WASHINGTON, D.C. –John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchison led the call today from a bipartisan group of Senators for updates from Chrysler and General Motors (GM) on the restructuring process and related dealership closures. Senators Rockefeller and Hutchison secured promises from Chrysler and GM during a Committee hearing on the issue earlier this year that both companies would work during the restructuring process to address the concerns of dealers.

“Given the federal government’s ownership stake in Chrysler and GM, it is our shared obligation to ensure all impacted dealers are treated as fairly as possible,” the Senators wrote. “We continue to urge you to take all actions necessary to uphold the assurances you provided earlier, as well as to achieve a mutually agreeable and timely outcome to the negotiations between Chrysler, GM and the dealers. Chrysler and GM’s unprecedented bankruptcy has greatly impacted dealers, consumers, employees, small businesses, and communities across the country. It is crucial that outstanding issues be resolved as expeditiously and efficiently as possible to provide the least amount of hardship to Chrysler, GM and the dealers.”

Joining Chairman Rockefeller and Ranking Member Hutchison in signing the letters are Senators Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), John F. Kerry (D-MA), John Thune (R-SD), Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), George S. LeMieux (R-FL), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Mark Pryor (D-AR), David Vitter (R-LA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mark Begich (D-AK).

The letters request updates from Chrysler and GM on several issues, including:

· Participation Agreements

· Vehicle Parts and Inventory

· Closing Decision Transparency

· Rural Customer Service

· Market Re-Entry

· Technician Placement Assistance

· Ongoing Dealer Negotiations

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