Rep. Joseph Kennedy criticizes Philip Lighting, Trump tax plan on Congress floor Thursday

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III took to the floor of Congress on Thursday to fight for workers losing their jobs at Fall River’s Philip Lighting facility while criticizing  the company and Trump’s tax plan.

“After celebrating $342 million in profits last year, Philips Lighting announced that they would be closing their Fall River factory and moving to Mexico,” Kennedy said. “Almost 200 loyal, lifelong employees left behind. Careers upended. Savings lost. Mortgages, health care bills, tuition payments will be missed. For the 61 year old worker that’s nearing retirement, paying off his daughter’s student loans, a meager investment in workforce retraining isn’t worth all that much. For the countless workers who will sit around dining room tables in Southeastern Massachusetts tonight and try to figure out how their family budget can absorb impossible cuts, bland lip service given by the White House yesterday means nothing. Meanwhile, Philips Lighting shareholders are being showered with $187.4 million in stock buybacks thanks to Donald Trump’s tax plan. Make no mistake, that is the legacy of the GOP tax bill. Working families left in the wreckage while CEO’s bask in the windfalls.”