[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9518]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           RECOGNIZING JESCO

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, it is no secret that, among the 
many pressing issues facing our Nation, updating our Nation's crumbling 
infrastructure is one of the most important. Roads and bridges are 
quite literally the foundation of our daily lives, and those of us in 
Louisiana certainly recognize the importance of upgrading and 
maintaining our highways and levees. One small business based out of 
Jennings, LA, has been working to improve our State's infrastructure, 
and I would like to recognize JESCO as Small Business of the Week for 
their important progress supporting some of Louisiana's biggest
infrastructure and environmental projects.
  In 1994, a group of Louisiana-based professional engineers and 
scientists established JESCO to provide engineering, construction, 
disaster preparation and response, and environmental services to local 
and State governments along the Gulf Coast, as well as Federal 
agencies. Lead by Ms. Alvinette Teal, an experienced geologist and 
graduate of Louisiana State University, JESCO is a federally certified, 
woman-owned small business.
  Over the last 22 years, JESCO has worked on some of Louisiana's 
vitally important water infrastructure projects, including necessary 
coastal restoration efforts. Louisiana's coastline plays an important 
role in protecting our coastal communities from natural disasters, and 
coastal restoration is among our State's highest priorities. The 
engineers and scientists at JESCO have also worked on projects testing 
the salinity for levee construction materials, which in Louisiana is 
vital to building levees that will protect families, businesses, and 
homes during a storm. Additionally, JESCO has been contracted for soil 
and ground water remediation efforts in Breaux Bridge, LA, and 
hurricane and disaster management for Hurricane Ike.
  Small businesses like JECSO are leading the way to improve our 
infrastructure and better protect our families, homes, and businesses. 
Congratulations to JESCO of Jennings, LA, for being selected as this 
week's Small Business of the Week, and I look forward to your continued 
growth and success.

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