From staff reports

U.

Monday, January 28, 2002

U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht visited Progress Casting Group, Inc. in Albert Lea last week to observe a difficult situation in which the foundry industry has been placed.

According to Gutknecht, there are less than 3,000 foundries remaining in the U.S., and 250,000 workers are employed. The number of businesses has decreased from 5,000 in 1970s, accompanied with massive layoffs, and Progress Casting is not an exception.

He pointed out that Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations on the emission of pollutants have been forcing the industry to move the factories overseas where there are fewer regulations.

Gutknecht is pushing legislation that he says would help foundries compete.

&uot;The manufacturing industry is the base of our economy,&uot; said Allen Pelvit, president of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. He said what the industry is asking is not a government subsidy, but an assistance for absorbing the higher labor cost compared other countries.