[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 90 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S4983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     RECOGNIZING NIGHTFORCE OPTICS

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, as National Small Business Week 
comes to a close I would like to rise today to recognize Nightforce 
Optics of Orofino, ID, an inspirational small business that has grown 
and expanded in spite of the economic challenges of the last half 
decade. Founder Dr. Ray Dennis is an avid hunter and shooter from 
Australia who had a dream of manufacturing and selling riflescopes of 
unmatched quality in the United States. His dream led him on a search 
for a location to help make this vision a reality. Dr. Dennis was 
ultimately drawn to the beautiful city of Orofino in my home State. A 
friendly business climate, an enthusiastic labor base, and close 
proximity to major shipping centers made Orofino, ID the perfect place 
to establish Nightforce Optics.
  In 1999, Nightforce Optics started with four employees occupying a 
small manufacturing facility. Today, Nightforce Optics employs over 100 
people and has expanded their Orofino headquarters to a 35,187 square 
foot facility. Nightforce is committed to hiring a local workforce, as 
well as attracting specialized craftsmen and women to Idaho. Throughout 
this time, the company has delivered the utmost quality, performance, 
and craftsmanship of their products to customers. This dedication 
became self-evident as hunters, marksmen, police, and military users 
have come to revere Nightforce Optics as a top-tier brand in the 
industry.
  Companies like Nightforce represent a critical part of the economy 
and even national security for the United States. Nightforce 
riflescopes produced in Orofino, ID have been used by U.S. servicemen 
in operations all around the globe. It is my opinion that the U.S. 
military should always have available the best in quality and 
technology, and it is in small businesses like Nightforce Optics that 
we often find the innovative ideas and determination that can make 
these products available.
  By 2011, Nightforce underwent a $1 million expansion, resulting in 
improved manufacturing and research and development capabilities. This 
investment has directly led to the company's recent introduction of 
new, innovative products that otherwise might never have been 
developed.
  Although we hear over and over again that the national climate for 
promoting small business needs to improve, it is refreshing to hear 
that a sportsman from Australia with an idea and motivation relocated 
to Idaho to build his dream. Every year, thousands and thousands of 
products come from Orofino, ID with a label reading ``Made in USA.'' I 
commend Dr. Ray Dennis for investing in American entrepreneurship and 
to Nightforce Optics for representing a small business with ingenuity 
and local ties that I am proud to honor as Idaho's Small Business of 
the Day.

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