[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING VERN BROOKS, PRESIDENT OF TECHNICAL DIRECTORS, INC., ON 
          BEING NAMED 2005 REGIONAL SUBCONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mr. ROGERS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vern 
Brooks, President of Technical Directors, Inc. (TDI), on being named 
2005 Regional Subcontractor of the Year. Mr. Brooks' small business, 
Technical Directions Inc., manufactures proprietary jet engine 
technology. These engines have proven superior for use in small 
unmanned aircraft and powered weapons systems, including several 
Lockheed Martin mini-cruise missiles.
  Mr. Brooks was recognized by the Small Business Administration for 
his entrepreneurial spirit at the 2005 U.S. Small Business 
Administration's National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C., an 
event that showcased Small Business Persons of the Year winners from 
each state. National Small Business Week honors some of the Nation's 
estimated 25 million small business owners that form the foundation of 
our Nation's economy.
  Mr. Speaker, small businesses are the life blood of the American 
economy. They employ more than half the country's private work force, 
create three of every four new jobs and generate a majority of American 
innovations.' The entrepreneurs that found these businesses must be 
recognized for their contribution to economy. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in honoring Mr. Brooks for his recognition as 2005 Regional 
Subcontractor of the Year and in recognizing the contribution of small 
business owners to the growth of our economy.

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