A bipartisan group of House of Representatives lawmakers recently encouraged House leadership to support auto industry jobs and economic stabilization in future coronavirus relief packages.
The consideration was advocated by Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Van Taylor (R-TX), and Terri Sewell (D-AL) have forwarded correspondence to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“America’s motor vehicle industry must remain the heart of our nation’s manufacturing capability,” the representatives wrote. “The projected economic fallout for the industry is grave. Manufacturers moved swiftly to fill the desperate call for additional personal protective equipment and ventilators where they could. But sales are projected to drop as much as 30 percent for the year, from over 17 million cars sold in 2019.”
The automotive industry employs 10 million American workers while annually contributing more than $953 billion to the economy through the sales, servicing of autos, and paychecks for workers throughout the sector.
“Given the enormity of the industry’s economic footprint throughout our nation and its significant legacy, we seek your assurance that an appropriate response will be included so that American workers in the automotive industry can help drive a robust recovery,” the representatives wrote.