Conyers: Republican Spending Bill Holds Disaster Relief Hostage to Partisan Politics, Destroys Green Manufacturing Jobs in the Auto Industry

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For Immediate Release
Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543

Conyers: Republican Spending Bill Holds Disaster Relief Hostage to Partisan Politics, Destroys Green Manufacturing Jobs in the Auto Industry (WASHINGTON) – Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) issued the following statement opposing the government funding bill put forward today by House Republicans.  The bill, H. J. Res. 79, pays for disaster relief for communities devastated by flooding, tornados, and hurricanes by cutting funds from a vital green jobs manufacturing program – The Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program.   “This is a false choice.  We can provide relief to victims of natural disasters and continue to spur economic growth that ensures the future of American green manufacturing jobs,” said Conyers. “The government funding bill put forward by House Republicans today is a direct attack on a program with a demonstrated record of success and job creation.  The Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program is helping companies in Michigan manufacture energy-efficient cars that can compete in the global economy.  “I fought to fund this loan program in the Recovery Act because I knew that it would lay the groundwork needed to help us “Make It In America” again.  Three years later, the proof is in the numbers.  We’ve created or saved 41,000 jobs nationally and there are tens of thousands of additional jobs in the pipeline.    “House Democrats and Senate Democrats are united in our opposition this bill and this job-killing cut.  We are going to fight this bill and make certain that neither disaster relief nor our economic future is held hostage to partisan politics.”  The Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program, also known as the Section 136 loan program, has already been used to make six loans totaling $9.2 billion that created or saved 41,000 jobs in Tennessee, California, Indiana, Michigan, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio.  It is expected that before the end of the year $2.5 billion will be awarded to eleven more companies in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Louisiana creating or saving an additional 35,000 to 40,000 jobs.  There are already twelve projects competing for the remaining available loan authority and the Department of Energy continues to receive new applications every month.  These projects could create more than 10,000 jobs, but not if the $1.5 billion cut to the program is signed into law. ###