[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 55 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                RECOGNIZING LEGACY MANUFACTURING COMPANY

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize 
Legacy Manufacturing of Marion, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week for the week of March 27, 2023.
  When it came to everyday construction and household tools, the Weems 
family was unsatisfied with the current products on the market. In 
1986, the family decided to take matters into their own hands and 
opened a small manufacturing company to develop products they 
considered to be lacking in the market. Through decades of dedication 
to crafting innovative products, the Weems family business has grown 
into Legacy Manufacturing, a company that makes high-quality, long-
lasting tools and equipment for professional and consumer use. Legacy 
Manufacturing is a prime example of the two things that make America 
great: entrepreneurial spirit and family.
  For almost 40 years, Legacy Manufacturing has kept smart engineering, 
quality materials, and top-notch production standards at the forefront 
of their company. Starting off as a small manufacturer in eastern Iowa, 
Legacy Manufacturing has received national recognition for their 
uniquely designed innovative hose, which they named the ``Flexzilla.'' 
The Flexzilla is a staple in their product line and can be found across 
global markets. The Flexzilla is lighter and has a more durable outer 
cover than the traditional water hose. Additionally, the entire hose is 
drinking water safe, so kids on a hot Iowa summer day can enjoy a 
refreshing drink, and parents can rest easy knowing that the Flexzilla 
is made with this in mind.
  Legacy Manufacturing's commitment to quality products has paid off. 
The Flexzilla hose has consistently been ranked the best garden hose 
for years. Recently, it was ranked as one of the best garden hoses of 
2023 by People Magazine and NBC News. Ultimately, it was ranked as the 
best garden hose overall for 2023 in an independent review by USA Today 
and was named one of the ``best of the best'' garden hoses by 
BestReviews LLC in 2022.
  The Weems family's leadership has been integral to revolutionizing 
the consumer experience and has emerged as a unique market leader for a 
wide range of tools. When a customer buys a product from Legacy 
Manufacturing, they can be assured that they are getting the best 
product on the market in terms of quality, innovation, and product 
safety. Legacy Manufacturing offers a wide range of professional grade 
service and maintenance equipment for the automotive, industrial, 
contractor, agricultural, and marine markets throughout North America. 
The motto of the company is ``taking the work out of work.'' This means 
that they make sure each of their products are made from quality 
materials and ensure that they are built to last. Legacy Manufacturing 
currently is home to six different brands: the Legacy brand, Flexzilla, 
ColorConnex, SmartFlex, Lock-n-Load, and Workforce. All of these brands 
have a different focus to diversify the product line and ensure that 
every customer is satisfied with their product. They have gone so far 
that they even created YouTube videos that demonstrate to consumers how 
each of their products work.
  For over 40 years, Legacy Manufacturing has been able to achieve 
success in eastern Iowa. In 2016, they completed their 133,000-square-
foot facility in Marion, IA. In 2017, they were able to start a 
200,000-square-foot expansion of their facilities in Marion, thanks to 
the Iowa Economic Development Authority--IEDA--grant program. The 
expansion adds to the growing reshoring movement in an effort to bring 
back manufacturing jobs to the United States. The expansion created 13 
new jobs which brought the number of people employed by Legacy 
Manufacturing to about 75 employees. Overall, the company brings hope 
and prosperity to Iowa as more manufacturing jobs return to the United 
States.
  Not only has the company received wide acclaims by industry experts 
for their high-performing products, Legacy Manufacturing and the Weems 
family have been recognized for their commitment to employing Iowans 
and growing the local economy. I want to commend the Weems family and 
the entire team at Legacy Manufacturing for their commitment to 
innovation and for their perseverance in growing their manufacturing 
company in the United States. Congratulations, I look forward to your 
continued growth and success in Iowa.

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