Why It Matters
The House passed the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes (PAIL) Act on Aug. 31, giving the Justice Department dedicated resources to prosecute trade crimes. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) is listed among the bill's supporters. AISI's third-quarter report lists funding for trade enforcement agencies in federal appropriations as one of seven issues it lobbied on.
Other disclosed issues include China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed heat protection standard, surface transportation reauthorization, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) particulate matter regulations, energy and climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and tax provisions including bonus depreciation and research and development (R&D) expensing.
By the Numbers
AISI's in-house third-quarter filing reports $150,000 in lobbying expenditures. That is down $10,000 from the $160,000 reported for the second quarter and up $20,000 from the $130,000 reported for the third quarter of 2025. Kelley Drye & Warren LLP also filed a third-quarter report for AISI, reporting $0. All reported lobbying expenditures for the quarter were in-house.
The filing names three lobbyists:
- Jeremy Hekhuis, senior vice president of public policy and general counsel, with prior Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee staff experience
- Brett Smith, senior director of government relations, with prior congressional staff experience as a legislative assistant to former Reps. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) and Bob Riley (R-AL)
- Kevin Dempsey, president and chief executive officer
Broader Context
Trade enforcement. The House passed the PAIL Act on Aug. 31, which authorizes $20 million for fiscal 2025 to give the Justice Department dedicated resources to prosecute trade crimes, according to the supplied legislative record. Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Josh Riley (D-NY) each cited support from AISI. Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO, said fully enforcing trade laws is critical to the steel industry. The bill awaits Senate action. Separately, Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), with Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) as co-introducer, introduced the STEEL Act in December 2025 to strengthen trade enforcement and allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection to initiate duty-evasion investigations on its own. AISI endorsed it.
BRI and surface transportation. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) introduced H.R. 9093, the BRIDGE Act, in June, addressing China's use of the Belt and Road Initiative. No Senate companion or further committee action has been identified in the supplied legislative record. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 8870, the BUILD America 250 Act, by a 62-2 vote by May 22, and the supplied legislative record identifies no Senate companion bill.
EPA PM2.5 standard. EPA finalized a revised annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter in February 2024, tightening the previous standard of 12 micrograms per cubic meter. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and allied associations challenged the rule in court, with NAM arguing that compliance costs could reach $1.8 billion and that the standard disadvantages U.S. manufacturers relative to limits of 25 in Europe and 35 in China. Supporters, including the American Lung Association and Earthjustice, backed the strengthened standard. The American Public Health Association cited EPA estimates of up to 4,500 premature deaths avoided and up to $46 billion in net health benefits in 2032.
OSHA heat rule and tax provisions. OSHA's informal hearing on its proposed heat injury and illness prevention rule concluded July 2, 2025. The proposal was not considered finalized as of the filing date. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act became law July 4, 2025, restoring 100% bonus depreciation and immediate domestic R&D expensing while changing IRA clean-energy tax credits, provisions relevant to several issues named in the filing.
The Bottom Line
The PAIL Act's next step is Senate consideration; the supplied legislative record shows no markup or floor vote scheduled. The BRIDGE Act and BUILD America 250 Act remain under consideration, with no Senate companion bills identified. The OSHA heat rule remains in the rulemaking process, with no finalization date on record. AISI's in-house lobbying team has remained stable, with no firm additions or departures across recent complete quarters.
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