[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF TOYOTA MOTOR MANUFACTURING, WEST 
                                VIRGINIA

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, West Virginians are both a prayerful and a 
prideful people. We cherish our State, honor its unique heritage, and 
revere its citizenry. Our respect for one another and for our joint 
accomplishments is apparent in every cornr and cranny of this wondrous 
State, filled with unparalleled scenic beauty, old-fashioned 
hospitality, and a sincere commitment to excellence. Our belief in 
ourselves and in our abilities is apparent when we welcome our troops 
home from service overseas; when we watch our sons and daughters 
receive their high school diplomas; when our communities band together 
to overcome tragedy; or when we gather together to celebrate shared and 
lofty achievement. It is always the same: Mountaineer pride runs strong 
and deep in West Virginia.
  West Virginia pride is particularly on display today in Buffalo, WV, 
where Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, TMMWV, is celebrating 
its 10th anniversary. I commend Toyota on its commitment to West 
Virginia, and I heartily congratulate the company on its celebration of 
10 years in the Mountaineer State.
  I have seen, over the past decade, how hundreds of West Virginians 
each day have committed themselves to their work at Toyota. The high 
standards that have been set by the men and women who work at Toyota's 
facility in Buffalo show that our State, though small in size, 
successfully plays host to one of the world's largest, most successful, 
and well-respected companies. Toyota's plant in Buffalo truly deserves 
its fine reputation, based on its gains in productivity, its high 
standards for fine quality, and its unfailing commitment to the future.
  Toyota Motor Manufacturing established its operations in West 
Virginia in 1996, and currently produces four-cylinder engines for the 
Toyota Corolla, the Matrix, and the Pontiac Vibe. It also produces V6 
engines for the Toyota Sienna and Solara. The plant also manufactures 
automatic transmissions for the U.S.-built Solara, Sienna and Avalon, 
the Canadian-built Lexus RX 350, and the Japan-built Highlander, 
providing quality jobs for over 1,000 West Virginians. And employment 
there is projected to grow to 1,150 workers when the existing 
transmission plant is expanded as promised.
  In fact, last year Toyota announced that it would undertake a $120 
million expansion of its engine and transmission plant in Buffalo. As a 
result, beginning in 2007, Toyota Motor Manufacturing in West Virginia 
will build 240,000 additional automatic transmissions per year. This 
will bring the plant's total automatic transmission capacity to 600,000 
units, and this fifth expansion by Toyota in West Virginia will bring 
its total investment there to near the $1 billion mark.
  Every day, in Buffalo, hundreds of West Virginians commit themselves 
to superior performance. Toyota has become a highly valued member of 
the West Virginia business community, and the company's commitment to 
its continued expansion in our State sends a clear message to the world 
not only that West Virginia's workforce is top of the line, but also 
that communities throughout West Virginia make our State a beacon for 
business, including international investment. The employment provided 
by Toyota at Buffalo constitutes exactly the type of well-paying jobs, 
with accompanying health and pension benefits, that West Virginia 
workers so richly deserve.
  Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to once again 
congratulate Toyota on its 10th anniversary in West Virginia. I thank 
Dr. Toyoda for believing in West Virginia. I also congratulate Toyota 
Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia President Yutaka Mizuno and the men 
and women of this plant for its all of its truly spectacular 
achievements in its first decade in our fair State.
  I would also like to thank my dear friend and colleague, Senator Jay 
Rockefeller, who worked so tirelessly and in such good faith to bring 
Toyota to West Virginia. Jay and I, and all West Virginians, are 
pleased and proud to have Toyota in Buffalo, WV. May this be the first 
of many more decades of partnership and accomplishment for our State 
and for Toyota Motor Manufacturing.
  Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Toyota Motor 
Manufacturing of Indiana, on celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 
truck assembly plant in Princeton. Since opening its doors 10 years 
ago, Toyota's Princeton plant has spurred economic growth in southwest 
Indiana and brought quality, good-paying jobs to the State, giving more 
workers the opportunity to provide for their families and live the 
American dream.
  When I was Governor, I was proud to join with Toyota Motor 
Corporation, TMC, Chairman Hiroshi Okuda in bringing the Toyota truck 
assembly plant to Princeton as part of my economic development for a 
growing economy, EDGE, initiative. Over the past 10 years, Toyota's 
Princeton plant has experienced remarkable growth, which has had a 
substantial, positive economic impact on the State of Indiana as well 
as the local economy.
  Toyota's initial investment of $700 million in the Princeton assembly 
plant led to the immediate creation of 1,300 family-wage jobs and 
resulted in the production of approximately 100,000 trucks per year. 
Today, Toyota's investment has grown to more than $2.6 billion, and its 
truck assembly plant now employs more than 4,700 men and women who 
produce more than 300,000 vehicles each year, including the Tundra 
full-size pickup truck, Sequoia sport utility vehicle, and Sienna 
minivan.
  This exceptional growth and the recent announcement of Toyota's 
collaboration with Subaru in Lafayette have made it one of Indiana's 
largest auto manufacturers. Toyota's efforts demonstrate its continued 
commitment to the State and highlight the contributions Toyota has made 
to the United States and local communities in Indiana.
  It is estimated that Toyota's annual economic impact on the State of 
Indiana is equal to about 31,385 jobs, nearly $503 million in employee 
compensation, and $5.5 billion in business sales. A study conducted by 
the University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana 
estimates that in Gibson County alone, Toyota is annually responsible 
for 8,865 jobs, approximately $119 million in employee compensation, 
and $519 million in business sales.
  I am honored to have the opportunity to enter this tribute in the 
Congressional Record of the Senate and commend Toyota Motor 
Manufacturing of Indiana for all that it has done for Hoosier working 
men and women over the past 10 years.

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