[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 25, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING OF THE GE AIRCRAFT ENGINES PLANT IN EVENDALE

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                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2004

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the people 
who work at the GE Aircraft Engines plant in Evendale, Ohio. This 
facility was recently recognized and awarded Voluntary Protection 
Program Star status by the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA) for its outstanding achievements in workplace 
safety.
  Headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, GE Aircraft Engines is the world's 
leading producer of large and small jet engines for commercial and 
military aircraft. Additional work and services at the plant include 
aircraft-derived engines for marine applications and aviation services.
  The OHSA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) promotes effective 
worksite-based safety and health. In the VPP, management, labor, and 
OSHA establish cooperative relationships at workplaces to implement a 
comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into the 
VPP is OSHA's official recognition for the outstanding efforts of 
employers and employees who have implemented exemplary safety and 
health management systems. In short, it represents a commitment to go 
beyond compliance to achieve workplace safety.
  Less than 0.1 percent of companies are VPP certified. GE has 82 OSHA 
VPP sites--more than any other company in the nation. As a result of 
these efforts, 56,000 GE employees, including those in Evendale, enjoy 
exceptional workplace safety standards. The GE Aircraft Engines plant 
in Evendale is the largest VPP site in Ohio, the largest GE site to 
achieve VPP Star status and the largest federal VPP Star manufacturing 
facility in the nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the GE 
Aircraft Engines plant in Evendale for being awarded the prestigious 
VPP Star status. All of us in Greater Cincinnati congratulate the 
plant's management and employees on their dedication to outstanding 
workplace safety standards.

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