ABOUT MARK

Mark Critz is dedicated to public service. Mark spent more than a decade working on behalf of western Pennsylvanians as a congressional staffer for Congressman John P. Murtha, first as his Director of Economic Development and then as District Director. After Congressman Murtha passed away, Mark decided to run for his seat and was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2010 to fulfill the rest of Congressman Murtha’s term. Mark was re-elected in November 2010 to serve a full two-year term in Congress where he served until January 2013.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Mark fought to ensure that our military is fully prepared to meet worldwide threats and challenges. Having traveled the country, and globe, meeting with our men and women in uniform, he has fought to ensure that our troops are taken care of both on the battlefield and when they return home.

Mark was recognized for his excellent service to our nation’s military when he was awarded the Patrick Henry Award by the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) in 2008. The Patrick Henry Award is designed to provide recognition to local officials and civic leaders, who, in a position of great responsibility, distinguished themselves with outstanding and exceptional service to the Armed Forces of the United States, the National Guard or NGAUS. It is the highest civilian award issued by the National Guard.

In Congress, Mark also served on the House Small Business Committee and became the lead Democrat on its Agriculture, Energy and Trade Subcommittee – fighting to ensure that the ideas and concerns of our local small businesses are heard in Washington, D.C. Understanding the enormous economic potential that the Marcellus Shale gas industry can have on the future of western Pennsylvania and our nation, Mark co-founded the House Marcellus Shale Caucus to help members of Congress get a better understanding of the issues surrounding shale gas. He also introduced legislation in 2011 to authorize grants to strengthen the on-the-job training programs for workers in the natural gas industry to help ensure that jobs go to Pennsylvanians and not workers from out-of-state.

An active member of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors, Mark sponsored legislation to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Mark received the Social Security and Medicare Hero Award from the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans in September 2011 for his tireless work on behalf of seniors.

Concerned about the affects of unfair and free trade on our local economy, Mark has been a leading voice in Congress on fair trade issues. He’s an original co-sponsor of the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, legislation that will hold countries, like China, accountable for unfairly manipulating their currency. In July 2011, Mark filed a discharge petition on the legislation, which would force an immediate House vote if 218 signatures are gathered, and has been leading Democratic efforts to pass this critical legislation, estimated to create millions of new jobs and reduce the budget deficit by $71 billion per year. Mark is also an active member of the Democrats’ Make It in America Task Force, which seeks to help businesses make products here in the U.S.

Mark and his wife, Nancy, a speech pathologist in the Greater Johnstown School District, live in Johnstown with their twin children.

Awards:

Patrick Henry Award, National Guard Association of the U.S.
Knight of the Honorable Order of St. Michael, Army Aviation Association
Laurel Highlands Veteran Community Award, Veteran’s Community Initiatives
Friend of the Farm Bureau Award, American Farm Bureau Federation, 2010, 2012
Golden Triangle Award, National Farmer’s Union, 2011, 2012
Social Security and Medicare Hero Award, PA Alliance for Retired Americans
Outstanding Government Honoree, Greater Westmoreland County Central Labor Council
Richard Crawford Award, St. Francis Univ. Small Business Development Center
Inductee, All-American Amateur Baseball Assoc. Hall of Fame