A bipartisan group of House members from states with a significant auto industry presence recently sent a letter to House leadership pushing for aid to stabilize the automotive sector. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) led the effort and were joined by 52 other members fo the House. The auto industry has been severely impacted by factory shutdowns and declining car sales due to COVID-19.

The letter broadly calls for Congress to develop a response that stabilizes the auto industry, given its impact on both U.S. employment and GDP. While no specific proposal has emerged at this time, one potential plan being floated as a possibility by automakers would be a “Cash-for-Clunkers” style program.

Meanwhile, auto-parts manufacturers are also lobbying for access to federal loans so they can resume making the components necessary for U.S. automobile assembly plants to begin producing cars once more.