U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), center, tours the Jarden Consumer Solutions plant in Waynesboro Tuesday along with district representative Bill Felder. Mark Sullivan, plant manager for the Waynesboro facility, guided the tour of the nearly 900,000-square-foot plant. Taylor supported Jarden last year during its Chinese "dumping" settlement with the International Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Commerce. Photo/David Owens

WAYNESBORO — U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) toured the Sunbeam plant in Waynesboro Tuesday as he counts down to a Nov. 2 showdown with Republican challenger Steven Palazzo.It was Taylor's first visit to the plant since he helped the company, which is owned by Jarden Consumer Solutions, petition the International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to investigate illegal "dumping" by China.

The Waynesboro facility, which has served the Pine Belt for 51 years, manufactures and ships woven electric blankets and box fans.

Last year, Taylor along with U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) showed their support for the company, which claimed China was selling the imported woven electric blankets (WEBs) at less than fair value.

This past June, Taylor's office also testified at the preliminary hearing supporting the U.S. WEB industry. The subsequent 6-0 ruling by the ITC found Jarden was being harmed by China's dumped imports.

The DOC then levied a minimum of 93 percent anti-dumping duty on imported WEBs from China, leveling the playing field for the WEBs manufactured in Waynesboro.

After touring the nearly 900,000-square-foot facility, Taylor spoke before a large group of employees in a town hall setting.

Mark Sullivan, plant manager for the Jasper County facility, thanked Taylor for his support during the hearings.

"He wrote a letter on our behalf and was very complimentary of what we do here," he said. "The anti-dumping petition against Chinese imports was very difficult. The labor costs over there are low, but I felt we had a good case."

Taylor talked about working in factories like the one in Waynesboro prior to becoming a U.S. Congressman.

Taylor recalled telling his colleagues to vote against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"I knew we were going to lose jobs to Mexico, but they didn't listen," he said. "Then, we had most favored nation status with China, and they had to pay a tariff to sell their products here.

"Now, they have total free access without paying anyone," Taylor added. "It's not fair to you."

Taylor told those gathered that the facility and its workers are important to him.

"I will do everything I can to keep American jobs for American workers," he said. "I'm also a sponsor to repeal NAFTA. We've lost 13 million jobs to Mexico."

Taylor praised the workers at the Sunbeam plant, and said he's seen a number of improvements during his 20 years of visiting the facility.

"It's cleaner," he said. "The lighting has gotten better. There's air conditioning and heat. I'm going to see to it that you stay busy in Waynesboro. We do value what you make here."

As a thank you, Sullivan presented Taylor with a woven electric blanket and box fan made in the facility.

Taylor will return to the area Saturday for the 19th annual Academy Day Seminar at the University of Southern Mississippi Student Union.

The event, which will run from 8 a.m. to noon, provides young people in South Mississippi, who are interested in attending one of the five U. S. Service Academies, a chance to learn about valuable scholarships and career opportunities available to them.

For more information on the Academy Day Seminar, contact Suzy Soberoski in Congressman Taylor's Hattiesburg office at 601-582-3246.