Senator Charles Schumer is calling on the federal government to restore a requirement that all military steel be made from start to finish in the United States.
Now that the Iraq war is over, and there are more U-S steel manufactures to meet the military's demand, Schumer says the Department of Defense can restore the law that ended in 2009. He says all of military steel should be made in the U-S to help create local jobs.
For instance Klein Steel is positioning its new Buffalo Company to produce military vehicles and equipment beginning this April.
"All of those plans could be hindered if foreign steel be melted abroad is permitted to seep into our markets to undercut our ability to find other producers to compete and grow," Schumer said. “This is not hard to understand why this is a grave danger to companies like Klein here in Rochester, and the hundreds of jobs it provides while also posing a threat to our national security."
The head of Klein Steel, General John Batiste, says if the rule is re-instated the company could create up to 25 positions between its Buffalo and Rochester locations.
Klein currently employs 150 people in Rochester.