WASHINGTON, DC – Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-OH) will be honored by the automotive and heavy duty supplier industry as the 2007 recipients of the “Joseph M. Magliochetti Industry Champion” award at the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association’s (MEMA) Legislative Summit in Washington, DC. The summit is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, May 16-17, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Washington, DC. The awards presentation is slated for the Summit breakfast on Thursday, May 17.
MEMA established the Industry Champion award in 2004 in the memory of Joseph M. Magliochetti, who served as the chairman and CEO of Dana Corp. until his death in 2003. The award celebrates and recognizes those who have worked diligently on behalf of motor vehicle parts manufacturers in the United States. Past recipients include Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).
“As co-chairmen of the Senate Auto Caucus, Sens. Levin and Voinovich kept attention focused on issues surrounding motor vehicle parts suppliers,” said Bob McKenna, MEMA president and CEO. “It is especially appropriate that we honor the senators for their efforts at this year’s Legislative Summit, which will emphasize our industry’s significant contribution to the nation’s economy,” he added.
McKenna noted that MEMA’s recent landmark study shows that the motor vehicle parts supplier industry is the nation’s leading manufacturing sector, accounting for 783,100 direct employment jobs. “Those direct employment jobs in turn contribute to 4.5 million private industry jobs,” McKenna stated.
Both senators have been involved in critical pieces of legislation impacting the motor vehicle parts supplier industry, in addition to their posts as caucus leaders. Levin championed re-tooling legislation that would provide a tax credit for manufacturers that acquire or retool a facility to make more energy efficient components, and Voinovich led anti-counterfeiting legislation focusing attention on issues of manufacturers.
“We greatly appreciate Sens. Levin and Voinovich serving as advocates of the supplier industry in the important discussions on the future of the motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts manufacturing in this country,” McKenna said.
The Summit will continue after the breakfast and awards ceremony on Thursday, May 17, with individual meetings with members of Congress and their staffs on issues such as health care, raw material costs and technology.
Detailed information, an agenda and registration materials – including how companies can get involved in the Supplier Fair – is available at the MEMA websites, http://www.mema.org or http://www.automotivesupplier.org. For more information, contact Ann McCulloch at 202-312-9242 or [email protected].
