Washington, Dec 12, 2001 - This morning Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about the future of U.S. steel and the plight of thousands of steelworkers who have helped secure the defense of our nation. Below is his floor speech.

Today steelworkers from across the United States have come to Washington to ask our House to recognize their plight and the plight of U.S. steel.

Their march on Washington is timely and necessary because today the United States steel industry is faltering and in danger of collapse. Tens of thousands of men and women who helped to secure the defense of this country through their work in creating and making this product called steel are now in danger of losing their jobs and having their whole way of life destroyed.

It's time for this country to ask itself whether or not it is in our national interest and the interest of our national defense to maintain our steel industry. Or, shall we become dependent on foreign steel the same way we're dependent on foreign oil?

The House of Representatives will have an opportunity before it concludes its business to address the issues that hundreds of steelworkers across the country have come here to raise with members of Congress. We have an opportunity to give steelworkers some relief, to make it possible for steel loan guarantees to be more widely applicable, and to allow net operating losses to put cash into steel companies so they can keep going.

This Congress has an obligation to carry forth for the future of this country our ability to make steel.