[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 3 (Tuesday, January 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E7-E8]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF MR. RICK CASE FOLLOWING THE RECENT GRAND OPENING OF 
                          RICK CASE VOLKSWAGEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2014

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to 
recognize Mr. Rick Case following the recent grand opening of his 
Volkswagen dealership in Davie, Florida, as well as for the many 
contributions that his family of auto dealerships has made to the local 
community and state's economy as a whole. The new Volkswagen dealership 
is Mr. Case's fifth addition to the area known as ``Davie/Weston auto 
row,'' and creates 200 new jobs, including sales staff, service 
technicians, and receptionists.
  At eight stories high and 328,000 square feet, Rick Case Volkswagen 
claims the title of world's largest auto dealership for the German car 
company. Around 800 new and used Volkswagen vehicles are on display in 
each of the dealerships showroom floors. Furthermore, the new facility 
also features a service center, a cafe and lounge area for customers, 
and a floor for offices and staff training. Rick Case Automotive Group 
has 15 auto dealerships in Ohio, Georgia, and Florida, featuring a wide 
range of makes and models, and is expected to continue its growth.
  Competitive customer benefits and employee training have come to be 
the hallmark of the Rick Case model. In 2013, Rick Case Automotive 
Group was named by Automotive News as its National All-Star Dealer for 
the Privately Held Dealer category, an honor received by only one 
dealer out of over 17,000 dealers nationwide. In addition, Mr. Case's 
commitment to his customers is matched by his dedication to the 
community. As a local partner, he has helped to raise millions of 
dollars for charities like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
  The auto dealer industry contributes greatly to our nation's economy 
and that of our state and local communities. In particular, auto dealer 
sales represent about $47 billion annually. Florida ranks as the third-
largest state in the country in terms of number of vehicles, the sale 
of which account for 16 percent of retail sales tax. Furthermore, there 
are approximately 850 new car dealers in Florida, providing tens of 
thousands of direct jobs and supporting millions more in related 
sectors. Auto dealers help many hardworking individuals afford the 
vehicles they need to access job opportunities and support their 
families.
  Mr. Speaker, as our nation continues to recover from the greatest 
recession in recent memory, we should recognize American businesses 
that are driving job creation and economic growth. Once again, I would 
like to congratulate Mr. Rick Case and his wife Rita on the recent 
grand opening of their Volkswagen dealership, and wish them much 
continued success in the years to come.

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