Sen. Sherrod Brown speaks in Warren in advance of president’s visit

Staff report

WARREN

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown spoke at Wheatland Tube on Dietz Road about American steel and trade policies in advance of President Donald Trump’s visit today to the Mahoning Valley.

Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, wants American steel and iron used to rebuild American infrastructure.

Brown told reporters Monday, “It doesn’t make sense to taxpayers that we use steel from other countries for our own infrastructure.”

Brown has introduced legislation, supported by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican from near Cincinnati, that would apply Buy America rules to all federally funded infrastructure projects.

“It’s pretty simple: American tax dollars should go toward American-made products that support American jobs. Period,” Brown said.

Also attending was Tim Feeney, general manager of operations for Wheatland Tube, who praised Brown for being “a big supporter of our industry.”

In April, Trump signed the Buy American, Hire American executive order, which, in part, works to ensure that the entire steelmaking process must take place in America to be considered “Buy American,” Brown said.

Currently, the president’s executive order requires federal agencies only to disclose which projects are complying with Buy America rules and which are not.

Brown wants the president to go a step further by implementing Brown’s bill to require Buy America for all projects.

“I came here today because I want to remind [President Trump] of his Buy American commitments,” Brown said.

When asked why he thinks the president is coming to Youngstown today, Brown said, “Trump did well in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and I think he wants to capitalize on that.”