[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NEW GERMAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS LEADERSHIP

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
acknowledge the efforts and hard work of the German-American Caucus 
over the past several years and the great leadership of caucus 
Cochairman Jim Gerlach.
  I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Gerlach since before I was 
elected to Congress, and I am honored to take his place as the next 
cochairman of the German-American Caucus alongside Congressman Bill 
Keating.
  Under Mr. Gerlach's leadership, the caucus has grown to nearly 100 
members and helped foster a great appreciation for the many ties and 
connections shared between our two countries.
  From meeting with very important government, business, and industry 
leaders to hosting networking events on the Hill, the German-American 
Caucus has served as an important medium for the exchange of 
information.
  Pennsylvania is proud of its German heritage. The Commonwealth hosts 
one of the largest German populations in the country. Accordingly, I 
look forward to working with Ambassador Peter Wittig and Congressman 
Keating and the leaders of the German American Business Council as we 
move towards the 114th Congress.
  I promise to do my best to live up to the leadership that has been 
provided by my good friend Congressman Jim Gerlach.

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