Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) took to the House floor Thursday night to fight for displaced workers in his district and his state. He made a passionate case for health care reform and how it can help workers in industries particularly hard hit during the recession.  Below are Congressman Dingell’s remarks as prepared for delivery on the House floor:

“On Monday General Motors filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While, I am confident that GM will emerge from court poised to once again lead the world in the automotive sector, this process is a painful one.  The company plans to cut 21,000 employees – 34 percent of its workforce. This does not include the elimination of about 2,600 more dealerships. Furthermore, this comes on the heels of Chrysler’s layoffs and downsizing.

“A recent study from the Center for Automotive Research shows that when you include job loses from suppliers and other companies that are tied to GM and Chrysler we could see 250,000 jobs lost over the next 19 months.

“This week, GM announced they were closing the Willow Run Transmission plant in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, which is in my district along with 13 other plants; 6 of them in Michigan. By December of 2010, 1,110 more GM workers will lose their jobs in my district. These workers not only worry about how they will survive without their GM paycheck, but also how they will survive without health insurance.

“These very real and painful economic anxieties are not unique to the American automobile industry. Workers in the construction industry, financial sector and many other areas have experienced mass layoffs and this is just further proof that we must enact comprehensive health care reform now. Our economic problems and the skyrocketing costs of the health care system are so intertwined, that we cannot get this country back on the road to prosperity if we don’t reform our broken health care system.

“Furthermore, the American people deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing that regardless of their economic situation, they will always have access to quality health care.

“Comprehensive health care reform will give people coverage that is portable. Never again will people have to worry about how to pay for health care when they are in between jobs. Never again will people have to worry about losing coverage if they get sick.

“President Obama has outlined an aggressive goal of signing health care reform into law this year.  In order to meet this deadline, we will have to work quickly and cooperatively. It will not be easy, but I am certain we can make it. We have to. The American people require it. I urge my colleagues to champion the cause of comprehensive health care reform, and to make it the top priority now.”