[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MANUFACTURING IN THE UNITED STATES FACES CHALLENGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2006

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, since January 2001, the United States has 
lost 2.8 million manufacturing jobs. As a result, manufacturing states 
have seven of the ten highest unemployment rates in the country. But 
manufacturing affects us all, not just those workers who are directly 
engaged in manufacturing, because manufacturing has the largest 
employment ``ripple effect'' of any U.S. industry. During President 
Clinton's administration, when manufacturing was growing and thriving, 
private sector job growth was 22 percent. Under the current 
administration, it's an anemic 2.4 percent. Manufacturing is also 
responsible for nearly two-thirds of all private sector research and 
development.
  Manufacturing in the United States faces serious challenges in the 
global marketplace, as our manufacturers compete with companies who get 
the benefit of a healthy workforce without having to shoulder the 
rising cost of health care, deal with skyrocketing energy costs, and 
often face an unlevel playing field when they sell their goods. Instead 
of standing up for manufacturing and the men and women it employs, the 
Bush administration continues to sit on its hands as the manufacturing 
jobs crisis worsens. The workers who are harmed by that inaction 
deserve to be heard. Tonight, I'd like to read testimony several 
Michigan workers submitted to us about how the manufacturing jobs 
crisis is affecting them.
  Sherry Lowell of Grand Blanc, MI writes:

       ``For the past 27 years, I have worked as a Journeyman 
     Toolmaker for GM/Delphi in Flint, MI. My marvelous experience 
     as a tradesman began when I was 30 years old. At the Flint 
     East site, I was the 7th female to graduate as a tradesman. . 
     . .
       ``For almost three decades, I believed that I was an 
     integral part of the team with the goal of producing products 
     with first time quality at a profit. The wages that I earned 
     were appreciated and getting dirty and greasy were part and 
     parcel of my job as a toolmaker. I have fulfilled my promise 
     to the corporation for the past 27 years to faithfully come 
     to work, work hard at work despite cold (45 degrees) and hot 
     (103 degrees) and dirty environments, and buy GM/AC products.
       ``The promise of a defined-benefit pension was very 
     important to me. Furthermore, financial planning for my old 
     age has been threatened by corporate raiders of pension funds 
     and the possibility of Social Security benefits ceasing. I 
     would appreciate Congressional efforts to support the men and 
     women of manufacturing skilled trades and production in 
     protecting the pensions they were promised.''

  Patricia Neal of Clinton Township, MI writes:

       ``I have been a UAW member and a GM employee for 28 years. 
     I live in Clinton Township, MI. At some point in time nearly 
     every UAW represented auto worker in America has had to hear, 
     that we are `over paid and under worked'. Every headline that 
     screams out to the public, pointing a scolding finger at UAW 
     represented auto workers, is not only demoralizing and 
     degrading it is downright deceiving. . . .
       ``We, UAW workers, make the products put before us, we 
     drive the fork trucks, we stand on the steel plated or 
     concrete floors, we tighten the nuts and bolts, we handle the 
     machines, we breath the toxic fumes but we do not make the 
     decisions. We do the work. We want to see GM make a profit, 
     we want GM healthy.''

  Charles McCray of Southgate, MI writes:

       ``I am a 54 year old retired hourly worker after 30 years 
     of service. I have worked hard for GM and the UAW. I have 
     always purchased GM products over the years. I want GM to 
     keep their promise to me with the contract I signed when I 
     retired. I retired and gave up my position to another worker 
     to pay taxes and make a good wage.
       ``With the possible problem at GM if I were to lose any pay 
     what-so-ever I'd be in a tight spot. Where does all the money 
     come from to even bury me when the time comes. We have never 
     lived beyond our means at all. We have been able to pay for 
     college for our 2 children, have a small home paid for. There 
     is a small savings for future use after 62 years of age. With 
     our monthly retirement we do OK but most do not. I have 
     already gone out and have taken another job just because I am 
     not sure what is going to happen at GM.''

  I hope President Bush and my colleagues in the House will hear these 
workers and the millions like them, and will begin work on a real 
agenda to preserve and expand our manufacturing sector and the quality 
products and jobs it produces.

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