[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23430-23431]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING CITIZENS FINANCIAL GROUP ON THEIR RECEIPT OF THE 2005 
          SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 20, 2005

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Citizens 
Financial Group, recently chosen as a recipient of the 2005 Secretary 
of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award recognizes 
employers that were nominated by their employees who voluntarily serve 
in the National Guard and Reserve, for exceptional support above the 
requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment 
Rights Act of 1994. This is the highest national award a company can 
receive for its support of the National Guard and Reserve.
  Citizens is the first Rhode Island employer to win the highest 
national award for their outstanding support of colleagues serving in 
the National Guard and Reserve and their families. Citizens is one of 
only 15 employers in the United States to receive this prestigious 
award from among 1,492 nominees.
  The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award reflects the 
exceptional support, leadership, and devotion provided by employers to 
our brave men and women of the Reserve Forces. The importance of 
employers who are supportive of our enlisted men and women should never 
be underestimated, and Rhode Island is proud to have employers like 
Citizens Financial Group hard at work in our community. On behalf of my 
home state, I would like to thank Citizens Financial Group for their 
dedication, and I wish them much success in the future.

[[Page 23431]]



                          ____________________