[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO RAYTHEON COMPANY EMPLOYEES IN LOUISVILLE

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and pay 
tribute to the 262 employees of Raytheon Company in Louisville, KY, for 
their vital role in strengthening our Nation's defense.
  Americans remember the terrorist attack on the USS Cole on October 
12, 2000. On that tragic day we lost 17 of our best sailors and 39 more 
were injured by a small boat laden with explosives that hit the USS 
Cole as it was refueling in a Yemeni port. The Cole is now a symbol of 
our Nation's fight against terrorism to many Americans. The destroyer 
has since been repaired and has rejoined its fleet.
  The employees of Raytheon in Louisville have been working hard to 
prevent future attacks against our ships in the U.S. Navy and in the 
navies of our allies across the globe. Raytheon produces the Phalanx 
Block 1B Close In Weapon System. Phalanx is a rapid-fire, fully 
computerized radar and 20-mm gun system that is designed to prevent 
attacks similar to the Cole tragedy. The Phalanx protects our crews and 
ships by identifying and shooting down threats from small gunboats, 
anti-ship missiles, helicopters, floating mines, and many other 
threats.
  This week Raytheon delivered a Phalanx Block 1B system to the USS 
Cole as part of a U.S. Navy effort to upgrade its defense systems 
onboard its ships. The men and women of Raytheon work hard to produce 
the best system possible to protect our crews and our ships. Mr. 
President, I am proud of the employees of Raytheon in Louisville for 
continuing to give the men and women serving our country the best 
possible defense to protect the USS Cole and other ships against future 
attacks.

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