[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 86 (Monday, June 1, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRADE AND MANUFACTURING IN OHIO

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                         HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 1, 2015

  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize our American 
manufacturers. As we work to expand American manufacturing by knocking 
down barriers so American exporters can sell their products all over 
the world while creating jobs here at home--manufacturers are taking a 
beating. Not because jobs are disappearing--they aren't--but because so 
many people, including members of this Chamber, are spreading outright 
lies about the impact of American trade agreements.
   One company with plants in my home state of Ohio continues to be 
cited as a company that's virtually shuttered their American plants 
because of NAFTA. It's astounding because it's not true. Twenty-two 
thousand Whirlpool workers, including 15,000 manufacturing employees--
makers of iconic brands like Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, 
and Gladiator--are likely shocked to hear these words because not only 
are they headquartered in Michigan, more than 80 percent of Whirlpool's 
products sold in the United States are made in the United States. I 
recently heard one opponent of trade say on this Floor that Maytag 
washers are being imported from Mexico. In reality Maytag builds almost 
all of their washers sold in the U.S. right in my home state of Ohio. 
They come from Ohio communities like Clyde, Marion, Greenville, Ottawa, 
and Findlay, not to mention from Whirlpool plants in Tennessee, 
Oklahoma and Iowa. It's not just Whirlpool employees who benefit; the 
company has 4,900 direct and indirect U.S. suppliers, supporting even 
more American jobs.
   Not only does Whirlpool maintain a strong U.S. manufacturing 
presence, they've actively been reshoring--bringing manufacturing jobs 
back to America. Shortly after acquiring and restructuring Maytag 10 
years ago, Whirlpool began repatriating laundry manufacturing from 
Germany and Mexico to their Clyde, Ohio plant--the world's largest 
laundry facility. Since then, they also have brought back hand mixer 
manufacturing from China and commercial laundry production from Mexico, 
creating approximately 500 new jobs in the process, not to mention 
increasing U.S. exports.
   Don't believe the hyperbole . . . believe the numbers. One in five 
jobs in Ohio depends on trade. Trade-related jobs pay 18 percent more 
than non-trade jobs. With new trade agreements, barriers will be 
removed so Whirlpool and other manufacturers have the opportunity to 
sell their American-made products overseas. Let's spread the truth . . 
. trade supports American jobs and increased trade will build a 
healthier American economy.

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