[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 23452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           TRIBUTE TO FRAMATOME CONNECTORS USA, INCORPORATED

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to and congratulate Framatome Connectors USA, of Manchester, on 
their nomination for this year's Secretary of Defense Employer Support 
Freedom Award. Their dedication to their employees who serve our 
country as part of the National Guard and Reserve is admirable and an 
example for other businesses.
  Framatome, which manufactures electrical connectors, serves the needs 
of its five employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve in 
several very important ways. First, their compensation package for all 
employees includes differential pay between civilian and military 
salaries. The package also includes medical, dental, and life insurance 
and 401(k) coverage for the duration of the employee's duty commitment.
  Framatome has also established a policy that allows the employee on 
active duty to maintain his or her position with the company for as 
long as they required to remain on active duty. They believe the 
service of their employees to their country is important to our 
nation's defense, and anything they can do to make this service easier 
for their employees and their families is worth the effort.
  Framatome put this generous plan into action recently when one of 
their employees was mobilized and sent to Bosnia during a Presidential 
call up. The company believed that when an employee is activated and 
pulled away from his or her family, a financial cushion should be 
available to help bridge the gap during the salary transition from 
civilian to military pay. They wanted to be sure the family of the 
reservist or guardsman or woman would have the financial resources they 
needed to continue as close to normal a life as possible while their 
loved one was away.
  I applaud Framatome's effort to make Reserve or National Guard 
service easier for their employees, and the company's national 
recognition is certainly well-deserved. I know the employees who 
sacrifice so much to serve their country are extremely grateful for the 
chance to serve their country and work for such a compassionate, 
understanding company. It is an honor to serve all the people of 
Framatome, USA in the U.S. Senate.

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