"Good morning. I am Congressman Brian Baird from Washington State.

"Over eight million Americans are looking for work, including 1.4 million Latinos. And 2.8 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the last three years. Democrats are fighting to keep good paying manufacturing jobs here at home and create new ones. But Republicans have failed to provide tax relief to U.S. manufacturers, and have advocated policies that reward companies that lay off American workers.

"These job losses in manufacturing are a major problem. Manufacturing has long been key to the strength of our economy. It provides good jobs and guarantees a high standard of living for America's working families. In fact, manufacturing workers' earnings were 23 percent greater than those of workers in service sectors of the economy. But these good jobs are the ones that the Republicans want to take away from you.

"With no manufacturing jobs plan, the President's Economic Report suggests that fast-food jobs be renamed manufacturing jobs, so a McDonald's employee is under the same job classification as an employee in the manufacturing sector.

"As if that wasn't laughable enough, this week House Republicans launched their phony 'HOW' jobs program. HOW stands for 'Hire Our Workers.' But how exactly will they prevent more manufacturing job losses? And how do they intend to avoid shipping more jobs overseas if they continue with their irresponsible economic policies? The answer is definitely not in empty rhetoric that will not create jobs.

"At least part of the answer has been circulating in Congress. But Republicans have failed to support a bipartisan measure that would provide tax relief to manufacturers that produce goods here in the United States, encourage job creation, and prevent the hemorrhage of manufacturing jobs.

"Since President Bush took office, close to half a million Latino workers have lost their jobs. This is unacceptable.

"Democrats will keep fighting to provide the tax relief that our manufacturers deserve so that American factories can hire workers, including unemployed Hispanic workers who want to support their families. The next time the Republicans ask HOW to create new manufacturing jobs, we will say: by not helping your special interest friends who lay off American workers.

"I am Congressman Brian Baird from Washington State. Thank you for listening."