Events in fourth week of district work period inform Congressional committee assignments and future needs of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District
Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) started off his fourth week of the district work period by touring Cabot Oil & Gas’s operations in Susquehanna County where he learned about the company’s significant partnerships with local job creators, educational institutions, and local government.
Susquehanna County is one of the country’s largest producers of natural gas and is home to Cabot’s operations in northeastern Pennsylvania.
As covered in the Wyoming County Examiner, Congressman Keller—after touring Lackawanna College’s School of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which is funded by Cabot—noted how impressed he is with the company’s investment in the area as a means to promote long-term family sustaining jobs:
“When you look at the partnership between the natural gas companies here and what they’re doing to help develop the next training and workforce, it’s just really a great opportunity for an affordable education where people can earn family sustaining wages,” Keller said.
The Susquehanna County Independent also covered the Congressman’s tour of the Cabot facilities and the benefits of having natural gas companies like Cabot as a community partner:
As his tour wound down, Keller made references to the “partnerships” he saw along the way that are designed to ensure that those in Susquehanna County continue to reap the benefits, weather the downturns, and keep a tight grip on their good fortune. Keller also resolved to fight Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed gas severance tax and efforts to do away with fossil fuels.
Later in the week, Congressman Keller toured several transportation and infrastructure improvement agencies in State College.
As covered in the Centre Daily Times, Congressman Keller noted what he learned on the trip will help him advocate for the 12th Congressional District’s infrastructure and transportation needs when back in Washington.
“This is all an effort to make sure that what’s happening here in PA-12, we can adequately advocate for in (Washington, D.C.),” Keller said. “Seeing the testing that’s happening here today, the involvement of the students, the people that will be trained, the technology being developed at Avail fits into all those things that everybody in PA-12 cares about.”
On Thursday, the Congressman toured Susquehanna University where he received updates on research projects happening at the school’s Freshwater Research Institute, saw campus upgrades, and toured the School of Business.
He also heard about the higher education priorities of the school’s leadership, which will inform his decision-making when reviewing higher education proposals that come before him as part of his assignment on the House Education and Labor Committee.
In a press release, Congressman Keller commented:
“Susquehanna University is a terrific institution of higher education and is a great asset to central Pennsylvania in terms of facilities, jobs, and research opportunities. During my tour, I was able to see incredible improvements to the university and the contributions to research and conservation the school is providing that extend well beyond Selinsgrove. I am proud of the work Susquehanna University is doing right here in the heart of Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District.”
Next week, Congressman Keller will be in be in Williamsport to talk with a local food bank and tour Heller Dam. He will also be in the northern tier, for several healthcare related events.
