House Republicans Lead Efforts to Expand Testing

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – As daily announcements from Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine say, expanded testing is the most crucial step in saving lives and helping Pennsylvania get back to normal. However, House Democrats disagreed today, blocking the two-thirds vote required to pass an emergency bill to expand testing to Pennsylvanians on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Backing Off Regional Reopening Plan, Metzgar Says

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford) today announced that the governor is backing off his plan to reopen Pennsylvania by region. Metzgar recently wrote a letter to the governor urging him to restructure his plan to open by county, as was done when he closed them. He specifically cited issues with his district, Somerset and Bedford counties, being placed in the same region as more urban areas like Pittsburgh and York.

Maloney Announces Cancellation of Bally Firearms Safety and Rights Seminar

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks) today announced that the Firearms Safety and Rights Seminar scheduled for April 30 at Bally Fire Company has been canceled in an effort to abide by the Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines on how to limit spread of coronavirus by limiting in-person interactions through social distancing.

Southcentral House Republicans Move to Expand COVID-19 Testing

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – House Democrats today blocked a measure which would have provided the Wolf administration with necessary COVID-19 testing tools it requested to help protect Pennsylvanians and reopen the state. Southcentral region state legislators, including House Appropriations Majority Chairman Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion) and Reps. Torren Ecker (R-Abbottstown), Dawn Keefer (R-Dillsburg), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Dan Moul (R-Gettysburg), Seth Grove (R-Dover), Mike Jones (R-York Township), Greg Rothman (R-Camp Hill), Sheryl Delozier (R-Lower Allen Township), Paul Schemel (R-Franklin), Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland) and Barb Gleim (R-Carlisle), issued the following statement:

Roae and Other PASSHE Board Members Vote to Freeze Tuition

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania state Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie), who serves on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Board of Governors, today issued the following statement after the board met online Wednesday and voted to freeze tuition rates at the 14 state-owned universities for the 2020-21 school year:

Turzai Asks Hospital Association How Many Hospital Beds are COVID-occupied

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Seeking reliable data information, Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) sent a letter to the Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania asking for information and updates about how many of the state’s 37,000 hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Provide COVID-19 Data, Speaker Turzai Again Asks Secretary of Health

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – As with any informed decision-making process, reliable and current data is essential for the public and legislature as Pennsylvania transitions to a path of recovery. In an attempt to access this important data, Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) sent the Secretary of Health the attached letter today.

The Time is Now to Properly Honor First Responders, Maloney Says

Apr. 29, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks) has introduced legislation that would designate Sept. 27 of each year as “First Responders Day” in Pennsylvania to honor the men and women on the front lines who sacrifice so much to protect the lives and property of others.

House Approves Gleim Bill to Monitor Fiscal Pitfalls

Apr. 28, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland) today announced that the House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 2392, legislation she authored along with esteemed colleague Rep. Frank Ryan of Lebanon County.

Polinchock’s Bill to Allow Safe Real Estate Transactions Passes House, Heads to Senate

Apr. 28, 2020 /

HARRISBURG—The House today passed legislation by Rep. Todd Polinchock (R-Bucks), House Bill 2412, to require the secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue a waiver to the COVID-19 Business Closure Order to allow all real estate-related activities that can adhere to social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

House Approves Bill to Create Bipartisan COVID-19 Review Task Force, Grove Says

Apr. 28, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing response has put an enormous strain on Pennsylvanians and state government. To help ensure Pennsylvania and its residents come out stronger than they were before the pandemic, the House approved House Bill 2419 by Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) to form a bipartisan COVID-19 cost and recovery task force.

Lawrence Bill to Expand COVID-19 Testing Passes Committee

Apr. 27, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation passed earlier today would facilitate rapid COVID-19 testing for Chester County’s health care workers and first responders. Introduced by Rep. John Lawrence (R-West Grove), House Bill 2455 gives Chester County the green light to implement Coronavirus antibody testing that complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance.