[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E745]]



                          HONORING BOB BRUNNER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. J. DENNIS HASTERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Robert E. Brunner 
of Illinois Tool Works in Elgin, Illinois, who recently was recognized 
by the Industrial Fasteners Institute with its first-ever Leadership 
Award for his tireless efforts on behalf of the fastener industry.
  As many in this House know, the fastener industry is a vital part of 
our economy and fasteners are a basic building block of manufacturing. 
Billions of fasteners are used annually in the U.S. in automobiles, 
airplanes, tanks, ships, bridges, heavy equipment, and virtually every 
other manufactured product. Thousands of Americans are employed in 
hundreds of fastener manufacturing facilities throughout the nation, 
including my own district in Illinois.
  In 1999, the industry and many of its key customers, guided by the 
leadership of Bob Brunner, came together to support innovative, dynamic 
legislation governing the regulation of fastener quality, H.R. 1183 of 
the 106th Congress. This legislation, which became P.L. 106-34, is the 
culmination of nearly ten years of efforts to regulate fastener quality 
without unduly hampering the industry's efforts to remain competitive 
and innovative.
  As the IFI noted in the proclamation announcing Mr. Brunner's honor, 
this award ``honors outstanding contributions by an individual who has 
provided direction, vision, and focus toward the timely resolution of 
strategic issues challenging the mechanical fastener industry and the 
many markets it serves.''
  Bob Brunner's leadership excellence in marshalling industry resources 
to focus on this critical issues helped ensure a successful, 
comprehensive, inclusive resolution to the matter. The fastener 
industry, Illinois Tool Works, the State of Illinois and the Nation 
have benefited from his energy and enthusiasm. This award and the 
recognition of this House are richly deserved.

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