Louise Slaughter: “Mr. Speaker, historically, manufacturing has been a major generator of good, high-skilled, well-paid jobs and remains a…”

“Mr. Speaker, historically, manufacturing has been a major generator of good, high-skilled, well-paid jobs and remains a staple of local and State economies throughout the Nation. But manufacturing jobs are disappearing. From January 2001 to January 2004, the United States lost 2.5 million manufacturing jobs. Manufacturing's decline and the shipping of manufacturing jobs to other countries threaten the livelihood of millions of America's working families. In western New York, I have seen firsthand the devastation that occurs when communities lose their manufacturing base. Across my district, from Rochester to Buffalo, tens of thousands of high-paying manufacturing jobs have vanished and are vanishing in just the last few years, as companies have been driven out of business by cheaper foreign imports or have outsourced jobs abroad for cheaper labor. Buildings once home to booming businesses and factories now stand abandoned. In western New York and across the country, people are outraged; and they want their Congress to do something.”