When I took office, I made a commitment to pursue ambitious goals that will fundamentally transform Pennsylvania. I call them “long passes” — big plays down the field, to use a football analogy — which deliver enormous value to Pennsylvanians and position our state for long-term growth and prosperity.
Thanks to President Trump’s energy, deregulatory and defense agenda, Pennsylvania is primed for economic transformation.
It’s time for the Commonwealth to capitalize on these generational opportunities and build a better future by developing its energy and AI, defense and life sciences sectors.
First, energy and AI.
The energy and AI revolutions give Pennsylvania a generational opportunity. With abundant energy, natural resources and a world-class workforce, we can build the infrastructure — including data centers — that creates thousands of skilled jobs and expands local tax bases. Last summer, I hosted the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, securing $92 billion in committed investment in the Commonwealth, which will generate tens of thousands of jobs.
If America is going to win the AI race, Pennsylvania must win the energy race.
Second, defense reindustrialization.
During World War II, Pennsylvania forged the Arsenal of Democracy.
Today, we remain a national leader with extraordinary potential — including world-class shipbuilding assets in Philadelphia and Erie. I’m a proud co-sponsor of the SHIPS Act, which would accelerate American shipbuilding. I encourage regional leadership to take advantage of the present momentum and turn our Commonwealth into a 21st century hub for world-class shipbuilding.
The third pillar is life sciences.
Pennsylvania’s world-renowned medical centers and 100,000 life science professionals are at the forefront of health innovation. This life-saving research is fueled by the National Institutes of Health, transforming lab breakthroughs into clinical cures.
I have fought to protect research funding and to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing, because innovation paired with production creates durable jobs and real economic growth.
Since taking office, we’ve been busy turning this transformation agenda into investment and jobs. And the results speak for themselves.
Nippon Steel announced a $14 billion investment in U.S. Steel, protecting more than 11,000 Pennsylvania jobs and creating thousands more. Amazon committed $20 billion to build data centers in Pennsylvania. Westinghouse inked an agreement with the federal government for up to 10 nuclear reactors totaling more than $80 billion. Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson are expanding their Pennsylvania presence, bringing thousands of good-paying jobs. And all this on top of last year’s enormously successful Energy Summit.
Here is the economic truth: capital and talent are like water — they flow where the path is easiest.
For Pennsylvania to win, we must make it easier to invest here.
We have taken critical steps in Washington by strengthening Pennsylvania’s investment ecosystem, advancing permitting reform and passing the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which made permanent the largest tax cuts in history.
But Pennsylvania’s transformation cannot come from Washington alone.
We need local leaders to step up and help make Pennsylvania as competitive as possible. In the northwest, Power Northwest is setting a tremendous example by uniting the region in this effort. The next major investments in Pennsylvania will land because you made it easy for capital to say yes.
We also need to reject the four horsemen of decline: cynicism, incrementalism, pettiness and divisiveness. I promise to work with anyone, regardless of party affiliation, to advance the interests of our Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania cannot afford complacency. By some measures, our state is struggling compared to its peers. Job formation and opportunity are not what they should be. To launch a renaissance for Pennsylvania, we must aim higher and work faster.
To quote President Ronald Reagan, “We have every right to dream heroic dreams.”
I look forward to dreaming heroic dreams together.
U.S. Senator Dave McCormick, representing Pennsylvania, serves on several key committees, including Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Foreign Relations; the Special Committee on Aging; and the Joint Economic Committee. He also serves as chair of the Energy subcommittee. For more information, visit https://www.mccormick.senate.gov/.
