Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) joined Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters and Reps. Sandy Levin and Debbie Dingell in a letter sent Friday calling on the IRS to explore all available options before moving more than 90 jobs from the Detroit Computing Center to Memphis, Tenn.
In the letter, the delegation expressed its concerns about the IRS' plan to shut down one floor of their Detroit Computing Center and to move jobs associated with Correspondence Services out of state. The delegation also stressed its expectation that the IRS and U.S. General Services Administration continue to search for a new location in the Metropolitan Detroit area before moving the printing and mailing jobs across the country. The letter follows several meetings Congresswoman Lawrence has had with the IRS, the Administration, and members of the Michigan delegation.
"I find it very hard to believe that there is not one location within all of Metropolitan Detroit that meets the needs of the IRS, the employees, and the equipment," Congresswoman Lawrence said. "The fact that the IRS says it will offer transfers for these employees to Memphis -- which is approximately 750 miles away from their homes, family, and children's schools -- provides little comfort as it is unlikely most of these employees can afford such a drastic relocation."
In the letter, the delegation questioned the claims of financial savings from the move, noting the drastic economic toll that such a move will have on Detroit and Michigan.
"This is a major setback at a time when we are working so hard at the local, state, and federal level to bolster the economy. These jobs are exactly the kind of jobs that we need to promote and increase; jobs that offer employees career growth opportunities and an ability to support their families," Rep. Lawrence said. "The Administration has been so supportive of Detroit, and all of Michigan, in the fight to rebuild this region into one of America's strongest manufacturing and financial. I will do everything I can to make sure that those efforts are not undermined and that the federal government explores every option for keeping good-paying, middle-class jobs in the region."