[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 4, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SHOWCASE FOR COMMERCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week I was honored to 
attend the Showcase for Commerce in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Cambria 
County.
  For nearly 30 years, the annual Showcase for Commerce has highlighted 
the exceptional work happening in Cambria County.
  Established by the late Congressman Jack Murtha, the event brings 
together Federal, State and local leaders, as well as major defense 
corporations and subcontractors and regional, national, and 
international business leaders.
  With more than 100 exhibitors and more than 2,000 attendees, the 
Showcase for Commerce has grown into a nationally recognized business 
and industry trade show and defense contracting exhibition.
  Cambria County has a skilled workforce that makes considerable 
contributions to our national security. We saw more than $180 million 
in new defense contracts announced at this year's showcase. Because 
America can't merely remain competitive in a global economy, but we 
must lead the way with the most sophisticated technology.
  As a Member of the House of Representatives and the father of an 
Active-Duty soldier and a Purple Heart wounded warrior, I am not 
interested in a fair fight. Our United States military members deserve 
our best, that includes the resources to be optimally safe, effective, 
and lethal.
  There is no better means to a peaceful world or a deterrent to would-
be dictators and terrorists than a well-equipped, robustly trained, and 
properly funded United States military.
  Generations of workers in Cambria County and southwestern 
Pennsylvania have been dedicated to our national security through 
service overseas and service here at home.
  They ensure that we send our servicemen and women into combat with 
the most advanced state-of-the-art equipment available.
  Here in Washington, the Army's modernization efforts include a 
request of $12.2 billion in research, development, tests, and 
evaluation funding, and $21.8 billion in procurement, which will begin 
to address the Army's identified top six modernization priorities: 
Long-Range Precision Fires Missile, next-generation combat vehicles, 
Future Vertical Lift, tactical network, air-and-missile defense, and 
soldier lethality.
  Now, I support this request because we need to be ready to answer the 
threats that are before us, whether they come from Iran, North Korea, 
Russia, or elsewhere, we must be able to counter and mitigate such 
threats swiftly and deliberately.
  Career and technical education play a role in our readiness. Right 
now, there are more than 7 million job openings in the United States, 
and it is one of the greatest challenges we face--the skills gap.
  Thanks to the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 
21st Century Act, we were able to completely overhaul the Perkins Act 
and invest the resources necessary to have a dominant and prosperous 
workforce.
  We can secure the future, and help more Americans climb the rungs on 
the ladder of opportunity through career and technical education 
programs.
  Mr. Speaker, the Showcase for Commerce puts Cambria County workforce 
on display. Those of us in Pennsylvania already knew this, and the 
showcase lets us share it with the rest of the Nation.

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