[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 115 (Tuesday, July 28, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H8903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PROTECT GM WORKERS' HEALTH BENEFITS

  (Mr. TURNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, my father retired from General Motors after 
over 40 years. When General Motors closed their assembly plant in 
Moraine, Ohio, thousands of lifelong GM employees lost their jobs. Now, 
due to the Obama administration's negotiated bankruptcy, the retirees 
are at risk of losing their health care benefits. Isn't it ironic that 
as this House tries to rush through a misguided health care bill, the 
Federal Government has denied IUE-CWA workers in my community their 
promised health care benefits?
  With the Federal Government now owning over 60 percent of General 
Motors, it's time to honor the promises that were given to these 
workers, including my father.
  I have joined my Ohio colleagues in asking President Obama to not 
discriminate between UAW and non-UAW retirees in protecting their 
health care benefits. I have also talked to the President of GM last 
week, asking for fair treatment of these employees. Now it's reported 
that GM will apply for more than $10 billion in additional government 
funding.
  If President Obama is serious about health care, he should start by 
protecting the GM workers who are losing their benefits in this 
administration's acquisition of General Motors.

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