[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GORHAM PAPER MILL

  (Mr. HODES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. HODES. Mr. Speaker, the people of Gorham, New Hampshire are 
hurting. Over 160 workers will lose their jobs at the Fraser Paper Mill 
next month. Decades ago, the paper industry was thriving throughout 
Coos and Grafton Counties in New Hampshire. But with new trade policies 
that ship our jobs oversees, these jobs are disappearing faster, and 
towns across northern New Hampshire are hurting.
  In February, Fraser Paper announced that it will lay off 167 jobs 
from their facility in Gorham. The news broke just months after the 
Wausau Paper Mill closed its doors in Groveton and left 303 workers 
without jobs, and nearly 2 years after Fraser Paper shut down its 
Berlin site, which resulted in the loss of 250 jobs in the region. I 
will visit Coos County this Friday to meet with workers in Gorham, 
Groveton, and Berlin to hear their stories.
  I am working to take action to stand up for these working families 
and their communities. We have already helped with the bipartisan 
economic stimulus plan that puts more money in the hands of working 
families, and boosts our economy, but the people of Gorham and the 
surrounding communities and workers in America need additional help.
  I plan on submitting legislation to keep mills and business and jobs 
like these in New Hampshire. I urge my colleagues to stand with me and 
stand with our working men and women.

                          ____________________