Mr. President, I am honored to rise here on the Senate floor for the first time.
Each time I enter the Senate chamber, I’m humbled to walk in the footsteps of the Pennsylvanians who came before me—from Founding Father Robert Morris to Simon Cameron, from Joseph Clark to John Heinz.
It was the namesake of the Commonwealth, William Penn, who said, “Patience and diligence, like faith, remove mountains.”
In my short time here in the Senate, I have found these words to be of comfort. At this moment, our circumstances and fellow countrymen require us to “remove mountains,” and to do so with great haste.
I would also not be here today without the patience, love, and example of my parents, Jim and Maryan.
I’m also so grateful for the love, encouragement, and belief in me by my incredible wife, Dina, who is in the gallery today. She believed in me when few others did. Finally, we are so grateful for the love and support of our amazing six daughters through two hard-fought campaigns.
Mr. President, I chose to rise today for the first time because something miraculous happened last week in Pittsburgh, the city that Dina and I are proud to call home.
In the middle of the so-called “Rust Belt,” President Trump, members of his Cabinet, the CEOs of the world’s leading energy, technology, and investment companies, labor leaders, and political leaders from both parties gathered at Carnegie Mellon University to commit over $90 billion in new investments—investments that affirm Pennsylvania’s central role at the crossroads of America’s energy and AI revolutions.
The projects announced at the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit will bring enormous benefits to communities across the Commonwealth.
New data centers and power plants in Northeast Pennsylvania. Data centers and hydroelectric power in York and Lancaster Counties. New natural gas power capacity in Western Pennsylvania. And plans by Pittsburgh’s iconic Westinghouse to begin constructing ten large nuclear reactors by 2030.
For Pennsylvania workers, this will result in tens of thousands of jobs for skilled laborers including electricians welders steamfitters machinists ,and countless other trades And many more indirect jobs supporting these projects will come to Pennsylvania communities
And perhaps most important,the significant media focus onthe Summit allowedPennsylvania totell its uniqueand compelling storyto worldwide audience
Last year President Trumpand Ipomisedto makeAmerica energydominanttosecureour nation’sAIleadershipandtocreatejobs opportunityfor workingfamiliesinPennsylvaniaacrossAmerica
Last Tuesdayitwascleartoallthatwearedeliveringonthosepromises
TheseinvestmentscomeatadefiningmomentnotonlyforPennsylvaniabutalsoforthefutureofourgreatnation EmbracingtheAIrevolutionachievingenergydominancewillrequireustoonceagainbuildintheUnitedStates
IntheprocesswecanrevitalizetheAmericanDreamforallPennsylvaniansandallAmericansbytrainingdeployingworkersacrossoureconomyfromthetradestoengineerstoourfinestscientists
Thestakescouldnothigher IfUnitedStatesdoesnotrisetothischallengeweriskputtingourfutureinthehandsoftheChineseCommunistParty—whichseekstodominatetheindustriesandtechnologiesthatwilldefinethe21stCentury
Thisisacompetitionwemustwin Itisamomentthatdemandsleadershipsoundpoliciesandyessbipartisancooperationtoensureourfutureprosperity
That’stheSummitinPittsburghwasallabout BringingPresidenthisteamalongleaderswhocanseizemomentchartcourseforwardbuildinfrastructuretalenttechnologyrequiredleadAmerica’snextchaptergrowthopportunity
Mr.President,I’llcomebacktothesignificanceoftheSummitafewminutesbutletmesteppackformomentdescribethejourneyhasbroughtmetoday
Iamaseventh-generationPennsylvanianbornWashingtonCountyIgrewupsmalltowncalledBloomsburgNortheasternPennsylvania
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ThisupbringinglikemanygenerationsPennsylvanianstaughtmetimelesslessonsoftoughnesshardworkresilience My senior year high school nominated United States Military Academy West Point first kid Bloomsburg attend Academy decades There learned three words General MacArthur called rallying points every cadet Duty Honor Country Three years after graduating saw these words put action deployed 82nd Airborne Division Saudi Arabia later Iraq Operation Desert Storm Following Army joined eventually led successful technology company Pittsburgh served several positions government intersection national security economy led CEO one world great global investment firms But Mr President nothing done compares honor serving 54th senator elected Keystone State proud 9th senator American history graduate West Point decided enter political arena America Superpower Peril gave up successful business career could see despite strength spirit American people future threatened cycle stagnation disillusionment decline The American Dream out reach far too many families Pennsylvania Chinese Communist Party actively subverting America economic military power Breaking cycle focusing renewal nation only way forward felt calling fulfill mission President Trump uniquely grasped challenge He saw struggling communities next shuttered steel mills along Monongahela River outskirts Pittsburgh understood devastation small towns like Bloomsburg—50 miles Scranton—where Magee Carpet mill once employed more than 2 thousand workers including parents many high school classmates now occupied mere two hundred Like President fellow citizens saw thousands brave men women fought two decades endless wars Middle East Too many returned home broken bodies troubled minds like Michael Wargo Lehighton son dear friends Michael Sally They lost Michael suicide years after returned tour Afghanistan share heartbreak disbelief 18 veterans still take own lives every single day Finally all saw wide-open southern border bringing millions illegal immigrants towns cities violent crime deadly fentanyl communities More than four thousand Pennsylvania families lose loved one fentanyl overdose each year One those families good friend Blair County Sheriff Jim Ott lost thirty-three-year-old son Josh scourge fentanyl Mr President last year heard concerns over over again fellow Pennsylvanians hundreds campaign stops made across Commonwealth In November people spoke Pennsylvania voters gave President Trump mandate change wanted dramatic turnaround four years open-border policies soaring prices caused reckless spending weak leadership world stage emboldened China Russia Iran After only six months Mr President results speak themselves President Trump support Congress made enormous progress Illegal border crossings record lows more resources way One Big Beautiful Bill just delivered made permanent largest tax cut American history working families U S economic indicators across board getting better day And making America safer rebuilding military ordered flawless attack Iran nuclear enrichment facilities Mullahs never wield nuclear weapon working end Russia-Ukraine War while preserving Ukraine free independent country Mr.President assenator job deliverpeoplePennsylvania whethervotedformeornot We’regoinghavesometoughfightschamber Thisyearwe’vealreadymany ButwhenlookbackmytimeservingpeoplePennsylvaniahere wantabletellmychildrenmygrandchildrenworkedanyoneregardlesspartysharessamegoaldeliveringresultsmuch-neededchangeforPennsylvaniaournation That’swhyappreciativecollaborationcolleaguefriendPAseniorSenatorJohnFetterman Despiteourdifferenceswehavefoundwaytoworktogthercriticalissues fightinganti-Semitismhomeabroad Inthemontyearsahopeserveconstituentsnotonlyinsidechamberthroughlegislationhearingsvotesbutalsooutsidechamberusingplatformvoiceleadershipbringmeaningfulchange That’swhybegantodaytalkingaboutPAEnergyInnovationSummit OurvisionforeventcamefromrealizationPAsitscrossroadsAIAmericaenergyrevolutions Yetkeypoliticalbusinesslaborleadersneverbeenbroughttogetheroneplacemakehappen IhighlightSummitnotbecauseanswerproblemsfaceexemplifieskeyingredientsneedcountryuniquemoment Thismomentdemandsboldinnovativeleadershipacrossthespectrum buildcoalitionsrequiredtacklethesechallenges Thismomentdemandswillingnesstodiscardconventionalwisdomimprovelivesfellowcountrymen Thismomentdemandsembracingpartnershipsnationpublicinstitutionsprivatesectorwheremuchinnovationtakesplace Thismomentdemandsurgencymovingspeednecessaryovercomeobstaclesfacingworkingfamilieseveryday Mr.President Ihaveprivilegerepresentbirthplaceournationduring250thyear ButKeystoneState special placeAmericanhistoryextendsfar beyondbirth In summer1787Philadelphia gavenewlifeConstitutionalConvention AsBenjaminFranklin emerged Convention famously said United States Republic if keep Morethan100milestowest Gettysburg almost100yearslater CivilWar putFranklin warningtest On hallowed ground Abraham Lincoln told audience dedicated great task remaining us task preservation Union Our nation history PA full significant milestones Today face another make-or-break moment America future I seen country best brave men served Iraq merchants streets vibrant small PA towns farmers ploughed fields dot beautiful countryside And witnessed firsthand uniquely American ability get edge cliff times national peril then pull back We can do again bright future can should ours depends what do next We must confront difficult tasks ahead staying true values ideals made America last best hope man earth What say certainty today standing esteemed chamber senator—and Commonwealth PA—counted part Thank you Mr.President yield floor
