Rockefeller sees no reason to step aside from his committee's investigation

09/02/2010 03:24
Consumer protection is a cornerstone of his work as chairman and that is Air Maxreflected in the steps he and the committee are taking, Nike Shox Shoesincluding NHTSA briefings and plans to hold hearings andair shox seek recall-related documents, Rockefeller spokeswoman Jamie Smith said. "While this important work proceeds, Senator Rockefeller is encouraged Nike Basketball Shoesthat Toyota is making every effort to minimize the impact on its U.S. work force, especially during these difficult economic times," Smith said. "He hopes and expects that Toyota will remain a Nike Air Force Shoesstrong company and is capable of getting back on the right track with safety and consumer confidence." Toyota's U.S. operations are based in Torrance, Calif., in Harman's district. She serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is investigating Toyota's recall. Harman and her husband, Sidney, held at least $115,000 in Toyota stock as of air forceher most recent financial disclosure report. The company to which the couple owes much of their multimillion-dollar fortune, Harman International Industries, founded by Sidney Harman, sells vehicle audio and entertainment systems to Toyota. The two companies teamed up on a charitable education project in 2003, when Sidney Harman was Harman International's Nike Dunk Shoesexecutive chairman. He retired from the Harman board in December 2008. When leading Toyota engineer David Hermance died in a 2006 plane crash in California, Rep. Harman took to the floor to pay tribute, calling Hermance the "Father of the American Prius." "It was David's passionate approach and commitment to the environment that helped persuade a skeptical industry and auto-buying public to appreciate the enormous potential of his work," Harman said at the time. "In fact, Madam Speaker, my family drives two hybrid vehicles — one in California and the other in Washington, D.C." Several other lawmakers on investigating committees also represent states with Toyota factories, including Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. Toyota says it employs nearly 36,000 people in nike dunkthe U.S. and indirectly employs about 166,000 people at dealerships and suppliers. Republicans also have spoken of Toyota's importance to their states. "Kentucky is still reaping the rewards of its 20-year partnership with Toyota, and we hope to continue to do so for years to come," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in marking the 2006 anniversary of a Toyota plant there. Still, Toyota has a long way to go to win the wholesale affection of Congress. Democrats criticize it for nonunion shops. Some lawmakers suggest it benefits from unfair Japanese trade policies at the expense of automakers they consider American, such as Ford and General Motors. Ugg Stripe Cable Knit UGG Sundance boots UGG Sundance Grab bags UGG Ultra boots UGG Ultra Short boots UGG Ultra Tall boots