[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         COMMENDING HOME DEPOT

 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to the Home 
Depot for the support, employment, and assistance it provides to the 
men and women of our active duty Armed Forces, Reserves and National 
Guard and their families.
  Beginning with its founding by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank and 
continuing under CEO and President Bob Nardelli, the Home Depot has 
always been a great corporate citizen. Nothing exemplifies the 
company's commitment more than its support of our veterans and their 
families.
  In the years 2003 and 2004 combined the Home Depot hired 25,000 
veterans, and was recognized by G. I. Jobs magazine as America's No. 1 
military-friendly employer. In 2004, the company launched Operation 
Career Front with the departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans 
Affairs to provide career opportunities to military personnel and their 
spouses.
  Since the tragic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, our Nation 
has depended on our military Reserves and National Guard in waging the 
war on terror, and no American company has been a bigger supporter of 
the Reserves and Guard than the Home Depot. In March of 2003 the 
company enhanced its military leave policy to provide active duty 
associates with full pay and an extension of their health benefits.
  In April 2003 the Home Depot launched Project Homefront, donating 
more than 1 million hours of volunteer service and $1 million to help 
repair the homes of deployed military families. In September of 2004 
the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves 
presented the Home Depot with its Freedom Award.
  In June of this year the company established a program for returning 
veterans to provide associates with the critical resources needed for a 
smooth transition back to work.
  For all these reasons and so many more, Home Depot was recognized 
this year by the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation and the 
Partnership for Public Service with awards for leadership and 
distinguished service to America's veterans.
  I am very proud to recognize CEO Bob Nardelli and the men and women 
of Home Depot for their leadership in employing and assisting America's 
active duty and veteran military personnel and their families.

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