Apr. 15, 2019 /
![Thomas Bill to Require Pension Forfeiture for Sex Crimes Passes House]()
HARRISBURG—Legislation sponsored by Rep. Wendi Thomas (R-Bucks) to prevent elected officials convicted of sexual offenses from receiving their public pension has passed the House.
Apr. 15, 2019 /
![Committee to Consider Variety of Human Service Bills, Resolutions]()
WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), will hold a voting meeting to consider four proposals. They include measures that would provide for a detoxification and addiction treatment bed registry (House Bill 596); not require a positive drug test to begin treatment (House Bill 1024); recognize the rights of individuals with cognitive disabilities to technology and information access (House Resolution 74); and create an advisory committee to study ways the Commonwealth can forge the next link in the chain of care for people struggling with an addiction (House Resolution 216).
Apr. 15, 2019 /
![Gregory Supports Suing Opioid Manufacturers for Wrongful Death]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) and 18 other members of the House Human Services Committee signed a letter sent Friday to Attorney General Josh Shapiro, asking him to sue opioid manufacturers and distributors for unlawful business practices regarding the marketing and sale of their products.
Apr. 12, 2019 /
![Bernstine Takes On Legislation to Increase Government Transparency]()
HARRISBURG – Continuing his mission to increase government transparency and accountability, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) has reintroduced legislation in the state House of Representatives to expand Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act.
Apr. 12, 2019 /
WELLSBORO – The deployment of rural broadband was one of the focuses of discussion at a roundtable event held by the House Majority Policy Committee at the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro, Tioga County, said Reps. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) and Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter).
Apr. 11, 2019 /
![Pickett Applauds Passage of Full Lyme Disease Coverage Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Braford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) applauds the recent passage of legislation that would require health insurers to cover treatment plans for Lyme disease or related tick-borne illnesses as prescribed by a patient’s health care practitioner. The bill was approved in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday by a solid bipartisan vote of 158-34.
Apr. 11, 2019 /
![Rapp Full Lyme Disease Coverage Legislation Clears PA House]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by House Health Committee Chairman Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) that would require health insurers to cover treatment plans for Lyme disease or related tick-borne illnesses as prescribed by a patient’s health care practitioner was approved in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday by a solid bipartisan vote of 158-34.
Apr. 11, 2019 /
![Lewis Debt Reduction Bill Passes Finance Committee, Advances to House Floor]()
HARRISBURG – Working to protect the interests of current and future generations of taxpayers, the House Finance Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Andrew Lewis (R-Dauphin) to lower the debt ceiling on a key redevelopment assistance program.
Apr. 10, 2019 /
HARRISBURG – Dairy farmers, milk haulers and public safety officials appeared before the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Wednesday to discuss legislation introduced by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) that would exempt milk trucks from weather-related commercial vehicle travel bans.
Apr. 10, 2019 /
![Thomas Bill to Protect PACE and PACENET Benefits Passes House]()
HARRISBURG—Legislation introduced by Rep. Wendi Thomas (R-Bucks) to prevent seniors from losing their PACE and PACENET benefits due to an increase in the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has passed the House.
Apr. 10, 2019 /
![Gregory Announces House Passage of PA Hidden Predator Act]()
HARRISBURG – A victims’ rights bill championed by Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) passed the House of Representatives today, clearing an important hurdle toward creating a constitutional amendment related to the statute of limitations following childhood sexual abuse.
Apr. 10, 2019 /
![Cook Selected to Serve on Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette) has been appointed to serve on the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (JLCC) by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny).
Apr. 10, 2019 /
HARRISBURG – Recognizing April 2019 as “Esophageal Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month” in Pennsylvania, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) honored Rich and Linda Horner of Rimersburg on Monday for their ongoing efforts to raise awareness about the disease.
Apr. 10, 2019 /
![Improvements proposed to historic preservation tax credit program]()
HARRISBURG, April 9 – State Reps. Robert Freeman and Lee James and state Sens. David G. Argall and Judy Schwank today introduced legislation that would make improvements to the state historic preservation incentive tax credit program.
Apr. 10, 2019 /
![House Approves Kauffman Bill Expanding Protections for Child Testifiers]()
HARRISBURG – In order to protect more children from the trauma of testifying in court, state Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) has authored legislation that would expand the circumstances in which out-of-court statements by a child may be admissible. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved House Bill 505 this week.
Apr. 09, 2019 /
![Simmons’ ‘Caylee’s Law’ Bill Advances to Senate]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation which would increase the penalties for the crime of concealing the death of a child, sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives today and will next be considered by the Senate.
Apr. 09, 2019 /
HARRISBURG – Today, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Pike/Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne), expressed concerns over changes to Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) and what they might mean for rural communities.
Apr. 09, 2019 /
HARRISBURG – Today in the state House, two committees approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) that would help infants and children impacted by the state’s opioid crisis and ensure parents use private health insurance for their children, if available and financially feasible, before relying on Medical Assistance.
Apr. 09, 2019 /
![Ag Committee to Examine Bill Exempting Milk Trucks from Winter Weather Travel Bans]()
WHAT: The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), will hold an informational meeting on House Bill 915, which would exempt milk trucks from winter-related travel bans in the Commonwealth. Causer introduced the bill in response to the Wolf administration issuing a disaster emergency declaration this winter in which commercial vehicles were banned three times from some portions or all of the state’s interstate highways in anticipation of snow or ice accumulations.
Apr. 09, 2019 /
![House Passes Mihalek’s Victim Protection Bill]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to better protect victims of crime and abuse, today the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny) that would shield rape victims from irrelevant cross examination.