[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 185 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H14449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                           RTD MANUFACTURING

  (Mr. SCHAUER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. SCHAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of RTD Manufacturing in 
Jackson, Michigan, and my constituents desperately in need of a job. 
Just 6 years ago, this family-owned auto supplier had 60 workers. 
Today, only 12 are left.
  To diversify their business, RTD teamed with several other firms, and 
just 6 weeks ago, we learned that RTD would be the principal 
manufacturer for a major Army contract. What great news--until I was 
contacted by RTD's president last week.
  Their long-time bank, Citizens Bank, denied RTD's loan to buy $85,000 
worth of steel from another local company to produce components to 
protect our troops from improvised explosive devices, IEDs. So instead 
of hiring six workers to build supplies that our troops in the field 
need now, RTD is the latest victim of the credit crunch.
  Get this. Citizens Bank--the number one small business lender in 
Michigan that has received $300 million in Federal bailout funds--
denied this loan. I'm working overtime to ensure RTD doesn't lose this 
chance to create jobs and save soldiers' lives.

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