[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING PROCTER & GAMBLE'S MEHOOPANY PLANT UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS
50TH ANNIVERSARY
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HON. LOU BARLETTA
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Procter &
Gamble's Mehoopany Plant, and the employees that work there, on the
occasion of their 50th anniversary. P&G is a global producer of
consumer goods that prides itself on passing down core values and
principles to future generations. The Mehoopany plant is an essential
part of Northeastern Pennsylvania, employing thousands of my
constituents who take pride in being active members of our community.
Opened in 1966, P&G's Mehoopany plant has grown to be one of their
largest in the world. Driving down Route 87 into Mehoopany, you can't
miss the plant sitting on the Susquehanna River. Its sheer size puts
their impact into perspective. In stores all across the country, you're
seeing products that were made by Mehoopany employees, such as Bounty
paper towels, Charmin bathroom tissues, and Pampers diapers. The plant
became P&G's first energy self-sufficient facility in 2013 with the
construction of two natural gas-fired cogeneration turbines which
utilize gas from Marcellus Shale beneath the 1,100-acre property. In
2012, 50 percent of the plant's electrical needs were met using
Marcellus gas, and, for the previous 45 years, the Mehoopany plant was
the largest electricity and natural gas customer for our local utility
companies.
P&G's slogan, ``Touching lives, improving life,'' is in use every
day as their employees have made community involvement an essential
part of their daily operation. In 2015, for the seventh straight year,
the plant broke its previous year's fundraising effort by donating over
$500,000 to several Northeastern Pennsylvania United Ways. P&G has
always been committed to ensuring that its employees have the resources
necessary for success, both during and after their careers. That's why
it's not surprising that over a quarter of its workforce are third
generation employees. For example, P&G Mehoopany Credit Union opened in
1971 to benefit its members with affordable services they pride
themselves on providing, where each member is greeted by name when they
enter the building. Even after their careers at P&G are over, employees
find that groups such as the P&G Mehoopany Retirees Association keep
them involved in the community through volunteer projects, while also
providing the opportunity to fulfill lifelong dreams by organizing
trips around the world with their former coworkers.
Mr. Speaker, it's my honor to recognize Procter & Gamble's Mehoopany
plant and their generations of employees for five decades of successful
operation in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Through a commitment to quality
products, employee appreciation, and local engagement, the Mehoopany
plant has become a symbol of what can be accomplished when a community-
first approach is taken. On behalf of my constituents, I wish the
employees of Procter & Gamble's Mehoopany plant the best as they
continue to bring prosperity and employment opportunities to my
district, and I look forward to the facility's success and innovation
in the years to come.
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