[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 51 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E614-E615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING WEYERHAEUSER'S DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS

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                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize 
Weyerhaeuser Corporation and its wonderful community service in 
assisting in the relief efforts and the rebuilding of the gulf coast 
that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. This 
outstanding company has gone well beyond the call of duty, truly 
exemplifying what community service is.
  The Weyerhaeuser Company was incorporated in 1900, and is one the 
world's largest integrated forest product companies, headquartered in 
Federal Way, Washington, employing over 49,000 people in 18 countries. 
In 2005, they recorded sales of $22.6 billion, and the company manages 
more than 6.5 million acres of timberlands in nine States. I am pleased 
to note that 14 locations of the Weyerhaeuser Corporation are in 
Mississippi including several around the Second District.
  In recognition of their outstanding community service and dedication 
to helping those who need it most, Weyerhaeuser Corporation has been 
recognized with the Ron Brown Award. This is the only Presidential 
award to honor companies ``for their exemplary quality of their 
relationships with employees and communities.'' This award is presented 
to companies that have set forth strong initiatives to strengthen their 
employees and the community that surrounds them, as well as promote 
pioneering business initiatives. The Ron Brown Award was originally 
established by President Bill Clinton after the late Secretary of 
Commerce, Ron Brown, who believed that ``businesses do well by doing 
good.'' In my opinion, there is no better choice for this award than 
the Weyerhaeuser Company for its outstanding work and dedication to our 
country.
  On November 29, 2006, chairman, president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser, 
Steve Rogel, accepted the Ron Brown Award from U.S. Secretary of 
Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez at a ceremony at the White House. Mr. 
Rogel accepted the award and dedicated it to Weyerhaeuser's disaster 
relief coordinator, Katy Taylor, along with the partners and volunteers 
who attended the ceremony.
  Also recognized in the White House ceremony was the North Carolina 
Baptist Builders, with whom Weyerhaeuser teamed up in the gulf coast 
relief efforts. The North Carolina Baptist Builders is a faith-based 
organization that set forth a large mission to rebuild 600 homes along 
the coast. To the credit of the Baptist Builders, the Weyerhaeuser 
Company recognized their ``smoothly run rebuilding operation to keep 
projects moving.'' It is this kind of forward thinking and teamwork 
that makes the Weyerhaeuser Company so deserving of the Ron Brown 
Award.

  I am honored to have such a wonderful and dedicated company that 
operates in Mississippi in places such as Magnolia, Philadelphia, and 
Richland. Weyerhaeuser Company has been operating in Mississippi since 
1956 with approximately 1,700 employees and 776,000 acres of 
timberland.
  The dedication of Weyerhaeuser to the community is astounding and 
sets a shining example to other businesses about the importance of 
community service and helping the less fortunate. To date, over 300 
employees and retirees from across the United States and Canada have 
volunteered more than 42,000 hours of their time and helped rebuild 50 
plus homes. Weyerhaeuser has a truly generous policy of allowing 
employees 2 to 4 weeks' paid leave to help volunteer in the rebuilding 
efforts of the gulf coast. Not only does it pay its employees while 
they are volunteering their time, but it also pays their way and their 
spouses' way for the rebuilding efforts. Now, over a year later, 
Weyerhaeuser employees are still participating in reconstruction 
efforts and have contributed a combined disaster relief to date 
totaling more than $2.8 million. This is nothing short of 
extraordinary.

[[Page E615]]

  While I can only mention some of the accomplishments of Weyerhaeuser 
Company's contribution, it is the people of Weyerhaeuser have that 
truly made the difference to individuals, families and the community as 
a whole. As one family wrote in response to the help from Weyerhaeuser 
volunteers, ``Because of all your efforts, we are home! Words cannot 
truly express the outpouring of love we have received. We are eternally 
grateful to our Weyerhaeuser family.'' This shows how the assistance of 
strangers can surely touch one's life and make their life better and 
give true meaning for caring in the community.
  A sign of the high caliber of individuals Weyerhaeuser employs is 
some of the comments that went to the gulf coast to help. One man 
noted, ``The days were long and hot, the work was intense, but the 
rewards were immeasurable. This has been an experience I won't soon 
forget.'' Another volunteer employee commented, ``This experience was 
such a blessing. I got so much more from it than I felt I gave.'' Even 
Weyerhaeuser's retirees participated and one reflected of the occasion 
to assist those in need saying, ``Having once more the opportunity to 
work side by side with other Weyerhaeuser employees and retirees made 
me realize anew why I enjoyed working for Weyerhaeuser so much. It's 
all about the people and the values the company ascribes to. Thanks 
again.''
  Testimonies such as these speak volumes of Weyerhaeuser Company and 
its dedication to its employees and others. It goes beyond helping 
those who are under its employment, but it extends a helping hand to 
strangers to make the world a better place to live.
  I am pleased that Weyerhaeuser has had a long standing tradition in 
Mississippi and especially in the Second District. It is without 
question an admirable and outstanding company that lives up to the 
highest meaning of community service.
  Weyerhaeuser's dedication to helping others is immeasurable and I 
cannot thank the company enough for the work they have done and 
continue to do. It is truly deserving of such a prestigious award, and 
I am delighted to see Weyerhaeuser's efforts have been recognized by 
the administration. The work of their employees and retirees shows that 
there is no one more deserving.

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