Debbie Dingell: “The industrial, cultural, and natural heritage legacies of Michigan's automobile industry are nationally significant…”

“The industrial, cultural, and natural heritage legacies of Michigan's automobile industry are nationally significant; they have made this a greater country. In cities across Michigan, such as Detroit, Dearborn, Flint, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Saginaw, the automobile was designed and manufactured and in turn helped establish and expand the United States as an industrial power. The industrial strength of automobile manufacturing was vital to defending freedom and democracy in two world wars and fueled our economic growth in the modern era. Automobile heritage is more than the assembly lines and engineering rooms where cars were created and built. Turning a vision into a reality, the story of the automobile is a tale of hard work and growth. It is the shared history of millions of Americans who fought, during the labor movement, for good wages and benefits. This industry shaped 20th Century America like no other; it is the quintessential American story. It is a story worth celebrating and sharing. The end product of all this hard work and cooperation, the Automobile National Heritage Area, creates something special and lasting both for Michigan and America.”