[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 100 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 100

  Recognizing the 100th anniversary year of the founding of the Ford 
    Motor Company, which has been a significant part of the social, 
 economic, and cultural heritage of the United States and many nations 
      and a revolutionary industrial and global institution, and 
      congratulating the Ford Motor Company for its achievements.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 2004

  Mr. McCotter (for himself and Mr. Dingell) introduced the following 
  joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the 100th anniversary year of the founding of the Ford 
    Motor Company, which has been a significant part of the social, 
 economic, and cultural heritage of the United States and many nations 
      and a revolutionary industrial and global institution, and 
      congratulating the Ford Motor Company for its achievements.

Whereas on June 16, 1903, then 39 year old Henry Ford and 11 associates, armed 
        with little cash, some tools, a few blueprints, and unbounded faith, 
        submitted incorporation papers to Michigan's capital, Lansing, launching 
        the Ford Motor Company;
Whereas the Ford Motor Company began operations in a leased, small converted 
        wagon factory on a spur of the Michigan Central Railroad in Detroit;
Whereas the first commercial automobile to emerge from the Ford Motor Company in 
        1903 was the original 8-horsepower, 2-cylinder Model A vehicle with a 2-
        speed transmission, 28 inch wheels with wooden spokes, and 3 inch tires;
Whereas between 1903 and 1908, Henry Ford and his engineers went through 19 
        letters of the alphabet, creating Models A through S, with some of these 
        cars being experimental models only and not available to the public;
Whereas on October 1, 1908, the Ford Motor Company introduced its ``universal 
        car'', the Model T (sometimes affectionately called the ``Tin Lizzie''), 
        which could be reconfigured by buyers to move cattle, haul freight, herd 
        horses, and even mow lawns, and Ford produced 10,660 Model T vehicles 
        its first year, an industry record;
Whereas the Ford Motor Company inaugurated the first automotive integrated 
        assembly line in 1913, changing the old manner of building one car at a 
        time through moving the work to the worker by having parts, components, 
        and assemblers stationed at different intervals, and beginning a new era 
        of industrial progress and growth;
Whereas Henry Ford surprised the world in 1914 by setting Ford's minimum wage at 
        $5.00 per an 8-hour day, which replaced the prior $2.34 wage for a 9-
        hour day and was a truly great social revolution for its time;
Whereas that same year, 1914, Henry Ford, with an eye to simplicity, efficiency, 
        and affordability, ordered that the Model T use black paint exclusively 
        because it dried faster than other colors, which meant more cars could 
        be built daily at a lower cost, and Ford said the vehicle will be 
        offered in ``any color so long as it is black'';
Whereas in 1925, the company built the first of 199 Ford Tri-Motor airplanes, 
        nicknamed the ``Tin Goose'' and the ``Model T of the Air'';
Whereas Ford's self-contained Rouge Manufacturing Complex on the Rouge River 
        encompassed diverse industries and suppliers that by 1927 allowed for 
        the complete production of vehicles, from raw materials processing to 
        final assembly, was an icon of the 20th century, and, with its current 
        revitalization and redevelopment, will remain an icon in the 21st 
        century;
Whereas consumer demand for more luxury and power pushed aside the then current 
        model, and on March 9, 1932, a Ford vehicle with the pioneering Ford V-8 
        engine block rolled off the production line;
Whereas while Ford offered only two brands through 1937 (Ford and Lincoln), due 
        to increased competition, the first Mercury was introduced in 1938, a 
        car with a distinctive streamlined body style, a V-8 engine with more 
        horsepower than a Ford, and hydraulic brakes, thus filling the void 
        between the low-priced Ford and the high priced Lincoln brands;
Whereas one of the largest labor unions in the Nation was formed as the United 
        Automobile Workers (UAW) in 1935, and after a rather tumultuous 
        beginning, won acceptance by the auto industry and became a potent and 
        forceful leader for auto workers, with Ford building a strong 
        relationship with the union through its policies and programs;
Whereas by government decree all civilian auto production in the United States 
        ceased on February 10, 1942, and Ford, under the control of the War 
        Production Board, produced an extensive array of tanks, B-24 aircraft, 
        armored cars, amphibious craft, gliders, and other materials for the 
        World War II war effort;
Whereas Ford dealers rallied to aid the Ford Motor Company in its postwar 
        comeback, proving their merit as the public's main point of contact with 
        the company;
Whereas on September 21, 1945, Henry Ford II assumed the presidency of Ford and 
        on April 7, 1947, Ford's founder, Henry Ford passed away;
Whereas a revitalized Ford met the postwar economic boom, with Ford's famed F-
        Series trucks making their debut in 1948 for commercial and personal 
        use, and the debut of the 1949 Ford sedan, with the first change in a 
        chassis since 1932, and the first integration of body and fenders, which 
        would set the standard for auto design in the future;
Whereas these new models were followed by such well-known cars as the Mercury 
        Turnpike Cruiser, the retractable hardtop convertible Ford Skyliner, the 
        high performing Thunderbird, introduced in 1955, the Ford Galaxie, 
        introduced in 1959, and the biggest success story of the 1960s, the Ford 
        Mustang, which has been a part of the American scene for almost 40 
        years;
Whereas in 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower christened the new Ford Research 
        and Engineering Center, which was a milestone in the company's 
        dedication to automotive science and which houses some of the most 
        modern facilities for automotive research;
Whereas Ford's innovation continued through the 1980s with the introduction of 
        the Ford Taurus, which was named the 1986 Motor Trend Car of the Year, 
        and which resulted in future aerodynamic design trends throughout the 
        industry;
Whereas this innovation continued through the 1990s with the debut in 1993 of 
        the Ford Mondeo, European Car of the Year, the redesigned 1994 Ford 
        Mustang, and the introduction in 1990 of the Ford Explorer, which 
        defined the sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment and remains the best 
        selling SUV in the world;
Whereas the company in its Centennial year opened its 21st century world-class, 
        state of the art, advanced manufacturing Dearborn Truck Plant at the 
        Rouge manufacturing complex, continuing the Rouge Heritage and 
        incorporating lean, green, flexible, and sustainable manufacturing 
        processes, while enhancing the environment;
Whereas Ford will produce and offer for sale the world's first fuel efficient, 
        no compromise, hybrid electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) this year, as 
        the company begins its next 100 years;
Whereas as Ford moves into the 21st century, the company continues its marvelous 
        record for fine products with the world's best-selling small car, the 
        Ford Focus, and the world's best-selling truck, the Ford F-Series;
Whereas the Ford Motor Company is the world's second largest automaker, and 
        includes Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, 
        Volvo, and Mazda automotive brands, as well as other diversified 
        subsidiaries in finance and other domestic and international business 
        areas; and
Whereas on October 30, 2001, William Clay Ford, Jr., the great-grandson of Henry 
        Ford, became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor 
        Company, and as such is concentrating on the fundamentals that have 
        powered the Ford Motor Company to greatness over the last century and 
        made it a world-class auto and truck manufacturer, and that will 
        continue to carry the company through the 21st century to develop even 
        better products and innovations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress, on behalf of 
the American people--
            (1) recognizes--
                    (A) the 100th anniversary year of the founding of 
                the Ford Motor Company, which has been a significant 
                part of the social, economic, and cultural heritage of 
                the United States and many other nations and a 
                revolutionary industrial and global institution; and
                    (B) the truly wondrous achievements of the Ford 
                Motor Company, as its employees, retirees, 
                shareholders, suppliers, dealers, its many customers, 
                automotive enthusiasts, and friends worldwide, 
                commemorate and celebrate its 100th anniversary 
                milestone year;
            (2) congratulates the Ford Motor Company for its 
        achievements; and
            (3) expects that the Ford Motor Company will continue to 
        have an even greater impact in the 21st century and beyond in 
        providing innovative products that are affordable and 
        environmentally sustainable, and that will enhance personal 
        mobility for generations to come.
                                 <all>