[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12126-12127]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING PRATT & WHITNEY 90TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I wish to recognize and 
congratulate Pratt & Whitney as it celebrates the 90th anniversary of 
its incorporation.
  In 1925 Frederick Rentschler arrived at the old Pope-Hartford auto 
plant on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT with a simple, yet 
groundbreaking idea: build a new and better aircraft engine. In the 
beginning, such a lofty goal seemed out of reach. Rentschler had just 
24 employees, barely any equipment and a modest amount of money. But 
Rentschler was able to create a name for Pratt & Whitney by placing a 
great value on integrity, customer service, and product quality.
  From its humble beginnings in that old auto plant in Hartford, Pratt 
& Whitney has grown to be a world leader in the design and manufacture 
of military and commercial aircraft engines. For over 90 years, Pratt & 
Whitney has stayed true to this pioneering spirit and passion for 
excellence, continually working to revolutionize the aviation industry 
and build a better engine for tomorrow.
  Throughout its storied history, Pratt & Whitney has always answered 
its country's call. During World War II, the company reduced its prices 
for the U.S. Navy to contribute to the war effort. Today Pratt is still 
operating a culture of cost reduction and producing the power for some 
of the most formidable aircraft in American history with versatile 
products like the F-135 engine. And now Pratt is answering President 
Obama's call to combat the threat of climate change and keep future 
generations safe. With its breakthrough technologies like the Geared 
Turbofan engine, Pratt is raising the industry standard for emissions 
efficiency.
  Pratt & Whitney has continued to stay true to its roots as a 
Connecticut company. For generations now, Pratt & Whitney has provided 
secure career opportunities to workers in my State. Pratt & Whitney's 
legacy of dependability and leadership in innovation have helped to 
make Connecticut's defense manufacturing industry second to none. I am 
proud and thankful for Pratt's investments in the State of Connecticut 
and its contributions to our country's national security, and I remain 
committed to supporting the jobs created by Pratt & Whitney. As I 
continue to serve in the Senate, I will continue to work to protect our 
national defense programs.
  While other aircraft companies have come and gone, Pratt & Whitney 
has proven that it can stand the test of time.

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