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.
May. 10, 2017 /
![Southcentral PA Legislators See Pension Reform Bills Advance in State House]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would remove questionable participants from Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded state pension systems is on the move in the General Assembly, according to state Reps. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland).
May. 10, 2017 /
![Cutler Bill to Increase Public Confidence with the Courts Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislative language drafted by Reps. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) and Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) to ensure a fair, impartial and qualified judiciary by establishing a merit-based system for appointing statewide appellate judges passed the House Judiciary Committee.
May. 10, 2017 /
![Ward Spearheading Legislation to Reprioritize Distribution of Women’s Health Care Funding]()
HARRISBURG – At a press conference today at the state Capitol, Rep. Judy Ward (R-Blair) unveiled legislation she is authoring to reprioritize the allocation of public funds for family planning purposes and women’s health. Her bill would be the companion legislation to Sen. John Eichelberger’s (R-Blair) Senate Bill 300.
May. 09, 2017 /
![Cutler, Neuman Bill to Make Lobbying Information Public Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – To share information that affects the legislative process with the public, Reps. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) and Brandon Neuman (D-Washington) drafted legislation to better address lobbying violations. The bill passed committee with unanimous support today.
May. 09, 2017 /
![Baker Works to Curb Drug Addiction by Regulating Pill Mills]()
HARRISBURG – In his continuing fight against the growing drug problem in our state, chairman of the House Health Committee, Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) this week had his legislation to combat “pill mills” approved in the House of Representatives.
May. 09, 2017 /
![House Approves Kaufer’s Community Hospital Emergency Drug and Alcohol Detoxification Bill]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Kaufer’s (R-Luzerne) House Bill 118, which would expedite the creation of an Emergency Drug and Alcohol Detoxification Program, was unanimously approved by the House on Tuesday. The bill has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.