(TONAWANDA) - U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (New York-28^th District) today congratulated the General Motors Plant in Tonawanda where it was announced a new line of V-6 and V-8 engines will be produced, which she suggested should be stamped Made In Tonawanda.

The investment of $400 million by GM will help protect an estimated 326 United Auto Worker (UAW)-Represented jobs at the Tonawanda plant, as well as create another 350 new jobs.  GM Tonawanda Powertrain is one of the largest engine plants in the world.  Slaughter, meanwhile, called the announcement in a prepared press release "proof that Western New York has the best workers and evidence that taxpayers are receiving a return on their investment in GM."

"If I were GM I would invest in Tonawanda's Powertrain plant too," the Congresswoman said. "The announcement of hundreds of jobs coming to Western New York reaffirms what we all have known for years, we have the best workers.  When Western New Yorkers buy a GM vehicle with an Ecotec engine, it won't just be made the USA, it'll be made in Tonawanda."

Slaughter voted in December 2008 to grant GM a $6.7 billion bailout package.  On Wednesday, GM announced it had paid back its Federal Loan with interest and five years ahead of schedule.

"I know we as Federal Legislators took some heat for voting to bail out General Motors, but I knew we weren't just helping GM, I was helping Tonawanda.  America invested in GM and as hundreds of new jobs come to Western New York, we're seeing a return on that investment," said Slaughter, whose district includes the City and Town of Tonawanda.

Just a couple of months ago, the Tonawanda plant was the center of another GM announcement that it was investing four-hundred-and-twenty-five-million dollars to upgrade the facility in order to produce the next generation fuel-efficient, four-cylinder Ecotec engine.  The investment by GM ultimately meant nearly 500 laid-off workers at the plant were called back to work.

In December 2008, Congress debated the auto bailout - which was signed by President Obama later that month.  As Slaughter debated the rule on the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act - she said publicly: "Of all the industries that contribute to our economy, the automobile industry is one of the largest and yet it has been hit particularly hard during our recent economic downturn.  The U.S. automobile industry is one of the largest sectors of our economy.  Auto companies directly or indirectly support over four million American jobs, and provide nearly one million retirees with pensions and health care benefits.  In Western New York alone the auto industry supports over twelve-thousand workers and thirteen-thousand retirees."