[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E275-E276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BATTERY COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DANIEL MEUSER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2024

  Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 100th anniversary of 
Battery Council International or commonly known as BCI. In March of 
1924, 25 firms launched the National Battery Manufacturer's 
Association--the group that would eventually become Battery Council

[[Page E276]]

International. Since then, BCI has been the leading trade association 
for unlocking the potential of energy storage and supporting the 
commercial integration of essential products. BCI members are committed 
to safe, responsible battery manufacturing and sustaining the world's 
most successful circular economy.
  The domestic lead battery industry is an American manufacturing story 
that should make us all proud to be a part of. The industry in the 
United States has more than 165 GWh of manufacturing capacity, 39 lead 
battery manufacturing facilities, over 250,000 lead battery collection 
and distribution sites, and 9 lead battery recycling facilities. Lead 
batteries have a nearly 100 percent recycling rate, an industry 
sustainability achievement deserving of our recognition.
  The U.S. battery industry powers roughly $8.1 trillion worth of 
domestic industrial economic output annually, or roughly 20 percent of 
the U.S. economy. Forty-eight million jobs are related to or reliant on 
the battery industry and related downstream businesses. And the 
industry continues to invest to meet the future.
  The batteries made by BCI members over the past century have powered 
nearly a billion vehicles in the U.S. alone--a staggering contribution 
to American mobility. Fifty percent of the world's energy storage 
capacity is reliant on lead batteries, which are a particularly vital 
part of virtually every industry sector, including transportation, 
traditional vehicles, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles emergency 
and remote power, data centers, telecommunications, and renewable 
energy storage.
  I am especially proud of the work of East Penn Manufacturing, which 
is the largest single-site, lead battery facility in the United States. 
East Penn is located in my former congressional district in Lyons, 
Pennsylvania, and employs over 10,000 people.
  The President and CEO of East Penn, Chris Pruitt, leads this 
important company with its remarkable workforce in our state, and also 
currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for Battery Council 
International.
  The battery industry continues to be vital for our economy, our low 
carbon future, and our manufacturing sector, as well as the many 
industries that rely on energy storage.
  I would like to congratulate my friend and BCI board chair, Chris 
Pruitt, as well as BCI President, Roger Miksad, and all of the members 
on the 100th Anniversary of Battery Council International.

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