U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, on Monday announced he is seeking legislation to require the U.S. Commerce Department to expand and permanently track certain imports of steel products.Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus Chairman, English offered the measure as the steel import monitoring program instituted as a part of the steel safeguard action nears expiration.The program expires March 20."I am announcing my bipartisan bill to expand and make permanent the vital steel import monitoring program and further guard against the kind of surge in steel imports that devastated our domestic industry and put many thousands out of work six years ago," English said."This program has been an indispensable tool for our steel producers and policymakers to better track the heavily distorted global steel sector and take appropriate action. We must not allow the steel import monitoring mechanism to expire."English's bill would expand and make permanent the steel import monitoring program that was established as part of the president's steel safeguard action.Citing the need for pest control along Pennsylvania's waterways, state Rep.

Frank LaGrotta, D-10th, last week applauded Gov. Ed Rendell for promising to restore nearly $4.4 million to the 2005-06 budget for the black fly spraying program.Rendell had proposed cutting funds for the program, and LaGrotta wrote Rendell a letter asking the funds be reinstated."As Democratic chairman of the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, I believe cutting the black fly program could have spelled economic disaster for parts of our state that depend on people being outdoors during the summer," said LaGrotta. "The people of my district have benefited from a lack of these pests for the past 16 years, and it would be simply unbearable to spend any time outdoors near waterways were it not for this program."Black flies bite people and animals, causing itching, redness and swelling. The state has taken steps to get rid of the pests through a spraying program since 1985.U.S. Sen.

Rick Santorum, R-Pa., chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Delaware County, last week introduced the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2005 in the Senate and House.The lawmakers said the bipartisan legislation improves the tax incentive for the installation of automatic fire suppression systems.This legislation provides a tax incentive to classify automatic fire sprinkler systems as five-year property for purposes of tax depreciation as opposed to the current 27.5 or 39-year period for installations in residential rental and non-residential real property.Most property owners are unable to upgrade fire counter measures in buildings built prior to safety codes due to the cost of retrofitting.Additionally, many state and local governments lack requirements to include automatic sprinklers."In 2004, 100 firefighters were killed, and over 3,900 civilians died in fire deaths in the United States. Proper installation and regular inspection of fire sprinklers can help keep Pennsylvanians safe where they live and work," said Santorum. "This act offers incentives for the voluntary installation and retrofitting of existing buildings with automated sprinkler systems."