Nucor Steel employs about 300 people in Auburn, New York. Company officials asked for Rep. Dan Maffei's support of infrastructure projects that use American steel, when he paid a visit recently.
Among other things, a four percent fall in average steel prices stalled profits for Nucor last quarter. During a visit to a Nucor steel mill in Auburn, Democrat Dan Maffei voiced support for the American steel industry.
“I do think that certain kinds of projects are so stimulative that we have to make room for them, because they're so stimulative, because they do use steel, they do employ construction workers immediately," said the Syracuse-area congressman.
It's public projects like these that companies like Nucor rely on. Sales manager Dave Olmsted says the company currently has their eye on the Tappen Zee bridge project.
“It's very important that that project stays in the United States, it keeps our people working. We need these projects to stay in this country,” he said.
Olmstead says federal cuts to defense spending won't affect Nucor's production in Auburn. The facility produces reinforcement steel, often used in housing and larger infrastructure projects like roads and bridges.