CAMANCHE —
Congressman Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, on Monday stopped at the TMK IPSCO steel plant in Camanche to tour the facility and talk with employees.
TMK IPSCO operates 11 facilities and employs more than 2,500 people in the U.S.
The Camanche plant produces welded pipe for the oil and gas industries and operates with 238 employees.
According to Loebsack, who is a member of the Congressional Steel Caucus, TMK IPSCO is one of a number of steel plants in his district.
“This plant is a part of something larger. It’s about trying to make things in America,” Loebsack said. “This plant is a success story and we’re trying to make more success stories.”
Loebsack said Monday’s visit was also about hearing what concerns employees of the plants had, including finding skilled workers and addressing the problems caused by alleged illegal practices common in the Chinese steel industry.
According to a letter to President Barack Obama signed by the Congressional Steel Caucus, including Loebsack, China is allegedly devaluing its currency by up to 40 percent, costing the U.S. more than 2.5 million manufacturing jobs and a trade deficit of as much as $283 billion.
The letter also stated American-made steel creates approximately 1.2 million jobs and adds $350 billion to the U.S. economy.
Before and after the tour Loebsack briefly met with a few employees including Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Scott Barnes.
Barnes called the visit a big success.
“Anytime we can visit with our elected officials and educate them on how they can assist us is worthwhile,” Barnes said. “We appreciate him making time in his schedule for us.”
Loebsack has been no stranger to the area since it was added to Iowa’s Second Congressional District as a result of redistricting. He visited Clinton a little more than two weeks ago to present a grant to help homeless veterans find jobs. Loebsack is the district incumbent and will vie for his fourth term in office against newcomer John Archer, a Republican, in the general election. Loebsack currently is leading the campaign cash race against Archer. Campaign finance reports from the Federal Election Commission show Loebsack with $801,188 in on-hand cash at the end of June while Archer had $63,557.
Camanche
Related Photos
-
Congressman Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, (left) looks at a map of the TMK IPSCO plant on Monday in the company's Camanche facility with TMK IPSCO Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Scott Barnes. Katie Dahlstrom/Clinton Herald
Discussion
July 17, 2012
Loebsack: IPSCO is American success story
Congressman talks about Chinese steel industry practices, finding skilled workers
- Camanche
-
-
Striding for awareness
CAMANCHE -- Organizers for the third annual Strides for Clinton County Autism Family Walk and 5K run agreed that Saturday's turnout was better than last year. "It's getting bigger every year," Lori Bigwood, one of the organizers for the event, said.
-
Camanche boys, Northeast girls win track titles
Camanche and Northeast both enjoyed good days on the track in boys and girls competition at state-qualifying meets, with the Camanche boys winning the title and Northeast's girls tying for top honors.
- Camanche man sentenced in kidnapping case CLINTON -- A Camanche man will serve as much as 20 years in prison for holding his wife at knifepoint on July 7, 2012. In April, Arthur Walker, 52, 4102 Ninth St., Camanche, pleaded guilty to third-degree kidnapping, third-degree sexual abuse and wil
-
Camanche City Hall in need of improvement
CAMANCHE -- Members of the Camanche community and city council have begun looking into what should be done with the current city hall.
- Committee will look at new city hall CAMANCHE -- A committee will be formed to look into a new Camanche City Hall location. The Camanche City Council met Wednesday for a work session on what to do about the state of the current city hall. The council agreed to form a committee with memb
-
New road to be fixed
CAMANCHE -- Determann Asphalt Paving L.L.C could be seen along Washington Boulevard on Thursday, grinding spots in the new road. The Camanche City Council agreed Wednesday that fixing the bumps and dips in the road was more important than how it look
- Firefighters respond to business in Camanche CAMANCHE -- Camanche firefighters responded to a blaze Monday at a Camanche business. The Camanche Fire Department arrived at 11:56 a.m. Monday to Economy Coatings, 416 21st St., in response to a dust collector on fire. Upon arrival, firefighters fo
- City council denies request for suicide prevention event CAMANCHE -- The city of Camanche will not make a financial donation to an upcoming walk to prevent suicide. Camanche City Administrator Tom Roth brought a request from Nikki Carber from Speak Out Against Suicide to the council Tuesday night. In a let
-
Camanche woman wins awards for pool play
CAMANCHE -- It's not that Janey Finn hasn't been a good pool player since picking up a stick in 1977. The Scottish-born Camanche resident is known around the area and the state for being a markswoman on the pool table. But these past few weeks of suc
-
Herald's Visitor and Newcomer Guide available for pickup
The Clinton Herald's 2013 Visitor and Newcomer Guide has arrived.
- More Camanche Headlines
-
