Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
09/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2024 10:58
Flood, Policy Committee Host Hearing on Pennsylvania’s Manufacturing Workforce
Sep. 27, 2024
BETHLEHEM-Today, Rep. Ann Flood (R-Northampton) and the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), convened a hearing to discuss the workforce challenges Pennsylvania manufacturers face and how to fill the abundance of family-sustaining jobs in the Lehigh Valley with skilled workers.
The hearing, titled "Manufacturing Momentum: Assembling PA's Workforce," took place at the Lehigh Heavy Forge Corporation, the last remaining super-heavy forging plant in North America, and featured testifiers Michael Druckenmiller, vice president, Lehigh Heavy Forge; Blair Woodring, director of business development, Precision Custom Components; Nancy Dischinat, executive director, Workforce Board Lehigh Valley; and John Rhatigan, chairman, Marine Machinery Association.
Training and recruiting skilled workers are top concerns for all testifiers. As Druckenmiller said in his testimony, "If I could flip a switch and have access to a pool of qualified machinists, I could justify hiring 20 of them overnight…But there just are not enough of them out in the market today to do so."
"Manufacturing plays a vital role in the Lehigh Valley, contributing to 16% of our region's GDP. There is no better time than now for Pennsylvania policymakers to find solutions to keep this industry thriving and to secure the Lehigh Valley as a destination for family-sustaining jobs in manufacturing," said Flood.
"Manufacturers have helped to build America and to protect our great nation. Pennsylvania's rich history is in great part because of the manufacturing industry," said Kail. "We cannot miss this opportunity to re-invigorate an industrial force that could help Pennsylvania to not just compete, but to dominate. We must maintain manufacturing momentum-Pennsylvania's economy depends on it, our nation's security depends on it."
To watch the complete hearing, watch the video below:
Representative Ann Flood
138th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Will Jones
[email protected]
717.260.6615
RepFlood.com/ Facebook.com/RepAnnFlood
The hearing, titled "Manufacturing Momentum: Assembling PA's Workforce," took place at the Lehigh Heavy Forge Corporation, the last remaining super-heavy forging plant in North America, and featured testifiers Michael Druckenmiller, vice president, Lehigh Heavy Forge; Blair Woodring, director of business development, Precision Custom Components; Nancy Dischinat, executive director, Workforce Board Lehigh Valley; and John Rhatigan, chairman, Marine Machinery Association.
Training and recruiting skilled workers are top concerns for all testifiers. As Druckenmiller said in his testimony, "If I could flip a switch and have access to a pool of qualified machinists, I could justify hiring 20 of them overnight…But there just are not enough of them out in the market today to do so."
"Manufacturing plays a vital role in the Lehigh Valley, contributing to 16% of our region's GDP. There is no better time than now for Pennsylvania policymakers to find solutions to keep this industry thriving and to secure the Lehigh Valley as a destination for family-sustaining jobs in manufacturing," said Flood.
"Manufacturers have helped to build America and to protect our great nation. Pennsylvania's rich history is in great part because of the manufacturing industry," said Kail. "We cannot miss this opportunity to re-invigorate an industrial force that could help Pennsylvania to not just compete, but to dominate. We must maintain manufacturing momentum-Pennsylvania's economy depends on it, our nation's security depends on it."
To watch the complete hearing, watch the video below:
Representative Ann Flood
138th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Will Jones
[email protected]
717.260.6615
RepFlood.com/ Facebook.com/RepAnnFlood
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