[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26169]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             AUTO INDUSTRY MOVING TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE

  (Mrs. MILLER of Michigan asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, the recent contract negotiated 
by General Motors and the United Auto Workers was really a historic 
watershed for the domestic auto industry.
  By tackling the very tough issues of pension reform and job security 
and, most importantly, health care reform, the industry is now poised 
to compete and win against foreign competitors.
  The domestic auto industry has momentum in moving toward a brighter 
future, a future that will include high-tech alternative fuel vehicles 
that will help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
  I had the opportunity actually last week to check out one of these 
vehicles. This was the Ford Edge powered by a lithium ion battery. This 
is a vehicle that uses no gas and its only emission is actually water.
  That is the future if we join the cause. This Congress needs to 
partner with the domestic auto industry and the UAW to ensure that we 
produce those automobiles right here in America.
  What we should not do is enact draconian fuel economy standards that 
will stifle innovation, assist our foreign competitors and kill 
American jobs. Both management and labor are doing their jobs to 
strengthen the industry. Now is the time for Congress to step up and do 
ours. Focus on the future, focus on technology, and focus on American 
jobs.

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