Mike Lee Visits Local Utah Businesses

Press Release

Nucor Company visit caps week of stops including Kennecott and Utah American Energy

Finishing out a week of hard-hat visits to Utah businesses like Kennecott and Utah American Energy, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Mike Lee, spent much of the day listening to Nucor Corporation's executives and touring their Plymouth facility. Nucor is the largest and most efficient steel producer in the United States with more than $11 billion in annual sales in 2009 and is the nation's largest recycler, keeping more than 13.4 million tons of scrap metal from cars, appliances and other discarded products out of landfills. Nucor employs over 20,000 employees, which they refer to as teammates, nationwide, including over 1,200 right in Utah.

Commenting on the visit Mike Lee stated, "Nucor is an extraordinary example of what can happen when American entrepreneurs are in control and government regulation doesn't become a burden to business." Lee was impressed by Nucor's commitment to their people and education, which allows every team member and their dependents the right to receive a $3,000-per-year scholarship for college or vocational school.

Lee further commented, "Nucor's commitment to its teammates is unrivalled in the steel industry, and practically unheard of in all of American business. While competitors are shutting down or laying off significant portions of their workforce in times of economic distress, Nucor has rigorously abided by its self-imposed no-layoff practice which goes all the way back to 1966." Then concluded, "No government mandate, regulation or policy can produce the product quality, environmental responsibility and corporate culture Nucor has established and maintained."

Listening to Nucor executives and managers concerns Lee agreed that under current "cap and tax" proposals energy costs would skyrocket, costs to energy intensive manufacturers would greatly increase and U.S. global competitiveness would be greatly hindered. He also agreed that environmental and energy policies cannot pick winners and losers in the marketplace.

At the conclusion of the tour and meetings Mike Lee summarized his experience as follows, "It is great to see a U.S. and Utah based company doing things right. We need more Nucor-type companies to get the country working, building and growing again. It also reinforces my belief that government cannot create jobs or wealth and that we need to get Washington out of the way of the great American companies who hold the keys to turning around our economy."

Kennecott is a key player in the state has an important role with developing green energy. They are one of the safest and most efficient companies in the industry. Utah American Energy's Lila Canyon Mine is also an important employer and energy producer representing another key component to a positive, forward moving and comprehensive energy policy. Lee met with employees and executives of both companies, discussed federal regulation issues and how to move the country toward energy independence. Lee spoke to three shifts of miners at midnight and 7:00 am listening to issues, sharing concerns and complimenting them on being the epitome of hard-working Utahns and Americans.

Summarizing his visits with Nucor, Kennecott and Utah American Energy Lee stated, "Each of these companies has an important strategic role in Utah and in the country, ranging from energy independence to U.S. manufacturing." Concluding, "Helping these companies create an environment for growth and success is mission critical to our state and nation."

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