Joe Sestak Addresses Erie Democrats

Meets with Ron DiNicola and other Community Leaders, Speaks at Democratic Committee Meeting

ERIE, PA - Another enthusiastic group of Democrats were on hand in Erie to hear from Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak on Thursday evening. Joe met with a group of local community leaders, including former Congressional candidate Ron DiNicola, before appearing as the featured speaker at the Erie County Democratic Committee meeting.  At both events, Joe discussed his plan for Pennsylvania's next generation as Pennsylvania's next Senator.

This event was part of his latest tour of the Keystone State.  Joe spoke about his work in Congress to get a jobs bill passed, along with the most significant health insurance reform in a generation.  As the highest-ranking Veteran ever elected to Congress, he discussed his work to advance transparency and accountability in our VA Medical Center ahead of his scheduled meeting with VA representatives on Monday at the Pittsburgh Progressive Care Center.

"As the nation finally makes the investment it should in the health care of our Veterans, we must be certain that those taxpayer dollars are applied to a medical system that is caring, effective, and efficient," Joe said.  "At a time when we are trying to redress the failure of Congress in 2003 to protect the ability of millions of aging former service members to enroll in the VA health care system, we must hold our Veterans facilities to the highest standards of accountability and transparency, so that the sons and daughters of Veterans will know their loved ones receive the care they earned."

Many local Democrats expressed their concerns about Pennsylvania's economic future and Joe discussed what he proposes to do for working families, especially those looking for work.  Joe explained his strong support, as Vice Chair of the House Small Business Committee, for helping small and start-up businesses innovate, compete, and create jobs. He pointed to the green manufacturing industry as a place where Pennsylvania can lead the way.

"Being raised by the son of a steelworker, I am proud of Pennsylvania's highly skilled manufacturing work force with the freedom to get a fair shake at the bargaining table," Joe said. "At a Green Jobs Training Program, I met a local entrepreneur who recently re-purchased a wind-turbine company that he helped start because new reforms, like the green jobs bill I helped pass in the House, convinced him that we are serious about investing in Pennsylvania's -- in America's -- economic future.  Companies like these have already created hundreds of thousands of new jobs."

Joe Sestak will continue his state-wide tour with more "Kitchen Calls" events, scheduled in Bethlehem, Pittsburgh, and Butler County later this week.  People can find out more information at JoeSestak.com.

Joe Sestak was elected to Congress in 2006 after a distinguished 31-year career in the United States Navy, and he is honored to represent the Southeastern Pennsylvania district where he was born and raised. He is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania.  During his Navy career, Joe attained the rank of 3-star Admiral, served in the White House as Director for Defense Policy on President Clinton's National Security Council, served in the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and led a series of operational commands at sea, culminating in command of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (30 ships, 100 aircraft, and 15,000 sailors/marines/aviators/SEALs) during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In our nation's time of crisis in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the Navy turned to Joe Sestak to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy anti-terrorism unit formed in response to the attacks. Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to either branch of Congress. He graduated second in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a Master's in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. Joe lives in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Alex, and proudly represents the 7th District, where his mother and many of his seven siblings still reside.