Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk made in order under the rule.

Mr. Chairman, you know there has been a great deal of discussion for decades, really, about the issue of energy, specifically the need for our Nation to generate and to utilize renewable and clean energy.

I have lived my entire life on the shores of the magnificent Great Lakes, and I have spent an awful lot of time boating as well on those magnificent waterways. I have always been awed by the power of that water, flowing from Lake Superior all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, actually. I have watched the St. Clair River under the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, Michigan, and I have been amazed at the swiftness and the consistency with which that water moves.

I believe that the energy created by that water-flow is a source of energy that we must do more to harness for the use of our people and for industry. To that end, Mr. Chairman, my amendment would increase by $10 million the Water Power Energy Program within the Department of Energy. Increasing this vitally important program by $10 million will restore that program back to FY 2009 funding levels.

The Water Power Energy Program within the Department of Energy is such an important program to our overall goal of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and of becoming a Nation more reliant on renewable and green sources of energy. The Water Power Energy Program is a program designed to develop, test and evaluate new water technologies and to address barriers to the development of hydrokinetics and hydropower. The program conducts important research and development, and it deploys new innovative water technologies in order to get those products out on the market in an expedient, cost- efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

Additionally, this program allows for the testing and modeling of existing technologies. Hydropower technology has literally been around for hundreds of years, beginning with the earliest waterwheels and then water mills, which helped produce flour from grains, sawing timber and powering textile plants, to today's more advanced technologies, from hydroelectricity to harnessing wave and tidal power.

Hydropower currently accounts for approximately 19 percent of the world's electrical needs and produces no harmful emissions, but it accounts for less than 6 percent of the total United States' electricity needs. Compare that to our neighbor to the north, Canada, who uses hydropower to meet 61 percent of its energy needs. While hydropower only accounts for less than 6 percent, as I said, here in the United States, it makes up 71 percent of our total renewable electricity and produces enough electrical power to power 28 million households.

There are two examples from the great State of Michigan where this technology is being examined and needs to be looked at further, I think, Mr. Chairman. I already mentioned the St. Clair River, but I should also mention the Detroit River. These rivers are known for their very strong currents, moving along at approximately 6-plus knots. Water from Lake Huron funnels down into the St. Clair River through Lake St. Clair and then quickens again through the Detroit River before entering Lake Erie, where that energy is currently just dissipating. This technology can be put to work in rivers, harbors and other coastal areas to capture energy from currents and tides. The best part is that this can be achieved with minimal impact on our environment or the flow of the river. Harnessing this energy will create a truly renewable and green source of clean energy.

Mr. Chairman, again, there has been a lot of interest, a lot of talk about alternative energy sources in the past week. I have heard many express strong support for wind power, and I certainly share their enthusiasm for that energy source. But I will remind my colleagues that sometimes the wind doesn't blow, but the water always flows. With that, I would ask all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2892 the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 3183 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies and Appropriations Act of 2010

Account: Construction

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Army Corps of Engineers

Address of Requesting Entity: 477 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226

Description of Request: This request, in the amount of $100,000.00, would be used to implement one or more priority projects that are consistent with the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Management Plan. These projects were developed in a broad based and consensus driven process involving multiple counties, local governments, state governments, federal agencies and regional planners.

Requesting Member: Congressman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 3183 the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies and Appropriations Act of 2010

Account: EERE

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: United Way of Southeastern Michigan

Address of Requesting Entity: 1212 Griswold St. Detroit, MI 48226

Description of Request: This request, in the amount of $400,000.00, would be used by the United Way of Southeastern Michigan to assist two community non-profits to make energy efficiency and insulation upgrades at their facilities. The two organizations are Turning Point of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, a domestic violence shelter, as well as the Macomb County Rotating Shelter Team, a coalition of churches that provide overnight shelter to homeless persons and families.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3081--Department of State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for 2010.

Providing funding to our friend and steadfast ally Israel is in our national interest, and this bill provides $2.2 Billion Dollars for Israel in the form of Military Assistance.

In a turbulent part of the world, we can count on the friendship of Israel because we share the important values of freedom of religion, speech and thought--values that aren't universally shared across the Middle East.

Israel is the only mature democracy in a region that hungers for freedom from dictators and tyrants and whose people are distracted by a steady stream of vitriol directed at the Jewish people.

We recently saw that hunger for freedom displayed on the streets of Iran in the wake of the disputed election and how it was brutally suppressed by the Iranian government, resulting in the death of several protesters.

Freedom and Democracy should be supported wherever we find it and this bill supports a vital ally, who shares our commitment to the rule of law, and freedom of assembly.

Israel has showed extraordinary restraint in response to terrorism and daily rocket attacks emanating from fanatical Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. I can think of no country in the world that would have shown such restraint in the face of direct attacks on their civilians.

Every government of Israel has worked towards peace. Yet, except for Egypt and Jordan, no Arab government has even recognized the State of Israel. This bill calls for all Arab League States to normalize relations with Israel, which is an important step on the road to a durable peace in the region.

I was happy to see that no support will be provided to support a Palestinian state unless the Secretary of State determines that they have demonstrated a commitment to peaceful coexistence with Israel and is taking appropriate measures to counter terrorism and terrorist financing in the West Bank and Gaza.

This bill provides essential support to our friend and ally Israel, so I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have the distinct honor to represent the Village of New Haven located in Macomb County. On July 17th and 18th, its residents will join together to celebrate the Village's 140th Anniversary, and officially recognize the history, traditions, and culture that has been cultivated over that time.

This special occasion will be marked by a weekend of various festivities that the entire family can enjoy including a fireworks show, games, a tastefest, a classic car show, a musical concert, and numerous presentations commemorating the Village's history.

New Haven was incorporated and organized in 1869. It was later that Spring when Benjamin L. Bates was elected the first Village President and oversaw the population growth and economic expansion of local businesses and industries. During its early origins, the Village was home of the Detroit Grand Trunk Railroad, a sawmill, an electrical powerhouse, a general store, a lumberyard, and numerous family farms spread out across the village.

The Village of New Haven has witnessed significant changes and infrastructure upgrades that lead to its formation. From the first church ever built in 1854 and first telephone installed in 1885 to its current day proximity to easily access major transportation networks like Interstates 94 and 69 that lead to the City of Detroit and Canada; the Village remarkably has been able to preserve its unique identity and the closeness of a community that cares about its people.

I commend Village President Jammie Kincaid for his leadership in organizing this celebration. As important as it is to set a course for the future, it is equally important to remember where we've been. New Haven's ancestors built the village that is enjoyed today; it is our obligation to provide better opportunities for the generations to come.

I congratulate the citizens, officials, businesses, and sponsors on this extraordinary event, and offer my best wishes for a successful anniversary celebration and robust future for the Village of New Haven.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of HR 2892 the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: HR2996

Account: STAG Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Project

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The office of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner

Address of Requesting Entity: Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner 1 Public Works Dr. Building 95 West, Waterford, MI 48328

Description of Request: This request, in the amount of $500,000.00, would be used to help rehabilitate the Oakland Macomb Interceptor. This is critical to the environment and health and safety of the region. This interceptor has experienced a catastrophic failure and is in need of major repairs.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of National Defense Authorization Act of 2009.

The Department of Defense directed the Army to restructure its premier modernization program known as Future Combat Systems--FCS program--which includes a network of new sensors, radios, robotic vehicles and a fleet of new combat vehicles.

I personally commend the thousands of dedicated soldiers, department of defense civilians and their defense industry partners who worked on the project.

More than 1,000 of these dedicated men and women that do the engineering work for the FCS program live and work in my district. Some 10,000 employees in 74 Michigan companies worked to provide the Army a new ground combat vehicle fleet.

Many of them will be economically disadvantaged, despite their best efforts, by termination of the combat vehicle project.

Legislation passed by the Armed Services committee recognizes the restructuring of the FCS program and provides guidance on how the Army should proceed.

Providing for the national defense is in the preamble of the Constitution of the United States, it is this body's most solemn duty and responsibility. We must ensure that the men and women we send into harm's way have the very best training and equipment we can provide.

It's imperative that we move rapidly to provide the Army a new ground combat vehicle that protects American soldiers against IEDs, road side bombs and anti-tank munitions. We must not lose the momentum gained during six years of research and development and the multibillion dollar taxpayer investment on this project.

Any new program must consider both Army and Marine Corps needs for manned ground combat vehicles now and in the future. It must build on what we have learned from three separate FCS ground vehicle designs as well as lessons learned from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We have the best trained and dedicated Armed Forces in the world. Will we ask them to go to combat with vehicles that are nearly two generations old, designed for a different enemy and more conventional warfare?

Instead, let's build on the work that has already been done; ensure that billions of taxpayer dollars already spent are not wasted by starting from scratch, and provide U.S. Soldiers and Marines vehicles and systems that provide increased situational awareness for the conflicts of the future.

I urge the members to make a new combat vehicle the centerpiece of Army's research and development efforts in a restructured program.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2892 the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2010

Requesting Member: Congressman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 2892

Account: State and Local Programs/Emergency Operations Center

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Macomb County Emergency Management and Communications Center

Address of Requesting Entity: 10 N. Main St. 1st Floor, Mt. Clemens,

Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today to show support for those in Iran who are standing up for their rights and for those who seek freedom across the globe.

Tyrants who use violence and fear to suppress the voices of their citizens who seek freedom lose their legitimacy to govern.

Those who seek freedom and liberty across this globe must know that the American people stand with you.

We stand with you because we have a supreme desire to live up to the belief espoused in the founding document of our nation--

We hold these truths to be self evident--that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

And to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

That is why we stand consistently with nations who conduct free, fair, and open elections.

That is why we stand with citizens of nations who are brave enough to stand up and demand their freedom.

America does not seek to impose any individual on the Iranian government or the Iranian people.

But America will always stand with those who peacefully demand their voices are heard.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2847, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010:

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sterling Heights Police Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 40333 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Description of Request: The amount of $300,000 would be used by Sterling Heights Police Department to purchase and install updated law enforcement technologies, to improve law enforcement response time and the administration of justice programs.

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Shelby Township Police Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 52700 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, MI 48316

Description of Request: The amount of $200,000 would be used by Shelby Township Police Department to purchase and install updated law enforcement technologies, to improve law enforcement response time and the administration of justice programs.

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: Byrne Justice Grant Program

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Sterling Heights Police Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 40333 Dodge Park Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Description of Request: The amount of $300,000 would be used by the Sterling Heights Police Department for law enforcement programs, prosecution, drug treatment and enforcement programs.

Requesting Member: Congresswoman Candice S. Miller

Bill Number: H.R. 2847

Account: Byrne Justice Grant Program

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Shelby Township Police Department

Address of Requesting Entity: 52700 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, MI 48316

Description of Request: The amount of $200,000 would be used by the Sterling Heights Police Department for law enforcement programs, prosecution, drug treatment and enforcement programs.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 410. This resolution commends the recreational boating industry and boating community for their sizable contribution to the economy of United States, and for their stewardship of the environment.

There are more than 59 million boaters in the United States today, helping to generate $33 billion dollars annually in economic activity. As a result, the boating industry supports an estimated 337,000 employees, who manufacture and sell boats and operate the harbors and marinas. The goods and services purchased to build and maintain boats come from each of the fifty states. Therefore, boating does not only help the water regions of our country, but benefits America as a whole.

That having been said, the boating industry and community are especially important to Michigan and to Michigan's economy. They provide invaluable assets to my district, which has Lakes Huron and St. Clair and the St. Clair River on its eastern border. Boating is not just an important recreational opportunity; for many, life on the water becomes a way of life. The impact of boating spills over into other sectors of the economy like tourism and hospitality industries.

Unfortunately, when the economy falters, it is often the recreational boating industry that feels the impact first. Many people think of boating as a recreation for only the rich, but in Michigan we know that is simply not the case. The people who make the boating industry what it is are the working class individuals who spend their weekends out on the water with friends and family. When those people face economic challenges, you will find that the boating industry does as well.

In this climate, the boating industry is facing some difficult times, nowhere more difficult than in the state of Michigan. In Michigan, we were once the number one state in terms of total boat registrations, but we have since slipped to fourth. Given the challenges that have faced the Michigan economy over the last few years, this is no surprise. The boat manufacturers, dealers, and marina operators should all be commended for their efforts to keep going through this economic period.

Since coming to Congress, I have worked to promote issues that are important to maintaining a thriving and profitable boating industry. I am proud to co-chair of the Congressional Boating Caucus with Gene Taylor, and together we have worked on a number of issues to help the boating industry weather the storms that have come its way. This resolution will acknowledge the contributions of the boating industry as they fight through this difficult time.

I urge all of you to please join with me in supporting this bi- partisan initiative to recognize our boaters and recommend that President Obama issue a proclamation calling for the observation of National Boating Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 498. Last week was the 85th anniversary of the United States Border Patrol. In 1924, Congress approved the Immigration Act, which established the U.S. Border Patrol.

Their long and illustrious history began with 25 Patrol Inspectors in El Paso, Texas and Detroit Michigan with the mission of combating the illegal entry of aliens, contraband, and the flow of illicit liquor from Mexico and Canada into the U.S.

During the height of prohibition, lawlessness and violence became more common along the water borders of the Detroit Sector. Several Detroit Sector Patrol Inspectors were killed in the line of duty, as smugglers attempting to bring contraband across the border resorted to violence to protect their cargo from the Border Patrol Inspectors.

A lot has changed since 1924, but the core mission of the Border Patrol is still detecting and preventing the illegal entry of aliens and preventing the smuggling of contraband. Since the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the focus of the Border Patrol has changed to include detection, apprehension and deterrence of terrorists and terrorist weapons.

America has given this vital task to a group of dedicated law- enforcement agents, who are our eyes and ears, in the air, land and sea. They work in a variety of climates, and seize a great deal of the drugs intended for our streets and our children.

Coming from a border district, I have a real interest in ensuring that the Border Patrol is equipped with the right mix of personnel, technology, and equipment that will enhance our ability to separate legitimate travel and trade, from those that seek to do us harm or enter our nation illegally.

The Detroit Sector of the Border Patrol is responsible for 863 miles of our liquid border with Canada, and in the last five years, Agents have made nearly 5,000 arrests--an impressive accomplishment.

Chief Patrol Agent Randy Gallegos, and the men and women of Sector Detroit are dedicated professionals, who defend the border and our nation owes them and the entire U.S. Border Patrol a debt of gratitude for their distinguished service to our nation.

They follow the proud tradition of securing our border that began eighty-five years ago in small stations, with only a handful of agents. Today, there are over 18,000 men and women who wear the green uniform of a Border Patrol Agent.

Without these brave Americans our nation would be less secure, and for that I want to offer my sincerest thanks. Our Border Patrol agents epitomize the motto of the Border Patrol--Honor First.

Congratulations on your first eight-five years!

I urge my colleagues to support passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res 472, a resolution to congratulate the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association on their seventieth anniversary, and speak to their dedication to general aviation, to safety, and the important contribution general aviation provides to the United States.

The AOPA was established seventy years ago, on the eve of World War II. This non-profit association has been dedicated to general aviation, improving general aviation safety, providing pilots with training, education and advocating on their behalf at every level of government.

More than 75% of all flights in the United States are general aviation. America relies on general aviation for business, medical delivery services, sightseeing and for just plain fun and a love of flying.

General aviation is a vital industry in America's economy. Currently there are 19,000 airports nationwide that provide jobs for 1.3 million Americans and bring in more than $100 billion dollars annually.

After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the AOPA responded by partnering with the TSA to develop a nationwide Airport Watch Program that uses pilots as eyes and ears for observing and reporting suspicious activity.

Flight Safety has remained a principal focus for the AOPA, so they have supported new technologies to make aviation safer. AOPA was a principle advocator of the GPS navigation systems which helped lead the way for the Next Gen Air Transportation System--with aviation-specific applications and advanced innovations such as weather forecasting.

And today, the AOPA represents more than 289,000 American general aviation pilots--including my husband who is a long time member. He started flying when he was a fighter pilot in Vietnam, and now we fly an RV-8, which he built in our garage.

I am proud to support the resolution to honor the AOPA for the commendable work they do in the aviation field.

Their dedication to aviation, aviation safety, training general aviation pilots, and to new technologies makes me proud to support this association.

Congratulations on your first 70 years.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in very strong support of this bill that will help support American jobs. We all understand the challenges facing our auto industry. This industry, which is so vital to our national economy, has been hit literally by an economic hurricane which has caused hardships not only for the automakers, but also the suppliers, the dealers, and everyone who has a stake in this industry and its success.

This legislation is a very strong bipartisan approach that will help get the assembly lines moving, keep traffic in the showrooms, protect jobs, and give our economy a desperately needed jolt. And how do we know that it will work? Because it has already been implemented in nations across the globe. Because in every nation that has implemented a similar program, auto sales have risen, and in every nation that has not--like us--the sales continue to fall. That's why this legislation has the strong support of groups like the UAW, the National Auto Dealers, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Mazda, the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers, the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the National Paint and Coatings Association, the Motor and Equipment Manufacturer's Association, the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association, the American Iron Steel Institute, the AFL, the CIO, the Chamber of Commerce. I could go on and on.

And why do they all support this legislation? Because they understand that the best way to jump-start our economy is to get auto sales moving. The plight of the auto industry is a national problem affecting our entire Nation. And we know this because of the troubles of Chrysler and General Motors dealers across the Nation that are being closed with countless jobs being lost. We know this because suppliers who serve the industry are struggling to stay afloat with countless more jobs being lost and at risk. And we know this because two of our iconic industrial giants--both Chrysler and General Motors--are today in bankruptcy court.

All of these providers are clamoring for action, and they deserve the help of

this Congress. Simply put, we must act. So let us support legislation that will protect American manufacturing jobs. And this legislation will also give our economy the boost that it needs. I certainly do want to thank my colleagues for all of their support. And I urge support of this passage.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2200, the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act.

The men and women of the TSA are really dedicated professionals who ensure that our flying public arrive at their destinations safely. Although at times it might be a hassle for us to remove our shoes or to show our boarding passes and identification, these measures have made it much more difficult for terrorists to take advantage of dangerous situations or to bring weapons and explosives on commercial aircraft.

It has been almost 8 years from that horrific day on 9/11 when terrorists turned our airplanes into missiles, taking the lives of almost 3,000 of our fellow Americans. Thankfully, we've not been attacked again, and it's not just because we're lucky. It's because dedicated professionals throughout the government are working day and night to prevent attacks, and we need to provide them with the means to prevent, to deter and to respond to terrorist attacks.

A key piece of our success is that we have not become complacent. We must remain vigilant. Part of that vigilance requires that we make certain that those charged with ensuring our safety are adequately trained. So I was especially pleased to see that a section mandating advanced security training for flight attendants was included in this bill.

As we are all too painfully aware, flight attendants were among the first victims on 9/11. Flight attendants need to know how to handle a crowd and how to be aware of all of the activity that might be surrounding them in such an enclosed space. So security training, good security training, will help prepare them for such a scenario on how to work with the other flight attendants in controlling a crowd or, again, being conscious of other things that are going on in the cabin as well.

In fact, Richard Reid, the convicted shoe bomber, was prevented from detonating his shoe, filled with explosives, because alert flight attendants interrupted him from detonating those explosives.

Also, providing adequate security to the flying public should be a principle goal of this body, so I was dismayed to see that our friends on the other side of the aisle rejected an amendment that would have placed all of the detainees from Guantanamo Bay on the No Fly List. Instead, they watered down this commonsense amendment and left that decision up to the discretion of the President. Now, I don't know about you, but I shudder to think that we might allow these detainees to actually board a commercial aircraft and to sit next to us and our families.

Isn't the whole purpose of the No Fly List to keep dangerous people off these airplanes? I would say, if the Gitmo detainees don't qualify for the No Fly List, who in the world does qualify for that list? Congress shouldn't allow these dangerous detainees to fly on commercial aircraft. I think we should err on the side of caution and put them on the No Fly List.

I want to recognize the good work of Chairman Thompson and certainly of Ranking Member King. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2200.

Madam Speaker, I represent a district in southeast Michigan. We are a part of the very heart and soul of our domestic auto industry, an industry that has served our country very well. It's built the weapons that America needed in times of war when our freedom itself was at risk. It's provided millions of Americans an opportunity for a good job with good benefits and a secure retirement.

We all understand that the American auto industry has fallen on very, very hard times. Those of us in southeast Michigan understand it well. It's not a new development. We are painfully aware of it. We've dealt with plant closings and thousands of jobs lost. We've dealt with families torn apart, home foreclosures, and communities devastated. And we've endured massive new unfunded Federal mandates placed upon our industry, which have made it very difficult to compete. We've watched as Federal and State incentives have been offered to foreign competitors to come into our home market on equal terms, even though similar access to foreign markets has not been offered to our domestic companies. We've seen this government negligent in not formulating a manufacturing policy that protects vital American interests and good- paying American jobs. And for years we never asked for help.

But when Wall Street melted down last year, our problems were made even worse because 80 percent of the people who are going to buy an automobile require credit and not enough credit was available, and, of course, auto sales have just fallen through the floor. And when the auto companies came to Capitol Hill to ask for similar assistance that's been given to the Wall Street banks, those whose actions made their problems even worse, the auto industry was treated with disdain and their pleas for help were rejected by this Congress, which seemed indifferent to the problem and to the desire to protect American jobs.

This was a Michigan problem we were told, not an American problem. We tried to remind our colleagues of everything that this industry has meant to our great Nation, and again we received indifference and we were told, Just let them go into bankruptcy.

We were told that these companies needed to shed their legacy costs. Well, guess what. Legacy costs have names. They are people. And we're told that this has to be done because these foreign competitors who were given free access to our market do not have such legacy costs. Or imports which are built by low-wage workers overseas do not have these legacy costs. We are told we need to drive American wages down to match Third World competitors in order to compete.

Well, today we see that this is not just a Michigan problem anymore; today it is an American problem. Today Chrysler is in bankruptcy court, exactly what many in this Congress advocated for. And today Chrysler filed a list of 789 dealerships whose franchise agreements it is asking the bankruptcy court to sever. That means the closure of 789 dealerships in communities all across our great Nation.

These businesses represent not just a place to buy a car, but they represent community leaders, the sponsors of the Little League teams or the chairman of the Rotary. In many cases the biggest job provider in the town. The average dealer in this Nation, Madam Speaker, employs over 50 people. So this move means the loss of over 40,000 more jobs. Now 789 communities across this Nation will feel the pain of a contracting domestic auto industry. The pain of a business shutting down, the pain of jobs lost, the pain of families who will be devastated.

And tomorrow that pain will only get worse as General Motors is also set to release a list of dealers it hopes to shed and a list that will be much, much larger than 789 dealers.

Madam Speaker, this list was submitted as a part of that bankruptcy filing, a bankruptcy that many Members were advocating for when they believed it was just a Michigan problem. And now we see Members lamenting the fact that dealerships in their districts are closing. And they fail to realize that if this bankruptcy had happened last December, when they voted against bridge loans for the auto industry, it would have included every Chrysler dealer, because a disorderly bankruptcy would have led to the liquidation of Chrysler. So some Members got what they advocated for, Chrysler in bankruptcy, which today has led to the loss of 40,000 jobs. And tomorrow it will get worse.

It is time to understand that preserving, protecting, and defending our auto industry doesn't just solve a Michigan problem, it solves an American problem, and it defends jobs in every community in our great Nation.

It is a shame, Madam Speaker, that we had to learn this lesson on the backs and the livelihoods of another 40,000 of our fellow Americans.