[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 184 (Tuesday, December 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 135TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BORAX COMPANY

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                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 4, 2007

  Mr. McKEON. Madam Speaker, it is with great privilege that I rise 
today to pay tribute to the 135th year of continuous business conducted 
by the Borax Company, which was celebrated on October 12, 2007. This 
occasion makes Borax one of the longest surviving mining firms in the 
United States. I am proud that between 1993 and 2006, the national 
headquarters for Borax remained in Valencia, CA, in my home district.
  Borax traces its roots back to 1872, when F.M. ``Borax'' Smith 
discovered Borax in Teel's Marsh, NV. Borate deposits, which are used 
in insulation, textile fiberglass, detergents, ceramics, plant 
fertilizers, flame retardants, pest control, cosmetics, medicines, and 
more, were also discovered in California's Death Valley.
  By 1883, teams of 20 mules were used by the company to haul Borax out 
of the remote Death Valley 165 miles away to Mojave. Though the mule-
hauling years only lasted from 1883 to 1888, the teams continue to live 
on as a symbol of the company's commitment to innovation.
  In 2000, Borax's global operations achieved certification for 
excellence in environmental management. Then in 2001, the company 
formed partnership with Millennium Cell to develop a safe, clean fuel 
alternative based on sodium borohydride. This was followed by the pit-
stop of the 2002 Chrysler Natrium, the world's first sodium 
borohydride-powered zero-emission vehicle, at the Borax Company's 
national headquarters.
  Today, Borax employs over 1,000 people and is acknowledged as the 
world leader in Borate technology, research and development. Technical 
support for customers, product quality, and supply reliability are the 
pillars of the company's commercial commitment. Borax proudly reflects 
a respectable commitment to ensuring that practices and products are 
socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable.
  Madam Speaker and my colleagues, I ask that you join me in honoring 
the 135th year of continuous business for this admirable mining 
company. It is a special occasion when businesses witness such good 
fortune resulting from the many long hours of dedicated teamwork which 
are given by employees for the good of the company and its customers.

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