If you're a Delphi or General Motors employee, or a retiree, you don't need to go to Washington, D.C., to make your voice heard.

All you need is a computer.

For the next two weeks, U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee, D-Flint, and other House Democrats are holding an electronic hearing.

It's called "The American Auto Industry in Crisis" and continues through Dec. 15.

The idea is to give workers an opportunity to communicate directly with Congress about their concerns on issues like jobs, wages, health insurance and retirement security.

Besides current and retired workers, lawmakers have invited local elected officials, union leaders, economists, and auto industry representatives to submit statements. Gov. Jennifer Granholm also plans to participate.

Democrats are holding the hearing online to allow people all over the country to participate - Delphi is the nation's largest auto supplier - and because only Republicans can convene formal live hearings.

Democratic lawmakers sponsoring the e-hearing will write and distribute a report based on the testimony they receive.

Employees or retirees of Delphi or GM may send testimony of 500 words or less to autocrisis@mail.house.gov.

Testimony may be posted online. Witnesses must include their name, address, phone number and e-mail address for verification purposes; but only their name and place of residence will be posted along with their testimony. Witnesses should discuss how the announced changes at GM and Delphi, including proposed pay cuts and plant closings, could affect their lives.

The e-hearing Web site is edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/autocrisis.html.

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