May. 22, 2017 /
![Day’s Bill to Honor Local Hero Passes House Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed to acknowledge and remember the ultimate sacrifice made by a Lehigh County soldier passed the House Transportation Committee recently, said Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh/Berks), sponsor of the bill to designate a section of Route 100 in Lehigh County as the Capt. Mark T. Resh Memorial Highway.
May. 22, 2017 /
![Heffley, Veterans Advocates Join to Support Mission 22 and Prevent Veteran Suicide]()
WHAT: A press conference recognizing Mission 22, an organization that helps prevent veteran suicide, and its presence in the Capitol. Mission 22 creates large-scale public memorials to recognize and honor those who served, and has chosen three Pennsylvania veterans who have lost the battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This event marks the dedication of a memorial to Michael Wargo, one of the veterans chosen from the Commonwealth. Heffley’s House Resolution 349, recognizing Mission 22 and its efforts, will be considered by the House on Tuesday.
May. 22, 2017 /
![Santora’s Bill to Direct Casino Money to Local Counties Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislative language drafted by Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) to fairly compensate local counties for the increased demand casino patrons place on services through an annual fee and percentage of slot machine revenue passed the House Gaming Oversight Committee with strong bipartisan support today.
May. 22, 2017 /
![House Children and Youth Committee to Consider Post-Partum Depression Bill]()
WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), will consider House Bill 200, sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), which would add post-partum depression as a qualifying at-risk condition for early intervention services under the Early Intervention Services System Act.
May. 22, 2017 /
![PA House State Government Committee to Examine Perils of Gun-Free Zones]()
WHAT: Following this morning’s Rally to Protect Your Right to Keep and Bear Arms, PA House State Government Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will convene an informational meeting focusing on the issue of gun-free zones.
May. 19, 2017 /
![New Report Shows Stephens Bill Restoring Mandatory Minimum Sentences is Needed to Stem Opioid Crisis]()
HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) called on the Senate to move quickly to pass his legislation, House Bill 741, following the release of the Montgomery County Investigating Grand Jury Report on the Opioid Crisis.
May. 19, 2017 /
![Barrar, House Committee to Consider Bill to Extend Program Benefitting Military Families]()
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will hold a committee meeting to vote on three pieces of legislation:
May. 18, 2017 /
![Speaker Turzai, Majority Leader Reed and House Republican Leaders Tell Democratic National Committee to Return Pennsylvania’s Money]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) and other House Republican leaders have sent the following letter to former Gov. Ed Rendell and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, requesting they return the surplus money from the 2016 national convention held in Philadelphia.
May. 17, 2017 /
![Simmons’ ‘Epi-Pen’ Bill Signed into Law]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), that helps to ensure the health and safety of Pennsylvania school students who suffer from severe allergic reactions, has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf as Act 2 of 2017.
May. 15, 2017 /
![Toohil Supports Resolution to Raise Awareness of DIPG]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) joined her House colleagues last week in unanimously adopting a resolution designating May 17, 2017, as “Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Day” in Pennsylvania.
May. 15, 2017 /
![House Committee Approves Nelson Bill to Protect Seniors’ Prescription Drug Assistance Eligibility]()
HARRISBURG – The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee this week reported out legislation, sponsored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Hempfield), to prevent seniors from losing their eligibility for state prescription drug assistance due to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
May. 11, 2017 /
![Bernstine Announces Legislation Aimed at Requiring Municipal Electric Fairness]()
ELLWOOD CITY - State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) joined with state and community leaders today to announce his introduction of legislation to require borough electric providers to adopt more uniform and reasonable rate structures.
May. 11, 2017 /
![Baker Works to Raise Lyme Disease Awareness, Provide Treatment Coverage]()
HARRISBURG – Earlier this week, Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) had two legislative proposals move forward in the legislative process and draw added attention to the increased prevalence of the disease in our state.
May. 11, 2017 /
![Committee Supports Barrar’s Bill to Pay Ambulance Companies for Services Rendered]()
HARRISBURG – The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously supported a bill drafted by chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) that would require insurance companies to reimburse emergency medical services agencies for services provided when a patient is not transported to the hospital.
May. 11, 2017 /
![Schemel’s Legislation to Improve Process for Intergovernmental Cooperation Receives Committee Approval]()
HARRISBURG – A three-bill package sponsored by Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) that would make intergovernmental cooperation easier and more efficient was approved by the House Local Government Committee today.
May. 10, 2017 /
![What It Will Take To Replace Property Taxes]()
My March column on property tax references made during the House Appropriations Committee budget hearings drew a great deal of feedback. The responses were interesting and varied. This is a good time to explain the four-bill package I have introduced.
May. 10, 2017 /
![Causer Applauds Study Highlighting Value of Conventional Oil and Gas Industry]()
May. 10, 2017 /
![House Approves Toepel’s Bill to Create Council to Study Rare Diseases]()
HARRISBURG – Today the House approved legislation with unanimous support sponsored by Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery) to create a council charged with studying rare diseases in the Commonwealth.
May. 10, 2017 /
![Delozier Brings Attention to Stigmas Surrounding People with Disabilities]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) today hosted a Capitol press conference to help unveil a documentary film bringing attention to stigmas associated with people with disabilities.
May. 10, 2017 /
![Knowles’ Bill to Withhold State Funding from Sanctuary Campuses Approved by State Government Committee]()
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, the House State Government Committee approved Rep. Jerry Knowles’ (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) House Bill 14, which would prohibit any institution of higher education in Pennsylvania which deems itself a “sanctuary campus” from receiving state funding. Funding would be restored once the institution demonstrates compliance with the requirement of the law and provides proof the rule, order or policy has been rescinded.