Senator Richard Shelby is in the midst of his “Statewide Jobs & Industry Tour” – and he stopped in at KTH in Leesburg on Wednesday (February 19th) of this week to spend some time with staff members and tour the facility.

Among those Shelby spoke with, was Gene Cleveland – who shared with the senator information on the role KTH plays in fabricating parts for the Honda plant in Lincoln and the challenges that the company is facing in today’s marketplace – including concerns over the future of health care.

Cleveland said KTH is taking matters into their own hands in regard to health care – having their own medical center in addition to providing employees with a fully self-funded program through Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Shelby expressed his admiration for the high-quality workmanship and cutting edge technology used at the facility, and the innovative ideas being put into place by the company.

He also discussed with staff members the on-going need for skilled labor and the various training methods utilized in the field and how a Tier One Automotive Supplier such as KTH also benefits the economy by bringing other suppliers, Tier Two and Tier Three, into the area in their wake.

The senator also shared his frustrations on dealing with President Obama – and, the failure by the president, to approve the Keystone Pipeline Project

Senator Shelby also stressed his firm belief in helping Alabama-based businesses be successful – and doing that through fighting against excessive taxation and regulation – “keeping government from getting too big.”

Since his first term in the U.S. Senate back in 1987 – Senator Shelby has held over 1,800 County Visits in Alabama, and his “Statewide Jobs & Industry Tour” continues, with stops scheduled for every single county in the state.