[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 148 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE 10TH ANNUAL DAIKIN NORTH AMERICA KONWAKAI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2018

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Daikin 
Corporation and its North American ``Konwakai,'' which is celebrating 
its tenth annual meeting this year. Daikin, the world's largest air 
conditioning company, produces commercial chillers at the Daikin 
Applied Staunton Facility in Verona, which I represent in Virginia's 
Sixth Congressional District. There are more than 500 people who work 
at the plant. They are among the 15,000 employees Daikin employs in the 
United States.
  Daikin, which is based in Osaka, Japan, hosts the Konwakais around 
the world as a way to bring the company's leaders together with leaders 
in academia and experts in the industry to discuss the future of the 
HVAC industry and indoor air quality.
  I am happy to recognize Mr. Yasushi Yamada, a Senior Executive 
Officer with Daikin. He launched the first North American Konwakai ten 
years ago. Mr. Yamada's leadership has produced ten gatherings of the 
group in various locations in the United States and other countries. 
The two-day conferences have resulted in important discussions about 
energy efficiency and even internet-of-things-connected products in 
Daikin's diversified global portfolio.
  I wish Mr. Yamada and the folks attending Daikin's tenth annual North 
American ``Konwakai'' a productive meeting. I trust the get-together 
will result in important attention to advances in the air conditioning 
sector, leading to the creation of additional jobs in facilities like 
the one in Verona, Virginia and improvements in indoor air quality.

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