[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22107]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         MICROSOFT CORPORATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2009

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Microsoft 
Corporation for receiving an award from the Department of Defense for 
its unending support of employees who serve in the National Guard and 
Reserve.
  The Microsoft Corporation was presented with the 2009 Employer 
Support Freedom Award on September 17 along with 14 other employers 
across the United States. Specifically, Microsoft--among other things--
initiated a Military Reservist Council, acknowledges employee service 
through different company newsletters and, in 2007, donated $3.7 
million to the National Guard Youth Foundation.
  Microsoft's support for our servicemembers is a model that other 
employers should follow, and it is the paramount duty of Congress to do 
its part to help our servicemembers make a seamless transition back to 
civilian life from active duty. It is a priority that requires both 
private and public sector support. I was pleased that the House passed 
legislation I authored last Congress to improve the government's 
responsiveness to hiring difficulties our servicemembers face upon 
their return, and I hope that this body can continue to partner with 
private sector champions like Microsoft to help provide a smooth 
transition for our servicemembers and veterans between military life 
and civilian life.
  Again, I applaud the Microsoft Corporation for supporting their 
National Guard and Reserve employees and congratulate them on receiving 
the 2009 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. I know 
they will continue to provide outstanding support to Washington's 
servicemembers in the future, and I pledge to continue doing the same 
serving in this body. We must do all we can to provide for those who 
have bravely sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms.

                          ____________________