Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Brady (R- Texas) made the following statement on voting “no” on the $15 billion auto bailout measure before the U.S. House of Representatives:

“We need a rebirth of our American auto industry so they can compete against anyone and prosper over the long haul.

“Not just for the nation’s sake. I want to keep our local dealerships and their workers in business because they’re such an important part of our community.   

“In the end this bill was designed more to protect union contracts and benefits than bring about a serious restructuring, which experts agree will require equal sacrifice by the management, unions, investors and creditors. Plus I’m skeptical that Washington and its new federal ‘car czar’ are qualified by any stretch of the imagination to lead these auto companies into the future. It’s a recipe for disaster.”