Apr. 11, 2018 /
![Schemel’s Legislation to Improve Process for Intergovernmental Cooperation Advances to Senate]()
HARRISBURG – A three-bill package sponsored by Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) that would make intergovernmental cooperation easier and more efficient in Pennsylvania passed unanimously in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. House Bills 479, 480 and 481 will next be considered by the Senate.
Apr. 11, 2018 /
![Rapp, House Health Committee Move Welfare Reforms Forward]()
HARRISBURG – As part of an ongoing effort to help contain costs and bring about real reform to Pennsylvania’s welfare system, PA House Health Committee Chairman Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) convened a voting meeting on Tuesday to advance two pieces of legislation which would give more Pennsylvania families an opportunity to improve their quality of life, while tackling waste, fraud and abuse from within the current system.
Apr. 11, 2018 /
![Ryan Bill to Update Orphans’ Court Procedures Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – The House last night voted to approve legislation authored by Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon) that would increase protections available to some of our most vulnerable citizens – orphaned children – by ensuring that their guardians comply with current law.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![House Advances Bloom’s Small Business Tax Reform Bill]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to improve the Commonwealth’s job climate and our ability to attract and grow successful small businesses, the state House of Representatives today advanced legislation, authored by Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland), to level the playing field for small business taxpayers in Pennsylvania.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![House Health Committee Passes Dowling MA Work Requirement Bill]()
HARRISBURG – Citing concern that more than 50 percent of able-bodied Medical Assistance (MA) recipients do not work, Rep. Matthew Dowling’s (R-Fayette/Somerset) legislation to establish work requirements for the program was approved by the House Health Committee on Tuesday.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Watson’s Kinship Caregiver Navigator Bill for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would better connect grandparents who are the sole caregivers for their grandchildren to support and resources was reported out of the House Children and Youth Committee today, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th).
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Toepel, Oberlander and Delozier Stand Against Sexual and Workplace Harassment]()
WHAT: Reps. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery), Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest), and Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) are holding a press conference to announce legislation designed to update Pennsylvania’s laws to better protect men and women from sexual misconduct and harassment in the workplace.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Committee to Examine Issue of Deaf, Blind Support Services]()
WHAT: The House Human Services Committee, chaired by Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), will hold a public hearing on House Bill 2069, sponsored by Reps. Dan Miller (D-Allegheny) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), that would put into law an expiring grant program which has provided a lifeline for many deaf and blind Pennsylvanians by providing access to support service providers who facilitate communication and provide sighted guidance. This program has since allowed many more deafblind Pennsylvanians to access their communities and avoid costly in-home care or nursing home placement.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Committee Supports Walsh Bill to Strengthen Integrity of Welfare Benefits]()
HARRISBURG – The House Health Committee today reported out Rep. Justin Walsh’s (R-Westmoreland) legislation to bring further accountability to welfare benefits.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Boback’s Civics Education Legislation Advances]()
HARRISBURG – To address the critical need for increased civics instruction in the Commonwealth, Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) introduced House Bill 564, which would require school districts to administer a locally developed assessment of U.S. history, government and civics. The bill passed out of the House Education Committee unanimously on Monday.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Make State-Related Universities Subject to PA Transparency, Ethics Laws]()
HARRISBURG – State Reps. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) and John Maher (R-Allegheny/Washington) today unveiled a three-bill package of legislation that aims to boost the transparency and accountability of Pennsylvania’s state-related universities, which collectively receive more than $560 million of taxpayer dollars annually.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Ortitay Proposes Legislation to Implement State Budget Process Change]()
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) recently introduced a 39-bill package to implement a change in the state budget process he has proposed to separate the omnibus general appropriations bill into individual pieces.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![House Advances Moul Bill to Protect Property Rights and Establish Penalties for Abuses of ‘Reasonable Accommodation’]()
HARRISBURG – Today, the House unanimously approved legislation, sponsored by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams), which aims to protect the rights of property owners who provide reasonable accommodation for tenants with disabilities, and establishes penalties for those who misrepresent themselves or their assistance animal.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Local Lawmakers Call for Federal Study to Determine Health Impacts of Water Contamination]()
HARRISBURG – Citing local residents’ right to safe, clean drinking water, Reps. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery), Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th) and Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks) today thanked their House colleagues for supporting a resolution that asks the federal government to study any potential health effects stemming from water contamination at the former Naval Air Station in Willow Grove.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![House Passes Nelson Bill to Help Small Businesses]()
HARRISBURG – The House today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Hempfield) that would permit small businesses to take a full state tax deduction for qualifying purchases.
Apr. 10, 2018 /
![Legislation to Protect Babies with Down Syndrome Advances from House Health Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Judy Ward (R-Blair) to prohibit the abortion of a child due solely to a diagnosis of possible Down syndrome was reported from the House Health Committee today by a bipartisan vote of 17-9.
Apr. 09, 2018 /
![Grove Bill to Simplify Tax Code Approved by House]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation by Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) to simplify Pennsylvania’s tax code to ensure mobile telecommunication consumers aren’t subject to double taxation was approved by the House on Monday.
Apr. 09, 2018 /
![Rapp Takes First Action as House Health Committee Chairman, Advances Legislation Prohibiting Down Syndrome Abortions]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) completed her first official action as PA House Health Committee chairman by convening a voting meeting today to advance legislation which would prohibit the abortion of a child due solely to a diagnosis of possible Down syndrome.
Apr. 09, 2018 /
![Lawmakers to Unveil Legislation to Boost Transparency of PA’s State-Related Universities]()
WHAT: State Reps. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) and John Maher (R-Allegheny/Washington) will hold a press conference to unveil a package of legislation to boost the transparency and accountability of Pennsylvania’s state-related universities, which receive more than $560 million of taxpayer dollars annually.
Apr. 08, 2018 /
![Stephens to Testify on Strengthening Gun Laws]()
WHAT: Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on his legislation to help families and law enforcement prevent dangerous people from possessing or acquiring guns.