[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 11 (Thursday, January 19, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1159-S1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BRINGING MICRON TO BUTTE
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the
citizens of Butte, MT, and other Montana communities, in their efforts
to bring Micron Technology, Inc., a major U.S. semiconductor
manufacturer, to Montana.
Butte-Silver Bow County is a finalist for a $1.3 billion Micron
manufacturing plant. The plant would create 3,000 to 4,000 jobs with an
annual payroll of $200 million. Good paying, high technology jobs that
would bring a better standard of living to both Butte and Montana.
Micron would also propel Butte forward on its journey as a major U.S.
technological center.
The possibility of Micron locating to Montana has banded the citizens
of Butte together--in fact, the entire State together--in a very
inspiring way. I wish you could see it, Mr. President. It has been
exciting and heartening for me to experience and be part of the
enthusiasm and vigor by which Montanans have gone after this golden
opportunity.
For those of you who have never been to Butte--and I guess that would
include most of you--Butte is truly a unique, all-American city. It is
known throughout Montana as the Can Do City, and if ever a city in this
country could do it, it is Butte.
There was a time, after the Anaconda Co. shut down its mines, that
Butte was believed to be destined to join the many ghost towns dotting
the Rockies. Yet, through hard work, loyalty, determination, and a very
strong entrepreneurial spirit, the people of Butte-Silver Bow fought
their way back.
They have made Butte a national center for the development, testing,
and application of revolutionary environmental technologies. They are
making the Port of Butte a major hub for intermodal shipping across the
Nation. And they created a top educational institution--Montana Tech--
voted by college presidents in a U.S. News & World Report poll as the
top-ranked science program in the United States among smaller
comprehensive colleges.
Newsweek has described Butte as the ``bright spot amidst the
tumbleweed'' in the West and commended the community for
``engineer[ing] the most dramatic turnaround.''
See this poster behind me? The local newspaper in Butte printed it up
so thousands, and thousands, of Butte citizens could hang it in their
windows, displaying to Micron--and Micron, I hope you are watching
this--their enthusiasm and support. And see this stack of papers? They
are editorials and articles from all over Montana, written in support
of Micron. Editorials have been pouring in on a daily basis.
Take the editorial from the Missoulian, for example. As the editorial
board penned:
The people of Butte are survivors proud and passionate
about their community * * *. If Micron's managers have any
yearning to be adored and supported by an entire community in
their every endeavor, they will build in Butte.
Similarly, the editors of the Independent Record in Helena write,
``it is difficult to think of a town in the country that deserves as
much admiration as Butte, a city that doesn't know how to quit.''
And the Billings Gazette board stated last week that ``Butte, MT, can
offer everything that Micron seeks and more. It also offers an intense
desire to attract companies such as Micron, to treat them well and to
provide incentives for relocation.''
I think Daniel Berube, chairman and CEO of the Montana Power Co. in a
guest editorial in the Montana Standard sums it up right: Butte is ``a
good place to live, a good place to work, and a good place to raise a
family.'' I strongly share his belief that there cannot be a better
matched city for Micron than the city of Butte.
Like Butte, Micron based its phenomenal growth and success on the
Western ideals of working hard and thinking big.
Like Butte, Micron has become a leader in its field, serving as a
shining light for the rest of the Northwest.
And like Butte, Micron is preparing itself for the 21st century,
while at the same time, maintaining the unique quality of life and
scenic location found only in Montana and the Northwest.
I cannot think of a better home for Micron than in Butte. And I
commend the community and the State of Montana in their efforts to
deliver this message to Micron.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.
Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I must respond to this statement by
the Senator from Montana. He is so correct in pointing out that Micron
is worth attracting to your State. Micron is an outstanding industry,
and I know that because Micron is located in Boise, ID, of which I was
mayor for 7 years. There are a number of communities in Idaho that also
are desirous of the expansion of Micron. So I commend my colleague from
Montana. He knows something good. I just say that we certainly intend
to keep an eye on it.
[[Page S1160]]
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I, too, would like to commend the
distinguished manager of this bill, a former mayor of Boise, ID, home
of Micron. We all are together. We very strongly support and are
enthusiastic admirers of Micron and what they have done over the years.
It is a good competition going on here to get Micron. The depth of
competition indicates the quality of the company. And I just say to my
friend, may the best city win. And we very much hope that Butte, MT, is
the finalist in the plant location.
I thank my good friend.
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