[Page H3099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            PENNSYLVANIA DAY

  (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 recognize 
July 20 as Pennsylvania Day.
  Since the inception of our Nation, Pennsylvania has played a 
transformative role in United States history.
  In our foundational years, Pennsylvania was the site of many 
important battles and military milestones, like the Battle of Valley 
Forge in the Revolutionary War and the Battle of Gettysburg during the 
Civil War.
  Pennsylvania is home to a lot of firsts, including: our Nation's 
first capitol, Philadelphia; the American flag sewn by Betsy Ross; and 
the first commercial oil well, in my district, giving birth to the 
modern petroleum industry.
  Pennsylvania has a proud history of American craftsmanship and work 
ethic, from our steel mills and coal mines to farmlands and forests.
  I am encouraged each and every day by Pennsylvania's rich history, 
and I am grateful for our industrious residents who continue to build a 
bright future for the Commonwealth.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Pennsylvania my home, today and 
always.

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