[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8550-8551]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO FLORIDA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID W. JOLLY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 10, 2016

  Mr. JOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Florida Chamber 
of Commerce on their 100th anniversary and for their tireless efforts 
to secure Florida's future.
  On April 29th, 1916, The Florida Chamber was founded to help support 
the Florida business community. At the time, many businesses were 
faltering and the agriculture industry, the state's leading economic 
source, was struggling with a cattle tick that was threatening 
livestock. The chamber was created with the goal of securing that 
state's future by preserving our vital agriculture industry and 
creating jobs and economic opportunities. Today, Florida's economic 
challenges have changed, but the Chamber's mission has always remained 
the same: securing Florida's economic future.
  In the past 100 years, Florida has developed into an economic 
powerhouse with the support of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Today, 
Florida's economy accounts for 1 in 12 jobs being created in the United 
States and independently the Floridian economy is the 18th largest 
market in the world. As the population continues to grow and diversify 
Florida's economy and population of roughly 19 million residents to 
continue to enrich our nation's economy.
  The primary goal of the Chamber has been to promote a business-
friendly atmosphere in order to attract employees with highly 
specialized skills and continue to aid our economy. The Chamber has 
done that and more for Florida and our community of Pinellas as well. 
It has strengthened our agriculture industry, embraced the military and 
defense industry, promoted technology and innovation, advanced 
education, and strengthened our infrastructure.
  Even though the main industries in our community and state are 
agriculture, tourism, and construction, the Chamber is helping ensure 
that we are looking towards a more diverse economy with life sciences 
and biotech, energy, international trade, and advanced manufacturing 
and space technologies. With our state ever increasing in population, 
we can feel secure that the Florida Chamber will continue to create 
jobs and opportunities.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our Florida Chamber for maintaining 
their goal of nurturing and supporting business within Florida. I ask 
that this body join me in recognizing what the Florida Chamber has done 
for the Florida economy in the past 100 years and will continue to do 
in the future.

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