Whenever I hear or read about the troubles of the American auto-manufacturing industry these days, I wish there could be some mention of another domestic, auto-related industry that is supporting millions of jobs in spite of its own unique challenges: the automotive aftermarket industry. In layman's terms, that's the auto parts and repair business.

This industry doesn't need a bailout, but it could use help from Congress in fending off a threat to fair competition in the marketplace.

I own and operate a parts store that has been doing business and employing people in Philadelphia since 1922, so I'm a bit of an expert on the industry, its accomplishments, and its struggles.

The aftermarket business is vital to Pennsylvania's economy. It employs almost 75,000 Pennsylvanians repairing and servicing the state's 10.4 million vehicles. That's about 1.3 percent of the state's workforce. Aftermarket sales in Pennsylvania are approximately $11.5 billion.

The industry is also a major contributor to the broader U.S. economy, with annual sales of about $267 billion, or 2.4 percent of the gross domestic product, and 4.5 million employees, or about 2.6 percent of the national workforce.

I'm proud of my industry and its contributions. But I'm also worried that, if Congress does not act quickly, it will be stifled by unfair competition from auto manufacturers who have put technological repair locks on the cars they make.

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