[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 169 (Tuesday, November 17, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATURAL GAS EXPANSION IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of 
the efforts of the Susquehanna Economic Development Association's 
Council of Governments, otherwise known as SEDA-COG, in working to 
expand the availability of natural gas in areas across central 
Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, natural gas is not only produced right here in the 
United States of America, but it is also economical and versatile, with 
uses that range from home heating to cooking and drying clothes.
  While Pennsylvania sits on one of the largest natural gas reserves in 
the Nation, many areas of the State are unserved or underserved by 
natural gas providers. Converting to natural gas can lead to big 
savings for consumers who currently rely on other home heating fuels 
such as propane and oil.
  To help address this issue, SEDA- COG's $160,000 pilot project will 
provide natural gas to these areas in order to attract manufacturers 
and to give homeowners the option to connect. To do that, this 
organization has joined with gas suppliers such as UGI Utilities and 
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, starting with at least three projects in 
central Pennsylvania that will expand natural gas access to hundreds of 
potential users.
  In addition, the project will focus on the sustainability of 
delivering natural gas through ``virtual pipelines,'' where compressed 
gas would be delivered by a truck to be used by large commercial 
businesses located nearby.
  If successful, SEDA-COG officials say that they could expand this 
model to fuel users connected by a small pipeline network, including 
residential areas such as housing developments.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the innovative spirit of SEDA-COG and its 
partners, and I look forward to learning more about how these projects 
could benefit other areas of Pennsylvania.


              130th Anniversary of DuBois Business College

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of 
the 130th anniversary of the DuBois Business College, which has several 
campuses located in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District.
  The college was founded in 1885 by a local businessman who recognized 
a need for skilled businessowners, operators, and employees. The 
school's original location was once known as the largest building in 
America devoted exclusively to commercial education.

                              {time}  1030

  In the many years since, DuBois Business College has expanded not 
just to a new location in DuBois, but also to include branch campus 
locations in Oil City, Philipsburg, and Huntingdon.
  Today the college has a student body of more than 400 and offers a 
variety of associate's degree and diploma programs, all of which can be 
completed in less than 2 years. This provides a quick transition for 
students into the workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to welcome administrators and students from 
DuBois Business College to Capitol Hill today. I look forward to 
congratulating them in person, and I wish them well in their continued 
success.

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