Reps. Woronchak, Hood, Accavitti, Acciavatti, Adamini, Bieda, Brandenburg, Caswell, Clack, Daniels, Dennis, DeRossett, Ehardt, Farhat, Farrah, Garfield, Gieleghem, Gillard, Gleason, Hager, Hardman, Huizenga, Hummel, Jamnick, Koetje, Kooiman, LaSata, Law, Lipsey, McConico, Meyer, Middaugh, Minore, Nofs, Pappageorge, Pastor, Plakas, Reeves, Richardville, Rivet, Rocca, Sak, Shackleton, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Shulman, Spade, Stakoe, Stewart, Tabor, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Van Regenmorter, Vander Veen, Voorhees, Waters, Wojno, Woodward, Zelenko and Phillips offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 65.

            A resolution to honor Ford Motor Company as it celebrates its 100^th anniversary.

            Whereas, It is a great pleasure for members of the Michigan House of Representatives to join in commemorating the centennial of Ford Motor Company.  On June 16, 2003, Ford Motor Company will celebrate 100 years of business in the United States; and

            Whereas, In 1903, Henry Ford submitted incorporation papers in Lansing, Michigan to launch the Ford Motor Company. The Ford family has remained actively involved in running the company throughout the entire 100-year history.  The operation started in a leased, small converted wagon factory on a spur of the Michigan Central Railroad in Detroit.  And nowhere has Ford had more impact than in Dearborn, Michigan, home of the company’s world headquarters; and

            Whereas, The manufacturing giant’s growth has been phenomenal.  Ford is one of the largest companies in the world and provides employment to 354,431 people around the globe.  Ford was one of the first major corporations to establish worldwide operations.  Henry Ford believed that the company should, “build them where [we] sell them” and, today, Ford has manufacturing facilities in 25 markets worldwide.  In the United States, it provides seven indirect jobs for every direct position at Ford, both inside and outside of the automotive industry; and

            Whereas, Few companies have had a greater impact on the lives of people around the world than Ford Motor Company.  Ford revolutionized 20^th century manufacturing with the large-scale application of the moving assembly line and has been a global leader in providing affordable mobility for the world’s citizens; and

            Whereas, Ford has an outstanding reputation for its treatment of workers.  They surprised the world in 1914 by setting Ford’s minimum wage at $5 for an 8-hour day, which replaced the prior $2.34 wage for a 9-hour day.  Today, the benefits that they provide to employees still serve as a model to other corporations; and

            Whereas, Ford Motor Company has championed another great tradition during its first century – that of community involvement.   In addition to its economic contribution of jobs, tax revenues and foreign exchange earnings, Ford is a strong corporate citizen in the locations where it operates.  Ford supports education, the arts and humanities, environmental and automotive safety initiatives and more throughout the world; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we are proud to have such an outstanding business call our state home and that we commemorate Ford Motor Company’s 100 years of business leadership and dedication to its employees.  May Ford Motor Company continue to be a global leader in the automobile industry; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Ford Motor Company as evidence of our warmest congratulations.