Steel Caucus for caring about the industry, our workers and the issues important to us.”
In addition to supporting 300,000 jobs overall, the study found that there are approximately 108,000 Pennsylvanians employed directly within primary and secondary metals manufacturing facilities.
“U. S. Steel started here in Pennsylvania more than 120 years ago and, as the study found, we and the industry at large remain essential to the state’s economy,” said Chris Masciantonio, government affairs director for U. S. Steel, and co-chair of the PA Steel Alliance. “We thank the House Steel Caucus for visiting the Mon Valley Works, Irvin Plant, to highlight these findings.”
“Manufacturing steel domestically guarantees not only that steel is produced with ample regulatory oversight, but also produces an incredible economic multiplier in the process, and helps improve our safety and security,” Burns said. “It was great to meet with both labor and management from the steel industry today to learn more about the positive impact the industry is having in the Commonwealth.”
In addition to the Irvin Plant where the event took place, U. S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works includes three other Pennsylvania-based facilities: the Clairton Plant and the Edgar Thomson Plant in Pittsburgh, and the Fairless Plant in Bucks County.