Tom Harkin: “I would like to address some issues that may be bothering some of my colleagues. I know some representatives of defense…”

“I would like to address some issues that may be bothering some of my colleagues. I know some representatives of defense contractors have visited with my colleagues. They have told them my amendment will hurt workers because the companies are relying on the taxpayer money to help them. This is completely and totally untrue. According to the rules of this subsidy, DOD cannot reimburse companies for helping fired workers unless the companies were already obligated to do that. Understand, under the subsidy rules, Government money cannot go to a company to help fired workers unless the companies were already obligated to do that under existing contracts with the workers. In other words, the taxpayers' subsidies will never reach the laid-off workers. Mr. President, if you do not believe me, let me read a letter from James Carroll, directing business representative of the International Association of Machinists, Lodge 709, Marietta, GA. He says: I am the Directing Business Representative and President of . . . Local Lodge 709, based in Marietta, Georgia. Our Local represents workers at Lockheed Martin's assembly plant. Over the past five years, many thousands of our members have been laid off because of these cutbacks in defense and cost cutting measures by Lockheed Martin. Contrary to the facts of an increasing stock value and skyrocketing executive compensation, our members did not receive any compensation or retraining assistance from the Lockheed Martin Corporation.”