[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 113 (Monday, July 16, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1527]]
     COMMEMORATING SAFRAN DRIVE IN THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2007

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude to 
the contributions of the companies of the Safran Group and to 
commemorate the naming of Safran Drive in Grand Prairie, Texas.
  The Safran Group companies of Turbomeca USA, Microturbo Inc. and 
Sagem Avionics have played a substantial role in providing resources, 
jobs and business growth in Grand Prairie and have shown tremendous 
commitment to the community. All three companies show strong growth 
potential and together they already employ more than 500 people from 
the surrounding area. Once named, Safran Drive will adjoin these 
companies' headquarters and will facilitate the sharing of resources 
and personnel.
  Turbomeca USA has grown from a small, five-man operation in 1980 to a 
corporation that now employs more than 400 highly trained and dedicated 
people. It offers a wide range of overhaul and repair services for 
helicopter engines, modules and accessories and serves single aircraft 
operators and fleets of more than 100 aircrafts. Turbomeca has proudly 
provided the engines that power the U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Search and 
Rescue Helicopter fleet and that of the U.S. Army Light Utility 
Helicopter fleet.
  Microturbo Inc. has also supported our armed services, shipping more 
than 1,000 turbojet engines to the U.S. Army and Air Force for their 
aerial targets programs. It also maintains, repairs and overhauls the 
gas turbine starting system installed in the U.S. Navy's T45 Hawk 
trainer aircraft and the Canadian Forces Hawk 100 NATO aircraft.
  Sagem Avionics supplements the products and services of Turbomeca and 
Microturbo, especially in the commercial sector as it provides 
technical support, MRO services and marketing and sales of commercial 
aerospace products. Sagem will soon be headquartered adjacent to the 
other two Safran Group companies on Safran Drive, creating a powerful 
hub of aircraft resources and greatly supporting the people of Grand 
Prairie with its expanding workforce.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I honor and recognize 
these three great companies in my district for the economic 
opportunities that they create and the outstanding community presence 
they provide. I am privileged to commemorate Safran Drive as a symbol 
of the great things to come from these esteemed corporations.

                          ____________________