Stuart Joins Steelworkers to Rally for Jobs, Promote Buy Illinois Initiatives

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – To highlight the nearly two-thirds of workers still out of work as a result of the idling of the US Steel Granite City Works mill in late 2015, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, joined local steelworkers to push for policies that promote the manufacture and purchase of Illinois-made steel to put unemployed steelworkers back to work.

“Over a thousand steelworkers are still out of work. These are folks who became highly trained in their field, worked hard and did everything right, and still find themselves unemployed,” said Stuart. “It is time that we support Illinois jobs and Illinois-made goods, which we can do by supporting legislation that ends unfair trade practices and makes buying products made in Illinois a priority.”

Stuart is sponsoring House Bill 137 and House Bill 138 to require prioritization of Illinois-made or American-made products in state purchasing. Residents can join Stuart’s fight to prioritize Illinois-made products by signing her online petition at bit.ly/RepStuart.

“We shouldn’t be buying cheap Chinese steel when we have the capacity to manufacture it here in our community. This rally sends a strong message that Illinois steelworkers are ready to get back to work,” Stuart added.