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PHONE: 215-677-6900
FAX: 215·677-7102
JOHN I. KANE
Business Manager
Secmtary· Treasurer
BEFORE THE
PROFESSfONAL LICENSURE COMMITTEE PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING
HOUSE BILL# 1357
STATE LICENSURE OF PLUMBERS
TESTIMONY OF
JOHN L KANE, SR.
BUSINESS MANAGER/FINANCIAL SECRETARY -TREASURER
PLUMBERS UNION LOCAL 690
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Good Morning Chairwoman Harhart, Chairman Readshaw and the members of the Professional
Licensure Committee.
It gives me great pleasure to be here today to discuss the importance of our Plumbing
Licensing Bill. Let me stress the word "OUR".
In all my years, I can ' t think of any industry coming together like our plumbing industry.
You have both Union and Open Shop Contractors join together. Leaving our differences at the
door for two reasons:
l. Consumer Safety
2. Our Pluming Industry's Future
My plumbing career began in 1979, as a registered apprentice plumber with the City of
Philadelphia. In 1983, after serving four years as an apprentice f passed the Philadelphia
Journeyman's test showing I was proficient in the trade and graduated to the status of
Journeyman Plumber.
In 1991, I continued my education to become a Master Plumber by passing a detailed
pipe sizing diagram and fixture unit value chan. This may sound Latin to you, but in our industry
when you achieve this title you also earn respect. I continue to be a Registered Master Plumber
in the City of Philadelphia. I am also certified in Back-Flow. Brazing, Gas Tite, Process Safety
Management, Foreman Training, First Aid C.P.R. and Rigging and Signaling just to name a few.
Why do l tell you all of this? Because it's important for you to understand that I chose to
make this my career and to become the best plumber I can be just like thousands of others
throughout this commonwealth. When you look across this table we represent thousands of
plumbers in this great state. We represent union and open shop contractors. We came together;
we put our differences to the side and realized as plumbers it is our job to protect the health of
the nation.
Our concern happens to be for the people you represent. your constituents. "the
consumer"'. It is alanning what can take place when an unlicensed or under qualified individual
is hired.
I am here today warning our elected officials if we continue to go down this road of
allowing unlicensed plumbers to perform plumbing we will continue to have more cases of
legionnaires disease over the next few years. Just this past summer there was a legionnaire's case
at West Chester University. My dau~tcr attends West Chester.
Erin Brockovich, the legendary consumer advocate recently reported Pennsylvania has 16
cities complaining about its drinking water. We just recently saw what took place in Flint,
Michigan.
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In closing, I congratulate my colleagues for aJI of their hard \vork. I v~ould ao;k our elected
officials to understand and recognize our plumbing industry. Whether ic's a union or an open
shop the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is in desperate need of a stale wide plumbing license.
That being said, I thank you for allowing me to testify today and respectfully request your
support for HB 1357.
Rcspcctfull y,
John I. Kane, Sr.
Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer
Plumbers Union Local 690