Van Hollen release

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Van Hollen Statement on Dealerships at Risk for Closure in Montgomery County
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Department of Economic Development Director Steven Silverman’s meeting with the owners of several auto dealerships in Montgomery County that are at risk for elimination in coming months by Chrysler and General Motors:

“I’m deeply concerned about the potential loss of local auto dealership jobs. Last week, I signed on to a Congressional letter to the Treasury’s Auto Task Force, headed by Steven Rattner, to request the Task Force reconsider the forced closure of dealerships across the country in favor of a more flexible and transparent process that would allow for market forces to consolidate dealerships. In total 68 members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats from districts all over the country, signed on in support of the letter.

“I also raised the issue with President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, at a meeting last week at the White House. I applaud Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Department of Economic Development Director Steven Silverman’s efforts to tackle this issue head on, and will work to be a strong partner on the federal level to deal with this problem.”