[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H5190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     GE EXPANSION IN WEST JEFFERSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, last week, it was my great pleasure to 
participate in a groundbreaking at a plant expansion at the GE 
manufacturing facility in West Jefferson, North Carolina. The expansion 
will allow GE to produce more of the company's incredibly popular LEAP 
engine, which will power next-generation aircraft from around the 
globe. The 80,000-square-foot factory expansion will provide for 
additional machining capacity and represents a $65 million investment 
by GE in West Jefferson.
  The LEAP jet engine has proven to be incredibly popular, with 
commitments or orders for more than 6,000 LEAP engines to date. This is 
especially remarkable because the LEAP does not enter service until 
2016. Once it does enter service, it will power planes such as the 
Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320neo.
  GE is familiar with the fact that high quality workers can be found 
in North Carolina, since the company already has more than 1,300 
employees at locations in West Jefferson, Durham, Wilmington, and 
Asheville. The current expansion is expected to add 105 new jobs over 
the next 2\1/2\ years.
  I am exceptionally pleased that GE is partnering with Wilkes 
Community College to give local workers the skills needed to compete 
for the new jobs this expansion will bring to West Jefferson. This 
innovative worker education program will allow current and prospective 
employees to learn in a hands-on environment with state-of-the-art 
machinery.
  Mr. Speaker, this is just the type of program that we need to close 
the skills gap and give hardworking Americans the opportunity to 
compete for the 4 million jobs that are available now.
  This expansion will demonstrate, yet again, that American 
manufacturing and American workers can compete in the global economy. 
There is no more fulfilling aspect of our jobs here than to be invited 
to be present for the announcement of more jobs in our districts. 
Everyone in the area is excited for the community of West Jefferson, 
and I look forward to a very successful future for the innovative 
education partnership between GE and Wilkes Community College. Thanks 
to GE for making this investment, and thanks to the employees at GE 
West Jefferson for your great effort and commitment to excellence.


                      Dr. Pepper Bottling Company

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, last week, I was energized and inspired by the 
opportunity to tour the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company in West Jefferson, 
North Carolina. This plant has been recognized for the high quality of 
its products and was a recipient of the 2013 Caleb Bradham President's 
Award.
  This award is named after North Carolina native and Pepsi founder, 
Caleb Bradham. This year, only 19 plants across the country received 
the award out of hundreds of bottlers across this country. According to 
The Jefferson Post:

       The company received the award for the production of its 
     12-ounce glass bottle sodas, which are bottled in downtown 
     West Jefferson. West Jefferson Dr. Pepper glass bottle 
     products are wildly popular among soda enthusiasts.

  The Dr. Pepper Bottling Company has been making drinks in West 
Jefferson since 1940, when it was founded by H.R. Vannoy. Among the 
employees are three generations of the Vannoy family, whose patriarch 
began the company. I wish the company and all of its employees many 
more years of success.

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