[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3568-H3569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PAYING TRIBUTE TO LOUISE KRONHOLM
(Mr. Larson of Connecticut was recognized to address the House for 5
minutes.)
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning, first
and foremost, to pay tribute to Louise Kronholm.
Mr. Speaker, when you are in Congress, oftentimes you are unable to
be home for wakes and funeral services. Louise Kronholm was the
daughter of the legendary John Bailey. John Bailey was the chairman of
the Democratic Party in Connecticut. He was the national chairman of
the Democratic Party in 1960 when we elected the first Catholic
President of the United States, John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
The Bailey and Kennedy families were extraordinarily close, and
Barbara Kennelly, Louise's sister, was the Congresswoman from the First
District in Connecticut whom I succeeded.
Our hearts and our thoughts and prayers are with them today as they
mourn and bury their beloved Louise Kronholm, John Bailey's daughter
and Barbara Kennelly's sister.
Recognizing Pratt & Whitney Aircraft
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to
recognize Pratt & Whitney aircraft in my hometown of East Hartford,
Connecticut.
July 22, 1925, yesterday, marked the 100th birthday and anniversary
of Pratt & Whitney aircraft. Pratt & Whitney builds the most dependable
engines. They have led the aerospace industry in this country and are
the greatest manufacturing force in the world. They are located in East
Hartford and in Middletown, Connecticut.
My father and mother both worked there. My mother worked there during
the Second World War. She had just gotten out of high school. My mother
was 17 years old. She had been in the National Honor Society, and was
recruited by Pratt & Whitney to help take down the details,
information, and categorizing of parts, et cetera, which was
desperately needed.
My father went off to war, and when he came home, he worked there. My
brothers have worked at Pratt & Whitney.
In 1925, East Hartford was an agricultural community, and overnight
it became the leading manufacturer of airplanes and aircraft and now
aerospace.
We salute Pratt & Whitney aircraft.
When my father would go to work, we would say: Dad, are you going to
work?
He said: Yeah.
I said: What do you do?
He said: We keep the eagle flying.
The symbol of Pratt & Whitney aircraft is the bald eagle in flight,
and underneath it, it says: ``Dependable engines.''
That was true in 1925, and it is true today.
I am proud to be part of the F-35 Caucus and to understand that not
only is it important to America, but it is also important to our allies
all across the globe who still depend on Pratt & Whitney and their
production of the most dependable aircraft engines ever assembled.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the resolution introduced by
Governor Lamont of the State of Connecticut recognizing this 100-year
anniversary celebration of Pratt & Whitney aircraft.
Executive Proclamation
Whereas, 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Pratt &
Whitney, founded in 1925 by Frederick Rentschler, whose
vision revolutionized aviation with the creation of the
dependable air-cooled Wasp engine; and
Whereas, Pratt & Whitney, headquartered in East Hartford,
Connecticut, has since become a global leader in the design,
manufacture, and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary
power units for commercial, military, business aircraft,
helicopters; and
Whereas, Pratt & Whitney has contributed to every major
advancement in powered flight over the past century, helping
drive innovation, support national defense, and enable safe,
efficient air travel around the world; and
Whereas, for 100 years, the people of Connecticut have been
at the heart of Pratt & Whitney's success--engineers,
technicians, veterans, and countless other skilled employees
whose dedication and ingenuity continue to power the future
of aviation; and
Whereas, the company's continued investment in workforce
development, manufacturing, sustainability, and community
partnerships has strengthened Connecticut's economy and
aerospace leadership; and
Whereas, the State of Connecticut proudly celebrates the
achievements and legacy of Pratt & Whitney, recognizing a
century of excellence in engineering, innovation, and public
service;
Now, Therefore, I, Ned Lamont, Governor of the State of
Connecticut, do hereby proclaim July 20 through July 26, 2025
as Pratt & Whitney 100th Anniversary Week in the State of
Connecticut and encourage all citizens to join in honoring
this iconic company's extraordinary contributions to our
state, our nation, and the world.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused
the Seal of the State of Connecticut to be affixed this 25th
day of July, 2025.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I also include in the Record
an op-ed piece that was presented in the Hartford Courant by Pratt &
Whitney President Shane Eddy, again, talking about that great workforce
over this past 100 years and their dedication then, now, and well into
the future.
This op-ed ran in the Hartford Courant July 22nd:
Celebrating 100 Years of Aviation Innovation--and Investing in
Connecticut's Future
(By Shane Eddy, President, Pratt & Whitney)
In 1925, an engineer named Frederick Rentschler founded
Pratt & Whitney in Hartford with an idea for an air-cooled
radial engine that would revolutionize American aviation.
Rentschler was driven by a unwavering belief that ``the best
airplane could only be designed an the best engine'' and a
powerful vision for dependable propulsion to connect people,
grow economies, and defend freedom.
His first creation, the R-1340 Wasp, became an engineering
landmark--setting a new standard in performance and
reliability over the liquid cooled engines of the era. It
also marked the beginning of an enduring legacy of safety,
innovation and Dependable Engines forged right here in
Connecticut by generations of employees, who have quite
literally shaped the world we live in.
Over the past century, the skilled men and women of Pratt &
Whitney have designed, built and supported products that have
powered more than 500 different aircraft types, achieving
many commercial and military aviation milestones. We powered
the first major commercial air travel in the 1930s, provided
more than half the total horsepower for Allied aircraft
during World War II, and led the transition of commercial air
travel into the jet age in the late 1950s--among countless
other examples.
Today, our products power everything from the most advanced
fight aircraft, such as the F135 engine for the F-35, to the
GTF engine for most fuel-efficient narrowbody commercial
jets. Both of these marquee products are built in Middletown,
with critical parts produced in East Hartford as well as
suppliers located across the state.
The impact of our work extends far beyond Connecticut's
borders. Our global team is spread across more than 40 major
sites worldwide--including locations in Canada, Poland as
well as Singapore--and plays an important role in the design,
manufacture and support of our current and future engine
programs. The dedication and expertise of our global
workforce are at the heart of our success.
As we've gown from a single site in Hartford to a global
propulsion leader with 45,000 employees and more than 90,000
engines in service worldwide, Connecticut has and will
continue to be our home--just as it's been for the past 100
years. That commitment is reflected in the significant
investments we've made in our facilities, our workforce, and
our community here in the state.
Looking ahead, Pratt & Whitney is well positioned to shape
the future of flight for the next 100 years--with
Connecticut's industrial base leading the way. For example,
the new GTF Advantage engine for the Airbus A320neo was
recently certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and
will begin delivering soon. Additionally, we are growing the
capability of the F135 with the development of our Engine
Core Upgrade to ensure the F-35 fighter remains ahead of
threats for years to come. In partnership with our parent
company RTX, we are also actively developing technologies
such as hybrid-electric to secure positions on the next
generation of platforms.
The future for Pratt & Whitney is exciting and incredibly
bright--and will be powered by the talented and dedicated men
and women at our sites in Middletown and East Hartford, along
with the approximately 100 suppliers across the state that
support our engine programs.
Connecticut's industrial base is a national asset,
producing advanced commercial and military technology at
scale that no other country can match. But it's also fragile,
and it's imperative that we keep the conditions strong, so it
continues to thrive. That includes having a stable and
predictable business climate so companies can invest for the
long-term and a robust talent development ecosystem that
identifies and trains the next generation of aerospace
talent. While Connecticut's leaders have made significant
progress on both fronts, there is still more work to do to
grow and protect the state's industrial base for generations
to come.
To our employees, suppliers, partners, and neighbors across
the state--thank you for
[[Page H3569]]
helping make Pratt & Whitney what it is today. Let's shape
the next century of flight, together.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, the eagle will keep flying
because they have the most dependable workforce and build the most
dependable engines ever assembled in the world. I am proud to have been
born and raised in East Hartford, the home and the start of Pratt &
Whitney aircraft, the engine company that makes the most dependable
engines in the world.
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