House speakers from four
states make a SMART choice

Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis O’Brien and speakers from three neighboring states are teaming up to maximize resources in the science and technology fields.
O’Brien, Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, New Jersey Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts and representatives of Delaware Speaker Terry Spence and Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch last week outlined their goals during a news conference at Holy Family University.
The elected officials were joined by Michael Smith, a senior adviser with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Mid-Atlantic science and technology unit.
Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow (SMART) is an organization of legislators, businesses and individuals from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland that works to share government and private funding in the areas of science and technology research and development.
Specifically, they seek to attract new business to the region. They also coordinate with a congressional caucus made up of eight senators and 41 representatives committed to the same goals.
O’Brien (R-169th dist.) said the teamwork would benefit the 30 million people who live in the four states.
Knoll said the governors of each state support the plan. She described the initiative as made up of “four states, one region and infinite possibilities.”
The group of government, academic and industry officials will meet again on July 18. ••