[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4399-H4402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING 100TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF FOUNDING OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. 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 other nations and a revolutionary industrial and global 
institution, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 100

       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 Ford 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 Ford 
     was the original 8-horsepower, two-cylinder Model A vehicle 
     in 1903, which was advertised as the ``Fordmobile'' and had a 
     two speed transmission, 28 inch wheels with wooden spokes, 
     and 3 inch tires;
       Whereas between 1903 and 1908, 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, Ford 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, while in the early days all automakers built one 
     car at a time, the idea of moving the work to the worker 
     became a reality when parts, components, and 140 assemblers 
     stationed at different intervals inaugurated the first moving 
     assembly line at Ford in 1913, and a new era of industrial 
     progress and growth began;
       Whereas Henry Ford surprised the world in 1914 in 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, upon its completion in 1925, Ford's self-contained 
     Rouge Complex on the Rouge River encompassed diverse 
     industries that allowed for the complete production of 
     vehicles, from raw materials processing to final assembly, 
     and 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 196 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 Model A, and on March 9, 1932, the Ford car, with 
     the pioneering Ford single V-8 engine block, rolled off the 
     production line;

[[Page H4400]]

       Whereas, while Ford offered only two models through 1937 
     (Ford and Lincoln), due to increased competition, the first 
     Mercury was introduced in 1938, 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;
       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 in the 
     late 1930s 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 bombers, tanks, armored cars, amphibious 
     craft, gliders, and other materials for the World War II war 
     effort;
       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 Ford body since 1922, 
     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 Ford Sunliner 
     Convertible, the high performing Thunderbird, introduced in 
     1955, the Ford Galaxy, introduced in 1959, and the biggest 
     success story of the 1960s, the Mustang, which has been a 
     part of the American scene for almost 40 years;
       Whereas the Thunderbird wowed the NASCAR circuit in 1959, 
     winning more than 150 races in NASCAR's top division;
       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 in the 1980s with the 
     introduction of the Taurus, named the 1986 Car of the Year, 
     which resulted in a new commitment to quality throughout Ford 
     and future aerodynamic design trends in the industry;
       Whereas this innovation continued in the 1990s with the 
     debut in 1993 of the Ford Mondeo, European Car of the Year, 
     the redesigned 1994 Mustang, and the introduction in 1990 of 
     the Ford Explorer, which redefined the sports utility 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, as well as 
     other diversified subsidiaries in finance and other domestic 
     and international business areas; and
       Whereas on October 1, 2001, William Clay Ford, Jr., the 
     great-grandson of Henry Ford, became Chairman and Chief 
     Executive Officer of Ford, concentrating on the fundamentals 
     that have powered Ford to greatness over the last century and 
     made it a world-class auto and truck manufacturer, and that 
     will propel it in 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.

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a milestone in 
American ingenuity, to honor the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
Ford Motor Company.
  It was June 16, 1903, when 39-year-old Henry Ford and 11 associates, 
armed with little cash, some tools, a few blueprints, and unbridled 
faith, traveled to Lansing, MI to file papers launching Ford Motor 
Company. With just $28,000 in cash, the pioneering industrialists gave 
birth to what was to become one of the world's largest corporations.
  As with most great enterprises, Ford Motor Company's beginnings were 
modest. The company had anxious moments in its infancy. The earliest 
record of a shipment is July 20, 1903, approximately 1 month after 
incorporation, to a Detroit physician.
  Perhaps Ford Motor Company's single greatest contribution to 
automotive manufacturing was the moving assembly line. First 
implemented at the Highland Park plant in 1913, the new technique 
allowed individual workers to stay in one place and perform the same 
task repeatedly on multiple vehicles that passed by them. The line 
proved tremendously efficient, helping the company far surpass the 
production levels of their competitors--and making the vehicles more 
affordable.
  Henry Ford insisted that the company's future lay in the production 
of affordable cars for a mass market. Beginning in 1903, the company 
began using the first 19 letters of the alphabet to name new cars. In 
1908, the Model T was born. Nineteen years and 15 million Model T's 
later, Ford Motor Company was a giant industrial complex that spanned 
the globe.
  From the Model T, to the T-Bird and Mustang, to today's Ford Focus, 
Ford Motor Company has been at the forefront of the automotive 
industry.
  What started that momentous June day in 1903 by Henry Ford and his 11 
associates has grown into a worldwide franchise over the last 100 
years. Today, Ford Motor Company is a family of automotive brands 
consisting of Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston 
Martin, and Volvo.
  Ford Motor Company is synonymous with American ingenuity. They are a 
very part of the American cultural fabric. It is as if both Ford and 
the country grew together during the 20th century.
  Ford's contributions to the country have been great. They are a 
stalwart presence in the American economy, and they employ tens of 
thousands of Americans. For millions of Americans, Ford has become a 
part of our everyday lives. And the Ford Motor Company will continue to 
be a major presence on the American scene over the next 100 years.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, as a long-time supporter and friend of the 
automotive industry I would like to take this opportunity to recognize 
the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor Company. Ford Motor Company is the 
quintessential model of industrial growth and capitalism at work. Ford 
has not only been a significant part of the social, economic, and 
cultural heritage of the United States, but a revolutionary industrial 
and global institution.
  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 in Lansing. 
For the next 5 years, young Henry Ford, first as chief engineer and 
later as president, directed an all-out development and production 
program which shifted in 1905 from the rented quarters on Detroit's 
Mack Avenue to a much larger building at Piquette and Beaubien streets. 
A total of 1,700 cars--the early Model A's--came sputtering out of the 
old wagon factory during the first 15 months of operation.
  The Model T chugged into history on October 1, 1908. Henry Ford 
called it the ``universal car.'' It became the symbol of low-cost, 
reliable transportation that could get through when other cars stuck in 
the muddy roads. The Model T won the approval of millions of Americans, 
who affectionately dubbed it the ``Tin Lizzie.'' The first year's 
production of Model T's reached 10,660, breaking all records for the 
industry.
  By the end of 1913, Ford Motor Company was producing half of all the 
automobiles in the United States. In order to keep ahead of the demand, 
Ford initiated mass production in the factory. Mr. Ford reasoned that 
with each worker remaining in one assigned place, with one specific 
task to do, the automobile would take shape more quickly as it moved 
from section to section and countless man-hours would be saved. The 
advent of the assembly line truly revolutionized industry.
  Henry Ford startled the world yet again on January 5, 1914, by 
announcing that Ford Motor Company's minimum wage would be $5 a day--
more than double the existing minimum rate. Mr. Ford felt that since it 
was now possible to build inexpensive cars in volume, more of them 
could be sold if employees could afford to buy them. Ford considered 
the payment of $5 for an 8-hour day the finest cost-cutting move he 
ever made. ``I can find methods of manufacturing that will make high 
wages,'' he said. ``If you cut wages, you just cut the number of your 
customers.''
  The Model T started a rural revolution. The $5 day and the philosophy 
behind it started a social revolution. The moving assembly line started 
an industrial revolution.
  The Model A was finally pushed aside by a consumer demand for even 
more luxury and

[[Page H4401]]

power. Ford Motor Company was ready with plenty of both in its next 
entry--its first V-8--which was introduced to the public on April 1, 
1932. Ford was the first company in history to cast a V-8 block in one 
piece successfully. Experts told Mr. Ford it could not be done. It was 
many years before Ford's competitors learned how to mass-produce a 
reliable V-8. In the meantime, the Ford car and its powerful engine 
became a favorite of performance-minded Americans.
  Ford Motor Company was only a year old when it inaugurated its 
foreign expansion program in 1904 with the opening of a modest plant in 
Walkerville, Ontario, named Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
  Senior managers from Ford Motor Company's branches and subsidiaries 
around the world descended on company headquarters in Dearborn, MI, in 
June 1948 to attend the company's first-ever full international 
management meeting. After 45 years in business the automaker had a 
presence in nearly every corner of the globe.
  Today, Ford has manufacturing, assembly or sales facilities in 30 
countries worldwide. Ford produces millions of cars and trucks 
annually; it is a leader in automobile sales outside North America.
  The focus of the 1960's was on youth. A young president Kennedy led 
an economically healthy, upbeat America. Ford Motor Company recognized 
a strong market demand for an inexpensive sporty new vehicle targeted 
to the young buyer. Lee Iacocca, then the General Manager of the Ford 
Division, personally sold the startling new concept to Henry Ford II 
and a skeptical finance department. Start-up costs were a mere $75 
million due to the incorporation of the existing Falcon engine, 
transmission and axle, but the return investment would prove 
phenomenal. The Mustang exploded onto the scene in a 1964 introduction 
that drew throngs to showrooms across the country. Such intense 
interest had not been witnessed since the introduction of the Model A. 
The sharp, 4-seat 1965 Mustang became the ``darling'' of America. The 
``love affair'' brought about the sale of 100,000 Mustangs in the first 
100 days. Total sales for the year reached 418,812, far exceeding the 
100,000 projected by market research. Ford's design innovation of the 
late 1950's led to the Mustang's record-setting first year sales and $1 
billion in profits.
  Today, Ford's plans for continued expansion domestically and overseas 
and the company's wide diversification mean ongoing employment 
opportunities, not only in my home state of Michigan and the other 49 
states in America, but around the globe. The driving force behind the 
Ford Motor Company has been and continues to be producing better 
products at a lower cost.
  Through years of prosperity and hardship, through war and peace, Ford 
Motor Company grew from one man, a small garage and a quadricycle, to a 
mighty American force contributing to international economic stability. 
Meanwhile the nation became an industrial giant of unmatched strength 
and vitality. The Ford story, in a sense, is the story of the American 
Century.
  Mr. Speaker, as Ford Motor Company celebrates its 100th anniversary, 
I would ask that all my colleagues rise and salute the legend and 
automobile company that is Ford.
  Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ford Motor 
Company's 100th anniversary. Throughout 2003, Ford Motor Company will 
celebrate 100 years of manufacturing automobiles. Ford's history is an 
integral part of America's rise to global economic prominence. I am 
very pleased that my hometown of Louisville, KY has played a key and 
long-standing role in that history.
  In 1913, Ford began manufacturing Model T's in a small shop on South 
Third Street in Louisville. As our nation grew and met new challenges, 
Ford's Louisville operation also expanded. In 1942, Ford's Louisville 
operation began production of 44,000 trucks for the U.S. Army. During 
the fifties and sixties, Ford's Louisville presence expanded 
significantly with the construction and operation of two major 
manufacturing facilities. These facilities continue to produce high-
quality trucks and sport utility vehicles which remain in great demand 
by the American public. In September of 2002, the Louisville Assembly 
Plant reached a historic milestone by producing the 5 millionth Ford 
Explorer.
  Mr. Speaker, I also rise to recognize the hard work of Ford's 10,000 
employees in Louisville. This hard-working team of professionals is a 
vital part of our community's economy. In addition to producing great 
products, they have set an example of generosity. In 2002, Ford Motor 
Company and its employees donated more than $2.5 million to Louisville 
community organizations.
  I am very pleased that the House of Representatives has honored Ford 
Motor Company with Passage of H. Res. 100--a resolution recognizing the 
company's 100th anniversary. As a supporter of this legislation, I 
applaud its passage and commend the House for honoring Ford's 
contribution to American life.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The resolution was agreed to.


             Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Upton

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the Preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to Preamble offered by Mr. Upton:
       Strike the preamble and insert:
       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;

[[Page H4402]]

       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

  Mr. UPTON (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment to the preamble be considered as read and printed in 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton).
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.


                  Title Amendment Offered by Mr. Upton

  Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the title offered by Mr. Upton:
         Amend the title so as to read: ``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 
     other nations and a revolutionary industrial and global 
     institution, and congratulating the Ford Motor Company for 
     its achievements.''.

  The amendment to the title was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________