Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-05-14

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SARGENT CORPORATION

TaxesEnvironmentInfrastructure

Context

On 2026-05-14, Senator Susan M. Collins (R-ME) delivered a floor speech titled "100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SARGENT CORPORATION" in the Senate.

Full Text

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SARGENT CORPORATION

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2302] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SARGENT CORPORATION Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Sargent Corporation on 100 years of exceptional business growth and development. From a humble beginning in Alton, ME, the general contracting company has grown significantly, continuing to work with and for Mainers to better our State, one project at a time. In 1926, Herbert E. Sargent set out to make a living, purchasing a used dumptruck for hauling in the summer and plowing in the winter. Through honest, hard work, Herb offered high-quality services for his community, and demand quickly grew. Just 4 years later, he ambitiously acquired a fleet of trucks and a bulldozer, taking on many more projects. Herb's son Jim took over the family's business in 1957, aiding his father and building on his reputation as an honest, reliable contractor. Two decades later, Jim became company president. In the 1990s, after some very successful projects near Baltimore, Sargent expanded beyond New England to the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2013, the company's employees acquired 100 percent of the stock from Herb R. Sargent, the founder's grandson. Since then, the company has been entirely employee-owned. Today, more than 500 employee-owners throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic remain invested in and supportive of the success of Sargent. Sargent Corporation has bettered communities across the State through various projects, such as recent work at Eastport Airport, the Downeast Wind Farm, the Maine Turnpike, and many more. Through these public and private projects, Sargent's work has improved environmental health, energy production, and transportation infrastructure across the State. Due to the high quality of performance and record of safety at Sargent, the company has won a plethora of awards in my home State, including the Build Maine Award 16 times since 2010. These rewards affirm what I know firsthand about Sargent: The company has maintained their priorities in performance and safety. Sargent Corporation was built on integrity, reliability, and hard work 100 years ago, and as they adapt with the times, these values hold true. Today, I thank Sargent for its tremendous impact on our communities and congratulate it on its milestone anniversary. ____________________

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100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SARGENT CORPORATION Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 82 (Thursday, May 14, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2302] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SARGENT CORPORATION Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Sargent Corporation on 100 years of exceptional business growth and development. From a humble beginning in Alton, ME, the general contracting company has grown significantly, continuing to work with and for Mainers to better our State, one project at a time. In 1926, Herbert E. Sargent set out to make a living, purchasing a used dumptruck for hauling in the summer and plowing in the winter. Through honest, hard work, Herb offered high-quality services for his community, and demand quickly grew. Just 4 years later, he ambitiously acquired a fleet of trucks and a bulldozer, taking on many more projects. Herb's son Jim took over the family's business in 1957, aiding his father and building on his reputation as an honest, reliable contractor. Two decades later, Jim became company president. In the 1990s, after some very successful projects near Baltimore, Sargent expanded beyond New England to the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2013, the company's employees acquired 100 percent of the stock from Herb R. Sargent, the founder's grandson. Since then, the company has been entirely employee-owned. Today, more than 500 employee-owners throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic remain invested in and supportive of the success of Sargent. Sargent Corporation has bettered communities across the State through various projects, such as recent work at Eastport Airport, the Downeast Wind Farm, the Maine Turnpike, and many more. Through these public and private projects, Sargent's work has improved environmental health, energy production, and transportation infrastructure across the State. Due to the high quality of performance and record of safety at Sargent, the company has won a plethora of awards in my home State, including the Build Maine Award 16 times since 2010. These rewards affirm what I know firsthand about Sargent: The company has maintained their priorities in performance and safety. Sargent Corporation was built on integrity, reliability, and hard work 100 years ago, and as they adapt with the times, these values hold true. Today, I thank Sargent for its tremendous impact on our communities and congratulate it on its milestone anniversary. ____________________