[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO HELP AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIPS STAY IN BUSINESS

  (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, the bankruptcy filings of both GM and 
Chrysler are threatening local auto dealers as both companies are able 
to bypass State franchise laws that are designed to protect small 
dealerships. Shutting the doors on these small businesses will mean 
more job losses at a time when we can ill afford them. It's incredible 
to many of us here in Congress that these decisions can be justified if 
it isn't saving a single job and is, in fact, eliminating jobs.
  That's why I'm cosponsoring legislation that was introduced this week 
that would protect these jobs by restoring the franchise agreement 
between the auto dealerships and GM and Chrysler. Mr. Speaker, this 
would ensure that the dealers themselves, not the government or the big 
automakers that are controlled by the government, are able to decide 
the future of their operations. Let's pass this legislation and help 
local entrepreneurs keep the businesses they've worked so hard to 
build.

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