[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5023]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CRISIS FACING THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim Mr. Dingell's 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join Mr. Ryan and Mr. Kucinich 
in calling attention to the personal stories and the national hardship 
that is created by these plans to strip workers of their pensions.
  Last December Representative Miller conducted an on-line hearing so 
that General Motors and Delphi employees would have an opportunity to 
send to Congress their words about the meaning of these plans to strip 
them of their pensions and benefits. And the response was powerful.
  Let me read from a few New Jersey constituents. Mr. Paluzzi from East 
Brunswick writes, ``I have worked for GM Delphi for 34 years. And 
during the hiring process I was given a package of benefits that I was 
entitled to. This included a pension package that the company said they 
would control and have for me upon my retirement. As I worked for the 
company, and union contracts were renegotiated, the pension package was 
still included. Now it seems, Delphi wants to take back the pensions 
and the contracts that were signed in good faith, while I and thousands 
like me, worked to make huge profits for the company. I felt my pension 
and benefits were secure all those years that I worked here.''
  Mr. Lauder of Somerset New Jersey wrote, ``I have lived in the same 
area all my life except for the 4 years I served my country in the U.S. 
Navy on a military leave of absence from GM. I have worked at this 
facility for 32 years, starting at age 18. The hazards of these plants 
are well known. The industrial atmosphere that we work in holds many 
perils, such as dangerous machinery, extreme temperatures, hazardous 
chemicals, asbestos, et cetera. We were not always aware of some of the 
hazards and the effect on our health, but over the years, the unions 
and more responsible government representatives fought for information 
and equipment to protect us.
  These are the types of jobs the American blue collar workforce took 
to feed, clothe and educate our family in the hopes of creating a 
better world for them. The deal was that we would do our part to help 
the corporations rake in billions made off of our sweat and labor, and 
when our time was up we could look forward to a modest pension and 
medical benefits.''

                              {time}  2000

  ``A living wage was also part of the deal so we could better the 
lives of our children so they could grow into healthy, educated, and 
productive individuals, to be contributors and not burdens on our 
society.
  ``That used to be the `American Way,' the basis for the betterment of 
our great country and the world. Now it seems the Robber Barons are 
back.''
  You can hear the pride and the patriotism that comes through in this 
testimony from these workers.
  Writes another worker: ``I've been on this job for 16 years and have 
been a loyal and dedicated employee from day one. Over the years there 
have been changes, but this kind of change is a harsh one to swallow. 
Delphi would like to take away our negotiated benefits and leave my 
family and me with nothing. I have a son who would like to start 
college next year. My wife and I have explained to him that this just 
may not happen right now because of the bankruptcy proceedings that are 
under way. Please imagine if this was the situation you were in, how 
would you feel and what would you do?''
  Another, Mr. Hagopian from Somerset, New Jersey, writes: ``This whole 
bankruptcy was planned. If you let this happen,'' the Delphi deal, 
``every other U.S. company will do the same thing . . . ''
  You can hear the pride and patriotism. It comes through so clearly. 
Now, I ask will those who engineer the plans to strip these workers of 
their pensions and their benefits ever understand what these men and 
women are going through?

                          ____________________