Sewell celebrates addition of jobs at U.S. Steel plant near Birmingham

Published 3:03 pm Tuesday, February 12, 2019

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-AL, released a statement celebrating the announcement that U.S. Steel would restart construction of an electric arc furnace steelmaking plant at its Fairfield Works facility in Jefferson County.

“My top priority in Congress has always been to promote good, high-paying jobs [in] Alabama’s 7th District,” Sewell said. “Since U.S. Steel’s Fairfield plant downsized in 2015, I have worked closely with U.S. Steel and the Fairfield community to get our steelworkers back to work.”

Sewell noted that she is a “strong supporter of American-made steel” and is “thrilled” that the plant will add up to 150 full-time positions.

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U.S. Steel, a Pittsburgh-based company, said in a statement that it was President Donald Trump’s “strong trade actions” that played a part in its decision to resume construction efforts at the Alabama plant, according to an Associated Press article.

The article stated that the furnace is slated to begin producing next year.

“Manufacturing facilities like Fairfield Works are economic pillars in our community,” Sewell said. “While this expansion is a move in the right direction, Congress must do more to create jobs and strengthen manufacturing in states like Alabama. I look forward to continue working with steelworkers and U.S. Steel to promote growth and economic opportunity in Alabama’s 7th District and across our state.”