December 2008 Archives

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan this week to visit with U.S. troops stationed abroad and survey the situation on the ground.

"Traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan and visiting with the incredible men and women serving in the United States military has been a profound experience that has left me with a deep sense of gratitude, pride and hope," Whitfield said. "It is because of their efforts that 300 million Americans and countless others across the globe will be able to celebrate the holidays with their families, free from fear and war. The sacrifices they and their families have made deserve nothing less than our unwavering support, deep respect and most sincere thanks."

Whitfield traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a Congressional Delegation (CODEL), departing on Friday, December 19 with fellow Members of Congress and other elected officials. During the trip, Whitfield met with military leaders, visited key sites and cities and dined with soldiers from across the country.

While in Iraq, Whitfield spoke to U.S. and Iraqi government and military officials about the current state of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the political progress being made in the country. The Congressman was scheduled to travel to al-Asad Airbase to visit with marines before visiting the Small Business Development Center in Nasiriyah. The center was established in February 2008 to provide Iraqis with the training necessary to establish their own successful businesses.

Whitfield was to travel to Kabul, Afghanistan next where he would speak to Afghani political leaders regarding Operation Enduring Freedom and visited with more soldiers. The CODEL was scheduled to conduct a visit to a recent project completed by the National Solidarity Program (NSP). NSP is a massive effort by the government to reach rural communities across Afghanistan and address their needs. About 13 million rural people in all 34 of Afghanistan's provinces have benefited from improved water, roads and other small infrastructure projects as a result of this program.

Whitfield noted that while Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom are not yet complete, U.S. troops continue to make progress on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. The Congressman said that the security gains we have made could just as easily be lost should Congress fail to continue to give our commanders and troops the authority and tools they need to complete their mission. The consequences of failure are simply too great, Whitfield said, and the dangers to our remaining forces unacceptable, to precipitously draw down our troop strength before they have succeeded in their mission to stabilize Iraq for the long term

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Labor certified that employees at Johnson Control, Inc. in Cadiz were eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance. With this certification, the hundreds of employees at the plant who are scheduled to lose their jobs in the next year will be eligible to apply for up to 104 weeks of income and retraining assistance once their regular unemployment benefits run out.

"Far too many Kentuckians are struggling to make ends meet as our nation continues to reel from the economic recession. When businesses and factories close down, Americans find it increasingly harder to find employment. During this difficult time, I am very pleased that the nearly 600 employees at the Johnson Controls plant in Cadiz will now be eligible to receive additional assistance. I applaud the West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board and city, county and local economic development officials for all their hard work in making this possible. I have been proud to support them and the displaced employees at the plant and will continue to do everything I can to bring new jobs and new opportunities to the First Congressional District."

The Department of Labor offers Trade Adjustment Assistance to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports from overseas. Johnson Controls, Inc. announced in September that it will close its Cadiz plant next summer. A phase-out of the 559 employees who work at the plant began in November. The West Kentucky Workforce Investment Board filed an application for the Cadiz employees to receive this assistance as a result of the plant closure.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) released the following statement today after ConocoPhillips and Peabody Energy announced the filing of an air permit with the Commonwealth of Kentucky for a state-of-the-art coal-to-natural-gas facility near Central City in Muhlenberg County.

"As Kentuckians continue to face tough and uncertain economic times, I am very pleased that Muhlenberg County will soon be home to a new facility that will not only create hundreds of jobs and provide a needed boost to the western Kentucky economy, but promote the development and use of our nation's most abundant natural resource - coal. Western Kentucky has a long history of being at the forefront of energy development and technology. This new coal-to-gas facility will put to good use Kentucky's 87.1 billion tons of coal resources and go a long way in advancing the next wave of clean coal technologies. In addition, the economic benefits this energy center will bring are immense. With 1200 construction jobs and 500 long-term jobs expected to be created and $100 million in economic activity generated ever year, this facility is a win-win for western Kentucky. I have been proud to support the building of this plant all along the way and will continue to do whatever I can to see this project through."

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) stood up for Kentucky taxpayers already hit hard by the economic recession, voting against a $15 billion taxpayer funded bailout of the U.S. automobile industry today.

"Ronald Reagan once said, 'Government is not the solution, it's the problem,' and in the case of the auto bailout, I could not agree more," Whitfield said. "There are fundamental flaws in the U.S. auto industry that need to be addressed. They simply cannot be resolved by throwing billions of taxpayer dollars at these companies. While I believe we need to find a way to protect the many jobs associated with the industry, Kentucky taxpayers do not need to be footing the bill for a plan that does not provide for the long term viability of the automotive industry."

Whitfield voted against H.R. 7321, the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act. The bill would provide up to $15 billion in emergency bridge loans, or short term loans, to automobile manufacturers General Motors, Chrysler and Ford. While Ford has indicated it is not presently in need of government help, General Motors and Chrysler claim the funds are essential to keeping their businesses afloat for the next three months.

Whitfield pointed to a recent hearing where the CEO's of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford said this current financial problem was the result of four mistakes:

- Agreeing to expensive union contracts;
- Not investing enough in smaller cars;
- Failing to convert manufacturing plants so they could build more than one type of vehicle; and
- Being focused more on profits than long term innovation and financial viability.

H.R. 7321 would provide up to $15 billion in emergency bridge loans to the three automobile manufacturers, but it does not mandate structural changes within the companies to ensure their long-term viability.

The Congressman noted that this legislation would fail to make any of the big three automakers more competitive, making it likely that the businesses would need additional federal aid in the future to stay in business. The automakers face systematic business problems which can only be fixed through major restructuring which is not mandated in this legislation. Without this restructuring, Whitfield said, the government would be wasting taxpayer dollars investing in companies likely to fail.

Whitfield opposed the Wall Street bailout signed into law this fall, citing concerns over government involvement in the financial sector and the effectiveness of the $750 billion legislation. He noted similar concerns today over the auto bailout.

"First the government bailed out the housing industry, then the financial sector and now the automobile industry - where do we draw the line?" Whitfield said. "I believe free market principles and individual choice are what our government was founded on and what are needed now."

The bill Whitfield opposed today was crafted with little to no input from Members of Congress and leading financial analysts; went through no Congressional Committee discussion and markups; and was rushed to the floor of the House of Representatives without sufficient time for analysis and debate. Whitfield said the Wall Street bailout was considered under similar circumstances and, as a result, taxpayers have been left wondering how their $750 billion is being spent and why it does not seem to be improving our economy.

In addition, the legislation would establish a "Car Czar," appointed by the President, to oversee the restructuring of the businesses. Whitfield questioned whether such an appointee would be able to successfully restructure the businesses after the companies' own CEO's were unable to do so.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) announced today that the La Center Rural Fire Department has been awarded a $37,159 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

"Local fire departments are a critical part of community safety networks here in western Kentucky," Whitfield said. "The La Center Rural Fire Department does a great job serving the residents of Ballard County and I am pleased to support them in any way I can."

The fire department received the grant through the Operations and Safety program. These funds may be used for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

The award comes as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. These grants aim to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire-related hazards. Since 2004, AFG has provided a total of almost $2.75 billion to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) announced today that the Graham Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $58,211 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

"Volunteer fire departments are a critical part of local community safety networks, particularly in rural areas like western Kentucky," Whitfield said. "The Graham Volunteer Fire Department does a great job serving the residents of Muhlenberg County and I am pleased to support them in any way I can."

The fire department received the grant through the Operations and Safety program. These funds may be used for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

The award comes as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. These grants aim to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire-related hazards. Since 2004, AFG has provided a total of almost $2.75 billion to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) announced today that the Providence Fire Department-EMS has been awarded a $12,835 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

"Local fire departments are a critical part of community safety networks here in western Kentucky," Whitfield said. "The Providence Fire Department-EMS does a great job serving the residents of Webster County and I am pleased to support them in any way I can."

The fire department received the grant through the Operations and Safety program. These funds may be used for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

The award comes as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. These grants aim to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire-related hazards. Since 2004, AFG has provided a total of almost $2.75 billion to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) announced today that the Cunningham Fire Department has been awarded a $142,263 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

"Local fire departments are a critical part of community safety networks here in western Kentucky," Whitfield said. "The Cunningham Fire Department does a great job serving the residents of Carlisle County and I am pleased to support them in any way I can."

The fire department received the grant through the Vehicle Acquisition program. These funds may be used to purchase brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerials, foam units and fireboats, among other items.

The award comes as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. These grants aim to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire-related hazards. Since 2004, AFG has provided a total of almost $2.75 billion to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) announced today that two volunteer fire departments in Casey County have been awarded grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The Southeast Casey Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a $237,500 grant and the Brush Creek Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded $185,678.

"Volunteer fire departments are a critical part of local community safety networks, particularly in rural areas like the First Congressional District," Whitfield said. "The Southeast Casey Volunteer Fire Department and the Brush Creek Volunteer Fire Department do a great job serving the residents of Casey County and I am pleased to support them in any way I can."

The fire departments received the grant through the Vehicle Acquisition program. These funds may be used to purchase brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerials, foam units and fireboats, among other items.

The awards come as part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. These grants aim to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire-related hazards. Since 2004, AFG has provided a total of almost $2.75 billion to first-responder organizations to purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles.