U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he expects the proposed 15-billion-dollar steel mill in Lee County to become a reality. During his weekly Capitol Hill Report, Grassley said the project makes sense because Mesabi Metallics is developing an iron ore mine in Minnesota and needs a location to process the ore. The project is expected to create about 1,700 permanent jobs and 6,000 construction jobs.
Grassley also discussed high diesel prices and their impact on farmers and truckers. He said increased oil moving out of the Middle East could eventually help bring prices down. Grassley has separately called for restrictions on U.S. diesel exports as prices have climbed, while the Trump administration is considering several measures to increase domestic fuel supplies.
Grassley said there are no specific federal tax breaks or other congressional incentives currently being considered for the steel project. He also addressed comments about his own political future, saying his recent remarks about not wanting Gov. Rob Sand to appoint his replacement were meant to emphasize the importance of Iowa Republicans voting in November, rather than announcing that he would not seek another Senate term.
