Aluminum Association honors Representatives Bucshon, DelBene at its annual meeting

The Aluminum Association honored U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-IN-8) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1) with its Legislator of the Year awards for 2017.

The members, who serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Aluminum Caucus, received the recognition during a Monday night reception in conjunction with the association’s annual meeting – “Aluminum Moves America.”

“It is an honor to receive The Aluminum Association’s Legislator of the Year award,” said Rep. DelBene.  “As someone who represents aluminum workers, I know how much these people and their families appreciate our efforts. I look forward to continuing to work together to protect good-paying, middle-class jobs in the U.S. aluminum industry.”

Rep. Buschon added: “The aluminum industry supports nearly 6,000 good-paying jobs in the Eighth District, and 45,000 jobs statewide. This industry is vital to Indiana's economy. In Congress, I will continue to advocate ardently for a robust marketplace for American aluminum.”

Michelle O’Neill, Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Sustainability at Alcoa Corporation, presented the Legislator of the Year awards. She was unanimously elected as Chair during the Association’s annual business meeting. She previously served as the association’s vice chair, starting in 2015. With the appointment, she becomes the first female chair of the association in its 84-year history.

Before joining Alcoa in 2012, O’Neill served as Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, beginning in 2005. In this position, she oversaw the daily operations of the International Trade Administration (ITA), whose mandate is to promote the competitiveness of U.S. businesses at home and abroad. She managed an annual budget of $500 million and led over 2,300 employees worldwide.

“The extensive experience that Michelle O’Neill gained in both the private and public sector will be very valuable for the Association as we continue to address the industry’s challenges and opportunities,” said Aluminum Association President & CEO Heidi Brock. “We are grateful for her leadership and service, and we know she will make a positive impact in our collaborative work.”

As part of the association’s annual meeting, dozens of aluminum industry leaders will be on Capitol Hill today, meeting with congressional offices to discuss key issues impacting the aluminum industry in the United States. Participants will highlight the growing demand for aluminum, including in the automotive market, while also discussing the impact of Chinese overcapacity. The domestic industry has committed or invested more than $2.3 billion in U.S. manufacturing over the past several years to meet record demand for automotive aluminum products.