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MCDONALD, OH – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined leaders from McDonald Steel and United Steel Workers Local 1307 to discuss what the Buy America provisions he secured in the bipartisan infrastructure plan will mean for the company and for workers.

“With the bipartisan infrastructure plan, we are investing in the future of global steel production, right here in the Valley,” said Brown.  We fought to make sure this bill has the strongest Buy America rules ever passed. That’s going to mean more work for steel made in America, more work for USW workers here at McDonald Steel, and job creation up and down the supply chain.”

Brown first introduced his Build America Buy America legislation in 2017 and fought to include it in the recently passed bipartisan infrastructure plan which passed the House this month. The Buy America provisions will ensure American taxpayer dollars are used to purchase American-made products for all federally-funded infrastructure projects – closing loopholes and securing major investments in American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products.

Brown’s legislation will implement Buy America rules across the board with American workers and manufacturers first in line to benefit from infrastructure investments.

Brown toured the more than 100-year-old McDonald Steel facility, and was joined by Jim Grasso, president of McDonald Steel and Joe Foy, United Steelworkers Local 1307.

“Today, more than a century after the mill opened, McDonald Steel is uniquely positioned to thrive in the 21st Century thanks to the massive and long-overdue investment in the nation’s infrastructure championed by Senator Brown. The $110 billion in funding for roads, which includes $40 billion for bridge repair and construction along with the $66 billion dedicated to improving the nation’s railroads contained in the bill will create increased demand for the specialty shapes we produce—demand we are ready, willing, able, and eager to meet,” said Jim Grasso, President, McDonald Steel Corporation.

“Senator Brown, the members of Local 1307 and our brothers and sisters across the nation, thank you for visiting our plant today and for giving American steelworkers the opportunity to rebuild America. Your career-long fight on behalf of American workers is reflected in this historic infrastructure package and we congratulate you on this historic achievement,” said Joe Foy of the United Steelworkers Local 1307.

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