Representative Sutton Gives Closing Statement on the CARS Act

June 9, 2009

Thank you, Madame Speaker. I want to thank first of all the gentleman from Michigan for what a fantastic job he has done in moving this bill on the floor this afternoon and for all of the work he put into making it a success. I also want to thank all of those, many of whom we've heard from on the floor, for all of their help and their support in getting this innovative measure to the floor and on the way to the beneficial effects for the American people. I also want to thank all of the staff, my staff Nichole Francis Reynolds and Christine Corcoran, as well as the staff on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and others, Representative Dingell's staff. It has been a truly collaborative process, and we have a good result.

We have heard how this bill will improve our environment, serve as an economic stimulus and shore up the three to five million jobs in the auto and related industries.

Close to home in my District, the Akron-area Auto Dealers Association put it this way: "Providing an incentive to stimulate sales is a critical step in the recovery of the automobile industry and congressional passage of the CARS Act represents an opportunity to benefit both the economy and the environment."

Local 2000 of the United Autoworkers, which assembles the Ford E-Series line of vehicles in my district in Avon Lake has stated: "Passage of this important legislation will not only help the consumer and public by putting cars on the road that run cleaner and maintain better fuel efficiency, but it will provide assistance by boosting car sales to the struggling auto industry in America."

And the United Steelworkers, who represent hundreds of thousands of workers in jobs supplying the auto industry summed it up like this: "From the glass, to the tires, to the plastic, to the hundreds of pounds of metal that comprise every vehicle; steelworkers manufacture these products in locations all across the country. Even the paper, the catalogs and brochures that the automakers use to market their vehicles, are often the product of the work of Steelworkers. But, countless other citizens -- union and non-union -- such as auto dealers, accountants, restaurant and shop owners, have their jobs tied to the auto industry."

Governors from 12 states, including Governor Strickland from Ohio and the governors of Michigan, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin all support this effort today.

It's time to act, Madame Speaker.

It's time to pass the CARS Act.

I urge a yes vote on the bill. And Madame Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.