Advancing our economy: committee work brings new opportunities for businesses and workers in the Detroit Region.

The downturn in manufacturing and the auto industry have put stress on all levels of our local economy. Public officials at all levels of government must work together to transition to a brighter economic future. I am working hard in Congress to promote policies to transform our economy.

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As a member of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, we are tasked with proposing solutions for our dependence on foreign sources of energy and limiting [CO.sub.2] emissions. Many of the solutions discussed have a direct and dire impact on our domestic auto industry. Many in Congress have proposed draconian increases in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to lessen our dependence on foreign energy. This 30-year-old approach has not worked. We should focus on finding new fuels that do not rely on oil.

The Big Three made a commitment to use ethanol and other bio-fuels, and we saw the recent announcements of the plug in hybrids. Advancing the viability of innovative technologies should be the focus, because they could solve the problem. It makes sense to fuel our cars with ethanol grown here or with electricity generated at American power plants. Change is coming, and this gives us an opportunity to shape it to benefit our auto and agricultural sectors.

I have worked on the House Armed Services Committee to ensure Southeast Michigan companies can complete for more defense contracts. I successfully secured a $5 million authorization in the 2008 Defense Bill for a business accelerator operated in conjunction with Automation Alley and auto industry suppliers. This funding will assist the military in re-engineering and producing parts for more than 3,000 weapons no longer produced by the original manufacturers and still needed by our military. This is another step to provide greater opportunities for Michigan engineers and manufacturers to become involved in defense-related industries.

By U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller, Michigan's 10th Congressional District