[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONDA'S 25 YEARS OF MANUFACTURING IN OHIO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEBORAH PRYCE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 7, 2004

  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, September 10, 2004 marks a 
significant milestone for a major international motor vehicle company 
located in my congressional district. Twenty-five years ago, the first 
Elsinore motorcycle rolled off Honda's Marysville motorcycle plant 
assembly line with 64 associates, marking the beginning of Honda's 
manufacturing presence in Ohio.
  From motorcycle production, Honda became the first Asian automaker to 
manufacture vehicles in the U.S., a 1983 Honda Accord produced on 
November 1, 1982. Engines and transmissions are among the other 
products Honda has added to the Ohio production list over the last 25 
years. In 2003, Honda was the top manufacturer of motor vehicles in the 
state. The company's facilities produced 677,000 automobiles and 
108,000 motorcycles and ATVs last year alone.
  Today, that Ohio presence represents 16,000 jobs at Honda, 
investments of $6.1 billion in plants and equipment, as well as 154 
Ohio supplier companies that employ more than 40,000 Ohio residents. 
Over this time period, Honda's Ohio manufacturing facilities have 
produced 10 million automobiles, 830,000 motorcycles and 1.2 million 
ATVs. In 25 years, Honda has never laid off one employee, a remarkable 
achievement.
  A recent study of Honda's economic impact provides some further 
insight into the company's presence in Ohio and its positive impact on 
the state economy. Among the findings, in 2003, seven jobs were created 
for every individual directly employed by Honda. That results in 
128,000 additional jobs and means $3.30 is generated for every $1 Honda 
pays in wages. Total statewide earnings were $4.85 billion in 2003. In 
addition, state and local taxes paid by Honda and its associates total 
$1 billion.
  Across the U.S., Honda employs more than 25,000 associates. Their 
facilities include eight factories and ten research and development 
facilities. In the U.S., Honda's capital investment exceeds $7 billion 
with more than $12 billion in parts and materials purchased annually 
from 580 suppliers in 33 states.
  Honda's philosophy of respect for the individual is the cornerstone 
of placing responsibility and accountability with each associate. That 
philosophy and accountability has allowed its U.S. workforce to produce 
the highest quality products at an affordable price and great 
reliability. Honda's involvement in the communities where its 
facilities are located has been another key to its success because it 
has treated state and local leaders as well as parts suppliers as equal 
partners. Honda is a great example of a company that has invested and 
reinvested significant financial and human resources in its plants, 
equipment and associates here in the U.S.
  I want to offer my congratulations to Honda on the occasion of the 
25th anniversary and look forward to another 25 years of growth and 
success in Ohio and throughout the U.S.

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