Industry

October 6, 2009 -- Washington – Senator Evan Bayh today announced that Indiana will receive $2.86 million to clean up and revitalize brownfield areas. The funds were awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program.

The grants will help improve abandoned and underused industrial and commercial lands by cleaning and restoring them for future use in Indiana communities. The Indiana Finance Authority will receive $2.5 million for the Indiana Revolving Loan Fund, while the City of South Bend has been awarded $360,000 for a brownfield revolving loan.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today joined labor and environmental leaders to unveil a new report on climate change legislation and jobs. The report – with a state-by-state and industry breakdown – shows that industries supporting more than 4 million jobs could be at risk unless Congress maintains the competitiveness of energy-intensive, trade-sensitive manufacturers in any climate change legislation.    » read more »

Savannah, Ga—Several international unions representing hundreds of thousands of chemical and food industry workers today again criticized the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) for not recommending strong standards to prevent deadly explosions in factories handling combustible dusts, despite the board’s prior endorsement of such a step.

The unions reacted to the CSB’s new report on the deadly sugar dust explosion on Feb. 7, 2008, at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Ga. The explosion killed fourteen people, injured scores of others and severely damaged the plant.    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – From the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) called for greater transparency in the oil, gas and mineral industries in an effort to fight corruption and promote stability in nations rich in such resources. Senator Cardin and Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN) (D-RI), have introduced S. 1700, the Energy Security Through Transparency Act of 2009, which would provide for public disclosure of payments to oil, gas and mineral extraction companies through mandatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, along with co-sponsors Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Sheldon Whitehouse    » read more »

Statement of Lena Pons, Policy Analyst, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division

Sept. 15, 2009 -- The Obama administration proposed a historic step forward today that would reduce our nation’s oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed standards it announced for fuel economy and emissions would save 1.3 million barrels of oil per day in 2020 and save drivers about $26 billion per year in 2020, based on the current price of gas.

Under the proposal, automakers would have to raise the average gas mileage across their fleets to 35.5 miles per gallon and reduce carbon dioxide to 250 grams per mile by 2016.    » read more »

DOE and Industry Plot Course for Major Efficiency Improvements

September 10, 2009 -- DETROIT, MI – The U.S. Department of Energy and Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm joined with over 300 industry, state, and federal leaders to recognize industrial efficiency leaders and plot a course to accelerate industrial energy efficiency in the Midwest.    » read more »

Brown, a Longtime Advocate for GM Lordstown and a Leading Proponent of a National Manufacturing Policy, Joins President in Visit with Workers

September 15, 2009 -- WARREN, OHIO – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Pres. Barack Obama today as he visited the Lordstown General Motors Plant. Pres. Obama and Sen. Brown met with workers and the President made remarks about the economy.    » read more »

August 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Automakers have now successfully implemented a voluntary agreement under which new cars and light trucks are engineered to be more compatible in front- and side-impact crashes. Since launching the agreement, manufacturers have been quickly increasing the percentage of vehicles with the compatibility engineering, and as of September 1, 2009, 100 percent of each participating manufacturers’ applicable vehicles will be made in a way that improves crash compatibility.    » read more »

Governor awards $100,000 to Ashland electric motorcycle company

August 31, 2009 -- (Ashland) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today toured two start-up electric vehicle companies in southern Oregon as part of his initiative to transition the state toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation options.

While visiting Brammo, Inc., an electric motorcycle company headquartered in Ashland, the Governor announced a $100,000 grant from his Strategic Reserve Fund for workforce training to assist the company in growing their workforce by more than 300 employees over the next two years.    » read more »

Growing Support for National Fuel Use and CO2 Reduction Program

Williamsburg, VA –The EcoDriving movement continues to grow. And to mark its one-year anniversary ten new governors have announced support for this national initiative to promote green driving. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), Governor Bill Ritter (D-CO), the Environmental Defense Fund and the Auto Alliance launched the EcoDrivingUSA program at a news conference a year ago, in August 2008.    » read more »

Says China’s export quotas, taxes are illegal trade barriers that hurt U.S. manufacturing workers

Washington, D.C. (Jun. 23) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today gave strong support for a new World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute filed by the United States and European Union, challenging China’s export restrictions on key raw materials and minerals used in manufacturing.

The U.S. and the EU have requested WTO consultations with the Chinese government regarding export restrictions placed on a variety of raw materials and minerals, including bauxite, coke, zinc, silicon metal, silicon carbide, fluorspar, yellow phosphorous, magnesium and manganese.    » read more »

Schumer Urges Tonawanda, NY Coke Plant Ceo To Take Stronger Actions To Reduce Benzene Emissions That Are Threatening The Health And Safety Of Town Residents

June 22, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer wrote to the owner and CEO of the Tonawanda Coke Corporation urging the firm to enact measures to reduce the release of harmful benzene emissions from the Tonawanda plant.    » read more »

Beijing’s actions pose unfair threat to workers in Fort Wayne area

June 18, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh praised the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today for determining that China is illegally dumping imported tires into the American market, causing a market disruption that should be remedied by U.S. government action.

The ruling will help workers at domestic tire manufacturers like the BF Goodrich Tire Manufacturing/Michelin North America Inc. plant in Woodburn, Indiana. The ITC was considering a petition initiated by the United Steel Workers alleging that an increase in imported Chinese tires has caused a steep decline in U.S. production, sales, profitability and employment.    » read more »

June 15, 2009

Governor Kaine Announces Alcoa Howmet Expansion in Hampton; Company to invest up to $25 million

RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Alcoa will invest up to $25 million to increase capacity and production of investment castings for industrial gas turbines at its Hampton operations.

"Alcoa Howmet has been a steadfast contributor and strong corporate citizen in Hampton since it opened in 1974," Governor Kaine said. "This expansion reflects Alcoa Howmet's continued commitment to its workforce and the City of Hampton, and I am delighted the company's long-term, positive experience in Virginia led to an expansion of this magnitude."    » read more »

Co-sponsors two bills that would restore franchise agreements and guard dealers’ rights

Washington, June 10, 2009 -- As General Motors and Chrysler start shuttering more than 2,000 dealerships across the country, Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6th District) wants to make sure Detroit and Washington do not trample on dealers’ rights to a transparent and fair process.

The congressman has sponsored two bills, H.R. 2743 and H.R. 2750, that would guard against General Motors (GM) and Chrysler arbitrarily stripping protections from state franchising laws by hiding behind federal government-ordered bankruptcy.    » read more »