[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT

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                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2012

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Tobyhanna Army Depot, 
which will celebrate its 100th anniversary on June 23, 2012.
  In the summer of 1912, the Army arrived in Tobyhanna, PA and 
established a temporary artillery training camp under Major Charles P. 
Summerall, Commander of the 3rd Field Artillery at Fort Myer, Virginia. 
Based on the camp's success, Congress authorized the Army to purchase 
land to create a permanent camp in 1913. Since then, it has been a 
military testing facility, a prisoner-of-war camp, and, since 1953, an 
Army facility that repairs communications equipment for all branches of 
the military.
  Today, Tobyhanna Army Depot is the largest full-service electronics 
maintenance facility in the U.S. Department of Defense. With a regional 
economic impact of an estimated $4.4 billion and more than 5,400 
employees, Tobyharma Army Depot is Northeastern Pennsylvania's largest 
employer. Its presence alone creates 19,300 regional jobs. In addition, 
Tobyhanna Army Depot employs an additional 300 personnel who 
permanently work at ``forward repair activities,'' supporting our 
military personnel around the globe.
  Tobyhanna Army Depot is the Department of Defense's recognized leader 
in the areas of automated test equipment, systems integration and 
downsizing of electronics systems. The Army has designated Tobyhanna as 
its Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for Command, Control, 
Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and 
Reconnaissance (C4ISR), and Electronics, Avionics and Missile Guidance 
and Control. The Air Force has designated Tobyhanna as its Technical 
Source of Repair for command, control, communications, and intelligence 
systems.
  Mr. Speaker, for the last 100 years, the Tobyhanna Army Depot has 
been an incredible asset for Northeastern Pennsylvania and the United 
States. Therefore, I commend all those personnel--military and 
civilian--who have faithfully served our community and our country 
while stationed at the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

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