WASHINGTON DC – Seventeen mayors and a dozen other local officials from across the United States convened in Washington DC yesterday to meet with members of Congress and discuss the importance of the domestic auto industry to the workers and communities of America’s main streets. The “Mayors Automotive Coalition,” led by Lansing, Michigan Mayor Virg Bernero, included mayors from Bowling Green, Kentucky; Marion, Indiana; Shreveport, Louisiana; Toledo, Ohio; Kenosha, Wisconsin; Belvidere, Illinois and many other cities. As Congress continues to work towards a deal mayors this morning called on leaders from both parties to finish the job of providing critical financial assistance to the Big Three automakers.

Mayor Virg Bernero of Lansing, Michigan urged Congress to take immediate action to provide relief for the struggling auto industry. “Democrats and Republicans must come together now and put people before politics. Congress and the White House must act immediately to deliver relief to hard working families across America whose livelihood depends on the success of our domestic car companies.”

Mayor Cedric Glover of Shreveport said, “As Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, I know first-hand how important the American auto industry is to the economies of cities and towns across the country, not just in the industrial Midwest.  We are counting on Congress to take swift and decisive action to protect the livelihoods of millions of hard-working Americans." 

The mayoral delegation met with Chairman Barney Frank and staff in the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to convey the urgency of this issue and outline the devastation that their communities will face should the auto industry collapse. Mayors stressed the need for immediate Congressional action through a bridge loan that will provide the support needed for the companies to restructure and to continue to provide millions of Americans with jobs.

The mayors also met with Senator Debbie Stabenow, Senator George Voinovich, Senator Herb Kohl, Senator Tom Carper, Senator David Vitter, Senator Mary Landrieu, Senator Jim Bunning, Senator Carl Levin, Congressman Mike Rogers, Congressman Steve LaTourette, Congressman Tim Ryan, Congressman John Conyers, Congressman Don Manzullo, Congressman Sander Levin, Congresswoman Candice Miller, and staff from the offices of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Senator Richard Lugar, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator Russ Feingold, Congressman Dale Kildee, Congressman John Dingell, Congressman Ron Lewis, Congressman Paul Ryan and Congressman Thaddeus McCotter.

City and State

Mayor

Belvidere, IL

Fred Brereton

Marion, IN

Wayne Seybold

Bowling Green, KY

Elaine Walker

Shreveport, LA

Cedric Glover

Lansing, MI

Virg Bernero

Bay City, MI

Charles Brunner

Wixom, MI

Kevin Hinkley

Wayne, MI

Abdul Haidous

Hamtramck, MI

Karen Majewska

Sterling Heights, MI

Richard Notte

Dearborn, MI

John O’Reilly

Toledo, OH

Carty Finkbeiner

Walton Hills, OH

Marlene Anielski

Lordstown, OH

Michael Chaffee

Twinsburg, OH

Kathy Procop

Kenosha, WI

Keith Bosman