[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA MANUFACTURERS WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KLINK

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. KLINK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues that 
the week of October 6-12, 1996 has been designated Southwestern 
Pennsylvania Manufacturers Week.
  Manufacturing is vital to the economy of southwestern Pennsylvania. 
This field employs more than 125,000 people in the counties of 
Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, and Westmoreland. Local 
manufacturers finance an annual payroll of nearly $5 billion, the 
highest of all employment sectors. In southwestern Pennsylvania, the 
average wage for a manufacturing job is 40 percent higher than the 
average wage for all employees in the region.
  Manufacturing provides one of every seven jobs for workers in 
southwestern Pennsylvania, outranking health care, construction, 
financial services, education, transportation, and government, in total 
employment. The local manufacturing payroll is crucial to the economy 
of our area, yielding a greater total economic impact than any other 
endeavor. Indeed, local manufacturers contribute nearly $200 million in 
local, county, and State taxes, to help support our communities and 
schools in southwestern Pennsylvania.
  Our manufacturers continue to uphold the proud industrial heritage of 
our region, and perform with a work ethic that is second to none 
productivity and quality. The wide range of goods produced in our 
region is distributed and used around the world.
  The advanced manufacturing network of the Pittsburgh High Technology 
Council, in partnership with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Industrial 
Resource Center is committed to supporting the needs of manufacturers 
throughout the region.
  It is a pleasure and an honor to recognize the contributions of local 
manufacturers in southwestern Pennsylvania.

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