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Parts manufacturers for the automotive industry are among those who will be helped by the continuing resolution passed in Washington Wednesday, according to Ohio 5th District Congressman Bob Latta.

Parts manufacturers for the automotive industry are among those who will be helped by the continuing resolution passed in Washington Wednesday, according to Ohio 5th District Congressman Bob Latta.

The $630 billion resolution which funds the federal government through March 2009 was passed 370-58.

A part of the continuing resolution is a loan program for the country's automakers. Latta stated that it was not just Ford, GM, and Chrysler that would benefit from the program. "It's important that we make sure that it's just not chained to the big three automakers, but we also have so many auto parts makers, not only in Ohio, but across the country," he explained. "We want to make sure we have viable American auto plants out there, and I think it was important that we got that done.

With many Van Wert County and regional companies supplying parts to the large automakers, the program becomes very important to this area as well.

"We heard from parts manufacturers from all over northwest and north central Ohio," said Latta. "They were very concerned that the provision had to be passed. A lot of the big three are no longer manufacturing plants, they are assembly plants. They get all their parts from somebody else and put them all together, so that's why it's so important for parts manufacturers.

The loan program will go toward not only the continued modernization of production facilities, but also to assist in the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles. Latta emphasized that this provision is key to reducing energy consumption in this country.

Latta noted, "It can go up to $25 billion and right now it's going to $7.5 billion that they can be loaned. They're in a situation where they are really hard hit right now, and we need to make sure they are viable.

According to Latta, the provision for the loan program was actually a part of the Energy Independence Act that was passed in 2007. "It had the authorization language in there. What we had to do was make sure the amount of dollars was actually allocated," he revealed.

The continuing resolution is expected to be passed by the Senate. President Bush has already indicated that he will sign the measure.

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