[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 135 (Friday, September 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CELEBRATING THE GRAND OPENING OF THE BRIDGESTONE AMERICAS BIORUBBER 
                  PROCESS RESEARCH CENTER IN MESA, AZ

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. MATT SALMON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 2014

  Mr. SALMON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the grand opening 
of the Bridgestone Americas Biorubber Process Research Center in Mesa, 
Arizona on September 22, 2014.
  I'm honored to represent this facility, which will serve as a 
research and development center for advancing the use of the desert-
based Guayule plant--native to the Southwestern United States--as an 
alternative natural rubber source for Bridgestone products.
  This research will help further the development of a more diverse 
domestic, sustainable and renewable source for natural rubber that will 
decrease the reliance on rubber trees.
  The Biorubber facility will be supplied with guayule from the nearby 
Bridgestone Guayule Agro Operations Farm in Eloy, AZ which is expected 
to submit its first sample for research for evaluation by mid-year 
2015.
  The Biorubber facility will provide significant economic benefits to 
my district with 40 high-skilled research and technician jobs, in 
addition to the almost 500 Bridgestone employees already in the state.
  The opening of this facility further underscores Bridgestone's 
ongoing commitment to technological and environmental innovation, and 
adds to its reputation as a leader in corporate environmental 
sustainability.
  Again, I would like to congratulate Bridgestone Americas on the grand 
opening of its new Biorubber Process Research Center.
  I am proud that Bridgestone is an integral part of our community, and 
I'm pleased to commemorate this significant development in Arizona's 
5th District.

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