Several Republican congressional members representing the commonwealth joined fellow state lawmakers, federal officials, and industry leaders to brainstorm how to align federal policy with regional models during a wide-ranging July 30 roundtable focused on energy, manufacturing, and workforce development in rural Pennsylvania.
“Today’s dialogue is part of ensuring that federal policy helps — rather than hinders — that momentum by reinforcing local strengths, removing bureaucratic barriers, and supporting the industries that power our economy,” said U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (PA-09) on Wednesday.
The congressman was joined by U.S. Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) during the roundtable, held at the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Thompson Professional Development Center. The event was co-hosted by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, and Penn College.
The forum brought together job creators, educators, energy experts, and policymakers to identify how to better align federal policy with successful regional models in areas like advanced manufacturing, technical training, and infrastructure modernization.
“Whether it’s strengthening technical education pipelines, modernizing permitting to meet 21st-century demands, or scaling homegrown energy solutions, today’s discussion was about action — focused, practical, and rooted in what’s working right here in Pennsylvania,” said Meuser.
Key themes included expanding federal support for career and technical education through tax credit programs modeled on Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC); streamlining permitting to attract next-generation data centers; and developing incentives for extracting rare earth elements from brine water in Pennsylvania’s natural gas fields.
The roundtable was divided into three core areas: workforce development, manufacturing and technology infrastructure; and energy services and small business growth.
For example, experts from Penn College, Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center, and companies like Coterra shared how Pennsylvania’s regional education models are equipping students for high-demand careers.
Panelists urged Congress to consider replicating EITC-style tax incentives nationally to boost private investment in technical training.
Regarding manufacturing and technology infrastructure, participants highlighted the need to modernize permitting systems and invest in resilient infrastructure as artificial intelligence and reshoring efforts drive up energy demands.
Speakers also emphasized the importance of regulatory certainty to support the growth of domestic energy production and data infrastructure.
During the energy services and small business growth session, industry representatives from companies including Repsol, Seneca Resources, and Costy’s Energy detailed the challenges and opportunities of operating in Pennsylvania’s energy sector.
Topics included emissions reduction, rare earth mineral recovery, and the need for stable tax policy and streamlined federal oversight to support small energy service businesses.
“Pennsylvania has the resources, the talent, and the entrepreneurial spirit to lead the next chapter of America’s energy and manufacturing renaissance,” said Meuser.
The event was also attended by federal agency representatives, including Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, regional administrator for the Mid-Atlantic at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Mike Cabell, Pennsylvania rural director with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alongside dozens of business and education leaders.
Before the discussion, participants toured the Pennsylvania College of Technology’s campus, and met with President Michael Reed and Bradley Webb, dean of engineering technologies, to view the college’s hands-on, industry-aligned training programs.
“Supporting institutions like Penn College is essential to building a more skilled and resilient workforce in Pennsylvania,” Meuser said.