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


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                          May 21, 2003.
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, two-cylinder Model A vehicle with a 
        two 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 Ford's self-contained Rouge Manufacturing Complex on the Rouge River 
        encompassed diverse industries, including suppliers, that 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, 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 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, as the 21st century begins, Ford continues its marvelous record for 
        fine products with the best-selling car in the world, the Ford Focus, 
        and the best-selling truck in the world, 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, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the truly wondrous achievements of the Ford Motor 
        Company, as its employees, retirees, suppliers, dealers, its many 
        customers, automotive enthusiasts, and friends worldwide, commemorate 
        and celebrate its 100th anniversary milestone;
            (2) recognizes the great impact that Ford has had on the lives of 
        Americans and people of all nations; and
            (3) congratulates the Ford Motor Company for this achievement and 
        trusts that Ford 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.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.