Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of our Nation's National Heritage Areas. These sites are rich with history, culture, and the marvels of our Nation's natural resources. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the first National Heritage Area into law, calling it ``a new kind of national park.'' Today, nearly 40 years later, our Nation touts 55 National Heritage Areas across the country. I am proud of the 12 National Heritage Areas in Pennsylvania, more than any other State in the Nation. National Heritage Areas in Pennsylvania span 57 of our 67 counties, and these areas are truly an economic development powerhouse. In 2014, tourists spent an estimated $2 billion worth of goods and services during their travels to Pennsylvania's National Heritage Areas. That is $2 billion back into our rural communities. One of those areas, the Oil Region National Heritage Area, is in my district. The oil region was established as a Pennsylvania Heritage Area in 1994. Ten years later it became a National Heritage Area. Pennsylvania's oil region is rich with history. In 1859, Edwin Drake changed our Nation's energy future forever when he drilled the world's first commercial oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, which is in my congressional district, establishing Pennsylvania's oil region as the birthplace of the world's petroleum industry.…”