[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 117 (Thursday, July 12, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H6115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRATULATING PIOGA ON ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in 1918, a group of 
Pennsylvania crude oil and natural gas producers got together to form a 
trade organization. The Pennsylvania Oil, Gas and Minerals Association 
was formed. It is believed to be the oldest continuously operating oil 
and gas trade association in the United States.
  In April 2010, members of the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association 
and the Independent Oil and Gas Association of Pennsylvania, IOGA, 
unanimously voted to merge the two organizations into a single, 
comprehensive trade association representing oil and natural gas 
interests throughout Pennsylvania.
  The merger reunited two organizations that had split apart nearly 
some 30 years earlier to form the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas 
Association, or PIOGA.
  A century later, industry leaders, supporters, and friends will 
gather to celebrate PIOGA. The centennial celebration will take place 
next week at the birthplace of the American oil industry, Drake well in 
Titusville, Pennsylvania, in the Fifth Congressional District, to mark 
100 years of the industry's growth and sustainability in Pennsylvania.
  PIOGA represents nearly 550 members, including oil and natural gas 
producers, drilling contractors, service companies, manufacturers, 
distributors, professional firms, consultants, pipelines, end-users, 
royalty owners, and others with interests in the success of 
Pennsylvania's oil and gas industry.
  The Commonwealth is blessed with abundant energy resources, 
particularly clean-burning natural gas. PIOGA works closely with 
pipelines, utilities, and end-users as well as those developing 
cutting-edge products and services that revolve around natural gas use.
  PIOGA staff also works with educators to increase students' knowledge 
of energy issues that impact current and future generations of 
Pennsylvanians. Led by President and Executive Director Dan Weaver, 
PIOGA is a member-driven organization that works to realize the 
benefits of Pennsylvania's crude oil and natural gas.
  PIOGA is based in Wexford, just north of Pittsburgh, with satellite 
offices in McKean County and Harrisburg. The association employs an 
eight-person staff, and each year, PIOGA hosts several conferences, 
seminars, public educational meetings, presentations, and community 
events at a variety of locations across the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish PIOGA the best as it gathers in Titusville to 
celebrate 100 years of growth and sustainability in the Pennsylvania 
oil and gas industry. The industry has a rich history in the 
Commonwealth, and I know that, as PIOGA looks forward to the future, it 
will continue to uphold the high standards and expertise for which it 
is known in order to provide access to affordable energy for all and 
help to continue to fuel our economy.

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