[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 4, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CELEBRATING MS. JACKIE PEER, RECIPIENT OF THE 2014 WOMEN IN 
                        MANUFACTURING STEP AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 2014

  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. 
Jackie Peer, recipient of the 2014 STEP Award from the Manufacturing 
Institute. I am pleased to recognize her contributions to Schweitzer 
Engineering Laboratories, Inc., her industry, her community in Eastern 
Washington, and our nation.
  Seeking to inspire the next generation of female talent, the STEP 
Award recognizes women in science, technology, engineering, and 
production roles who have made significant achievements in 
manufacturing.
  Manufacturing is revitalizing our economy and making America strong. 
Investments in manufacturing, engineering, and science multiply across 
the economy, creating jobs and growth in other sectors. While today's 
manufacturing industry, is competitive, high tech, safe, and working 
hard to encourage women into the field, manufacturers still have 
difficulties finding the skilled workers they need. Part of this skills 
gap is due to the lack of women in the industry. While women make up 50 
percent of the U.S. workforce, they make up only 24 percent of the 
manufacturing workforce. Passionate about developing the next 
generation of workers for the electric power industry, Ms. Peer is also 
working to encourage other women to enter the science, technology, and 
engineering industries.
  Ms. Peer joined Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) in 
1996 as an application engineer. During her career at SEL, she has 
managed the research and design of distribution relays and controls as 
well as time and communications products--significant and essential 
products used by electric utilities around the world. The developments 
and offerings achieved under Ms. Peer's leadership have resulted in 
reliability improvements to the electric power grid and have helped 
drive the growth of SEL's U.S.-based manufacturing.
  Ms. Peer has also led technical marketing and regional sales and 
services teams within the company. Her passion for workforce 
development led to her current role as the director of SEL. University, 
a department within SEL dedicated to training the next generation of 
power system engineers. She also recently started a group called Women 
in Engineering to help women at SEL foster collaboration, create 
dialogue around everyday topics and challenges and to provide 
mentorship and support.
  Ms. Peer is a senior member of the Society of Women Engineers as well 
as a member of IEEE, IEEE Women in Engineering (WiE), IEEE Women in 
Power (WiP), the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), and 
the American Marketing Association. She holds a bachelor's of science 
in electrical engineering from Washington State University.
  So today, I rise to acknowledge and thank Ms. Jackie Peer for her 
years of dedication and hard work. I also want to congratulate her for 
setting an example of professional excellence and advocacy of women in 
manufacturing, as well as her commitment to Eastern Washington.

                          ____________________