CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — As part of his tour to witness first-hand the day-to-day lives of American blue collar workers, Congressman Tim Ryan made stops at several sites in Chillicothe and Piketon.
Kenworth
While in Chillicothe, Congressman Ryan stopped at the well-known truck company, Kenworth. After meeting the managers in charge of the plant, the visiting congressman was afforded the opportunity to tour the facilities with his wife, Andrea Zetts. The couple was shown the various processes involved with manufacturing in a plant that employs more than 2,300 locals.
Due to the difficult process of manufacturing semis domestically, Kenworth has had trouble obtaining certain components that go into their everyday production. One such piece of the larger puzzle is semiconductors, or what is better known as chips, that are used in modern technology, making them faster and more efficient. Currently, with the “CHIPS” bill of the United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) being presented to Congress, there is a lot at stake in regards to American manufacturers, specifically in the semiconductor sector. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has warned a threat in great detail, stating that if Congress does not pass the CHIPS bill as soon as possible, then semiconductor factories will go overseas to Europe and Asia. The issue could eliminate job opportunities for Ohio since there are plans to construct a chip factory in the Columbus area by the computer company, Intel.
Ryan has adamantly opposed the practice of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries, with the most recent example being his disapproval of the Biden Administration waiving tariffs on Chinese solar panel producers.
“We’ve been working on this now, the idea of re-shoring, the idea of bringing supply chains back, the idea of competing with China for my whole career,” Ryan told the Guardian on Friday. “And we’ve finally come to a head where people are paying attention. We’ve got Democrat and Republican support …. we’re worried, we’re scared to death. This is the greatest economic opportunity we’ve had in Ohio in my lifetime; probably in the history of the state. For Mitch McConnell to be standing in the way to try to play politics is outrageous. The fact that J.D. Vance is quiet on it and won’t tell McConnell to get off the dime is insane to me.”
The Chillicothe Democrats
After a trip around the factory, the congressman and his family hosted a meet-and-greet with the local Chillicothe Democratic Party at Hopeton Earthworks, where he shook numerous hands and thanked many local leaders for their continued support.
Numerous Democrats local to Ross County attended the gathering, showing admiration for the candidate for U.S. Senate, including the county’s Democratic Chairwoman, Dona Meyer. .
The Southern Ohio Steelworkers
The Congressman and his team concluded their day with a drive to Piketon to speak to southern Ohio steelworkers. When he arrived, Ryan was met with a buffet of food put together by the steelworkers, claiming that it was their way of giving back for all that he has done for them and the greater Pike County area.
During his time in Washington, Ryan has participated in and spearheaded projects to assist the community of Piketon, including a bill for $500,000, which would help safely decommission the Gaseous Diffusion Plant — one of the sites that were commissioned by the government to make uranium-based weapons. Additionally, the congressman is working on a budget that would put $5 million into Piketon to build a new school and reinvest in its workers and the greater community; the bill awaits the house and senate.
While at the union hall, Ryan spoke modestly about his intentions for the U.S. Senate. He acknowledged that numerous individuals question his motives, as they have become wary of modern politicians, claiming that he does not care about which side of the aisle individuals are on, for he only cares about going forward as a nation. He also asserted that he and his wife came from areas like Piketon and Chillicothe, being a part of a union family himself and that it was time to put country over politics, and not just speak it.
“I just want everybody down here to know that I came from an area like this, and I’m going to do everything I can to help these forgotten communities; they’re not going to be forgotten anymore. It is time to put America first and Democrats and Republicans second.”