After House Rejects Boehner Bill, Rep. Peters Again Calls on Republicans to Drop Plan to Kill Auto Jobs
Press Release
Last night House Republicans unsuccessfully attempted to cut $1.5 billion in loans to help create and protect auto jobs in areas like Detroit by a vote of 190-235. Rep. Gary Peters, who successfully rallied over 100 Democrats to oppose these job killing cuts, called on Speaker Boehner to drop his plan to cut $1.5 billion from a program that's been credited with bringing the production of the Ford Focus from Mexico to Detroit.
Additionally, today the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers joined the chorus of support for this successful job creating program. The list of supporters also includes the Auto Alliance (a trade association representing Ford, GM and Chrysler), the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers, the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and the BlueGreen Alliance, an organization that consists of several labor and environmental groups.
"We have a strong coalition of business, auto industry leaders, unions and environmental groups all calling on Speaker Boehner to stop his attack on a program that's created 41,000 jobs. I think it's about time for him to listen," said Congressman Gary Peters.
Timeline:
September 14th: Republicans release their $3.65 billion plan to fund the government from October 1st -- November 16th. This includes funding to pay for disaster relief from Hurricane Irene, Lee and the east coast Earthquake. To pay for this bill, Republicans propose to cut $1.5 billion from the Section 136 auto loan program -- a program which was established with bipartisan support in 2007.
September 15th: Rep. Gary Peters issues a press release calling on Republicans to drop their cuts of $1.5 billion in Section 136 auto loans which has been credited with creating over 40,000 jobs and literally bringing the production of the Ford Focus from Mexico to Detroit.
September 20th: Rep. Gary Peters and Rep. Anna Eshoo released a letter which was signed by 77 Democrats calling on Speaker John Boehner to eliminate these job killing cuts.
September 20th: Senate Leader Harry Reid announces at a press conference that he is "not going to cave in" to the Republicans on this issue.
September 20th: Letters of Endorsement from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the American Automotive Policy Council (Chrysler, Ford and GM) and MEMA (Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association).
September 20th: Letters of Endorsement from the BlueGreen Alliance, Clean Economy Network, Ecology Center, Environment America, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Safe Climate Campaign, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Auto Workers International and the United Steelworkers.
September 20th: Letter of Endorsement from the National Wildlife Federation.
September 21st: Because of the growing momentum, 31 more members of Congress signed onto the Peters-Eshoo letter bringing it to a new total of 108. You can read the signed version by clicking here.
September 21st: Rep. Peters spoke on the floor about the importance of protecting these auto manufacturing jobs.
September 21st: The House defeats the Continuing Resolution by a vote of 195-230.
September 22nd: The Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers announced their support for job creating Section 136 auto loans.
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