[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA FACILITY ON THE 
                    OCCASION OF ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Bridgestone 
Americas, one of our nation's leading tire manufacturers, as it 
celebrates the 40th anniversary of its passenger and light truck tire 
plant in my hometown of Wilson, North Carolina.
  I have represented the Wilson plant for nearly ten years and am 
reminded each time I pass it on my way to Washington, DC the impact it 
has had on the City of Wilson and Wilson and Edgecombe Counties, and 
indeed the state of North Carolina.
  For 40 years, the Wilson plant has built a reputation for producing 
superior, high quality products that help protect drivers, passengers, 
and pedestrians in my state of North Carolina, across the country, and 
throughout the world.
  The Wilson plant produced its first tire on March 1, 1974. Since 
then, Bridgestone Americas' Wilson plant has grown to be Wilson 
County's second largest employer and has provided good paying, stable 
jobs for thousands of people that call eastern North Carolina home.
  Bridgestone Americas' Wilson facility is massive, spanning some 500 
acres with two and a half million square feet of workspace. In January 
2014, the plant received the highly sought and prestigious ``Zero Waste 
to Landfill'' certification by Underwriter Laboratories.
  Bridgestone Americas is committed to environmental sustainability so 
much so that the men and women who work at the Wilson plant developed 
the land surrounding the facility into the Freedom Wildlife Habitat and 
Refuge. The area was certified as a ``Corporate Lands for Learning and 
Wildlife at Work'' site by the U.S. Wildlife Habitat Council. I am 
particularly proud of the Wilson employees who contributed their time 
and resources to make our region a better place to live and work.
  Without question, Bridgestone Americas and their facility in Wilson, 
North Carolina have contributed greatly to our state and national 
economies. The Wilson plant is an integral part of our community and a 
great corporate partner for our region.
  I am so pleased to recognize Bridgestone Americas' 40th year of 
manufacturing passenger and light truck tires in their Wilson facility 
and look forward to sharing in many more of their achievements.

                          ____________________