[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.
____________________