[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DOMESTIC AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

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                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to draw my colleagues' attention 
to recent positive developments in the domestic automobile industry. 
Two-and-a-half years ago, at the onset of the current recession, such 
good news would have seemed improbable, yet thanks to constructive 
engagement by the best workers in the world, reinvigorated management, 
attractive product design, and, in the case of Chrysler and General 
Motors, timely and thoughtful intervention by the federal government, 
the United States' automakers are back on track to become industry 
leaders.
  Such leadership is already manifest in three measurable areas. First, 
after consistent losses for the past 5 years and record low levers of 
U.S. aggregate demand for the sale of light vehicles, Chrysler, Ford, 
and General Motors have all reported positive operating earnings and 
cash flow for the first quarter of 2010. Second, according to the 2009 
Harbour Report, all three major U.S. automakers now match or exceed 
Toyota North America's labor productivity levels in major manufacturing 
operations in North America. Third and finally, according to the most 
recent JD Power Initial Quality Survey, the Ford Motor Company is now 
the highest quality mass production automaker based on consumer 
rankings, beating out Honda, Toyota, and Nissan.
  Indeed, these accomplishments merit praise and confirm the wisdom of 
the Federal Government's role in nursing the domestic auto industry, 
whether through loans or tax credits, back to health. This in mind, 
however, we in Congress and the Administration must continue working 
together to protect the nascent recovery of Chrysler, Ford, and General 
Motors and the millions of American jobs they support. We must direct 
Federal support toward the manufacturing sector to rebuild our 
dwindling supply base. Further, we must enact initiatives to improve 
the flow of private credit to consumers, suppliers, and automakers 
alike, so that they can grow and put more Americans back to work. We 
must also stridently oppose lop-sided trade agreements and unfair 
foreign trade practices that put our domestic industries at a 
competitive disadvantage. Finally, we must ensure our automakers and 
suppliers have the requisite support to meet future technical 
challenges, for which foreign companies will surely receive state-
financed aid.
  I urge my colleagues to join with me in congratulating the domestic 
automobile industry for its most recent achievements, wish it continued 
success, and help it compete in the future by creating a level playing 
field with our trade partners.

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