In Capitol Hill Meeting, Van Hollen, Maryland Federal Delegation Calls on GM CEO Mary Barra to Reconsider Closing White Marsh Facility

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (All D-Md.) met Wednesday evening with General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra in an effort to gain clarity and reverse the decision to close the GM facility at White Marsh. The lawmakers released the following joint statement on the meeting:

“This evening, we met with General Motors (GM) Chair and CEO Mary Barra and again reiterated our shock and dismay at the company's plans to end production at its White Marsh facility, home to 350 dedicated employees and contractors. We urged her to reconsider the company’s decision, as the plant is large, modern and situated in a community that wants to keep up its hard work. The company’s stated ‘realignment’ to focus on light-duty trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and self-driving and electric vehicles makes the White Marsh decision incomprehensible because the plant makes light-duty truck transmissions and electric motors. 

“More importantly: the American people came to the aid of GM in a time of crisis. Now, GM is turning its back on workers who helped the company weather the storm. In addition to a $50 billion taxpayer bailout and a tax cut from the Republican tax law, GM has received nearly $115.5 million in federal, state and local grants exclusively for its White Marsh facility. The company is now seeing tremendous growth and, if it insists on laying off the employees who helped it rebound from near-bankruptcy, GM should return these grants to the taxpayers by providing re-training and new opportunities to affected employees. Additionally, absent a change of heart, we asked Chairman Barra to help find a new tenant for the facility that offers a manufacturing future for the community of White Marsh. 

We look forward to continued conversations with a singular focus on the lives and livelihoods of our constituents.”

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