Alaska Grown vs Made In China
The past two budgets have included $84 million for a bridge…to somewhere in Alaska. Senators Wielechowski and French have written a letter to the Alaska Railroad with some concerns.
ANCHORAGE- Today, Senators Bill Wielechowski and Hollis French are calling on Alaska Railroad officials to ensure steel products made only in America are used to build a bridge over the Tanana River near Salcha. The Senators say numerous constituents have recently contacted them, concerned that the Alaska Railroad Corporation is considering using foreign steel on the massive project.
“Alaskan funds should be used for Alaskan and American jobs and goods,” said Senator Wielechowski, D-Anchorage. “This is one of the reasons the U.S. is having a jobless recovery. We are shipping good-paying jobs overseas.”
Reports have also called the quality of foreign steel into question. “There is no question that high quality, reasonably priced steel can be purchased domestically,” said Senator French, D-Anchorage. “In a challenging environment like the Tanana River area, it is critical to have the best quality product we can get.”
Over the past two years, Alaskan lawmakers approved $84 million towards building the Tanana River Bridge, with the federal government adding another $104 million. The bridge project, which is a major milestone in extending the railroad line to Delta Junction, will not only give the military better access to training ranges for U.S. troops, but will also promote economic development in Alaska.
“I am a staunch supporter of investing in America and our workforce, particularly when public funds are being used,”said Senator Wielechowski. “I urge the Railroad to do all it can to ensure that the 7,500 tons of steel needed are purchased in America, creating jobs and supporting our domestic economy.”
There are multiple reasons for concern including inferior products being used on such an important project, jobs and labor practices. From Kiplinger:
Steel imports from China that fall apart easily are making U.S. manufacturers and constructions firms more than a little nervous. Reports of failures during initial fabrication and questions about certification documents will mean closer scrutiny. The American and Canadian institutes of steel construction have already advised member companies to be vigilant and report any problems.
The biggest concern is hollow structural sections widely used in construction of skyscrapers, bridges, pipelines, office, commercial and school buildings. This high-strength steel is also commonly used in power lifts, cranes, farm equipment, furniture and car trailer hitches.
Yikes.
Jobs. Paying people in another country at 2% of the labor costs, doesn’t help Alaskans pay their power bills.
Are they just buying the bridge at Walmart?
The reason Chinese construction products are inferior is they don’t hire Union workers… When you bypass the Unions, the Republicans get elected and the money flows to the private business owners instead of to the Unions who help get our Democratic Party members elected….
The reason Chinese construction products are inferior is they don’t hire Union workers… When you bypass the Unions, the Republicans get elected and the money flows to the private business owners instead of to the Unions who help get our Democratic Party members elected…
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/business/global/26bridge.html?_r=2&hp
San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge – made in China!
I know I”m preachin’ to the choir here…but the reason all of these manufacturing jobs have gone overseas and ARE NOT coming back is the big, pink elephant in the room that nobody wants to mention: health care. These jobs have gone to countries where companies don’t have to pay health care insurance company profits to provide coverage for employees. These countries have taxpayer funded healthcare, so the company can put those “profits” into their own bottom line. Until we Americans are willing to stand up and start shouting this to the politicians and they are ready to take on this ‘sacred cow’ we will continue to lose jobs.
It’s all about profit, no question. HOW can all of us regular, everyday folk, RESPOND to that and CHANGE the answer?
Please, Alaskans, make this issue your own. In fact, go farther and insist that ALL major infrastructure projects be made with American materials and labor.
I need a teakettle, and am holding out till I can find one made in the US (yes, I’m using an old pot to heat water for tea). The plastic whistle/cap on the spout (which never whistled anyway) melted when the roomie left the old kettle on the stove (no blame, roommate is usually very careful; everyone makes mistakes). eBay turned up nothing I wanted (thus far); next I’ll visit thrift shops.
The closest thing you will probably find made in the US is a Chantal brand, parts are made in Germany and assemble in the US. Check with Williams-Sanoma.
Thanks.
Why was it OK then to contract with Canada to build the pipeline? Ya know the one that makes palin the energy expert?
Don’t Americans build pipelines?
907-265-2498 is the corporate affairs number for the Railroad. Call them and tell them to buy American steel, hire Alaskans and Americans FIRST.
The irony here is that the well publicized problems with some Chinese products stem in large part from the free market aspect of their economy. (This is not to say that they have a free economy, but that part of their system operates with less oversight than ours.) In China, US companies will sometimes order products from very respectable-appearing corporate partners located in major Chinese cities. The problem comes from the fact that many of these sellers are actually simply brokers for individual factories, which produce materials completely free of any regulation or oversight – Sarah Palin’s dream economy. The actual seller has no direct contact or accountability to the US customer. Unless you are familiar with the entire chain of production, the possibility of you receiving something less than what you bargained for is very high.
China is making huge inroads in the fenestration industry with their glass. Himself refuses to use it, as it has a high flaw weight. He only buys American glass, and he visits the glass making plants often to make sure the places are still on top of things.
China just does not do well with most things made for the construction industry.
Remember the Chinese drywall used to repair hurricane-damaged homes, the drywall that turned out to be full of sulfur that reacted to cause the homes to be flooded with sulphuric acid fumes, corroding electrical systems, pipes, lungs…. ??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Chinese_drywall_controversy
Or the infant formula adulterated with melamine…
Sometimes regulations regarding product quality and safety _do_ serve a purpose, eh, free market libertarians?