May. 19, 2016 /
![PA Medical Society Issues Guidelines for Doctors and Patients to Address Opioid Use, Says Heffley]()
HARRISBURG – In order to address Pennsylvania’s widespread and devastating opioid abuse crisis, the PA Medical Society issued guidelines to both patients and doctors to encourage a proactive approach to prescription drug use, said Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon).
May. 19, 2016 /
![Barrar’s Committee Supports Bill to Increase Police Officer Safety]()
HARRISBURG – Led by majority chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved legislation to increase the safety of police officers.
May. 18, 2016 /
![Bloom Issues Statement in Response to Governor’s Veto of Protecting Excellent Teachers Act]()
HARRISBURG – Bill author Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of House Bill 805 – the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act, which would end the practice of seniority-based layoffs in Pennsylvania and instead require teacher performance to guide furlough and reinstatement decisions:
May. 18, 2016 /
![Schemel’s Bill to Improve Intergovernmental Cooperation Process Advances in House]()
HARRISBURG – Three related bills that would make intergovernmental cooperation easier and more efficient, sponsored by Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin), today were approved by the House Local Government Committee.
May. 18, 2016 /
![House Advances Petri’s Public Pension Forfeiture Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – The House today overwhelmingly approved legislation sponsored by House Ethics Committee Chairman Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that would strengthen Pennsylvania laws governing public corruption.
May. 18, 2016 /
![Committee Advances Godshall Bill to Allow Terminally Ill to Receive Drugs Not Yet Approved by FDA]()
HARRISBURG – The House Health Committee on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation, sponsored by Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), which would permit eligible patients with a terminal illness to use investigational drugs, biological products and devices not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
May. 18, 2016 /
![Hahn Legislation Toughens Penalties For At-Risk Drivers]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-Bushkill Township) that would change the penalties for driving with a suspended license resulting from a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction has passed the House overwhelmingly. House Bill 1861 may now be considered by the state Senate.
May. 18, 2016 /
![House Approves Barrar’s Bill to Protect Consumers from Identity Theft]()
HARRISBURG – The House approved legislation with unanimous support sponsored by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) to protect Commonwealth citizens by eliminating the automatic expiration of security freezes on consumer credit reports.
May. 18, 2016 /
![Metcalfe, Lawmakers Respond to Obama’s Bathroom Decree]()
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) and 96 other state lawmakers sent the following letter to President Barrack Obama in response to his administration’s recent letter threatening to pull federal funding and seek legal action against public schools that prohibit transgender students from using bathroom and locker room facilities based on gender identity.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Governor Signs Gingrich Bill to Prepare Disabled Students for Workforce]()
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf today signed into law legislation sponsored by Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) to provide work experience for high school students with disabilities.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Tobash’s Hybrid Pension Plan Passes House Committee]()
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday afternoon, the House State Government Committee voted in favor of Rep. Mike Tobash’s (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin) legislation to establish a reformed retirement benefit plan, containing both defined benefit and defined contribution components, for future state and public school employees. After the vote on House Bill 1499, Tobash made the following statement:
May. 17, 2016 /
![Pennsylvania National Guard, Civil Air Patrol Work to Protect Commonwealth, Barrar Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) today heard testimony about how the Pennsylvania National Guard and Civil Air Patrol aid the Commonwealth and the nation during a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Marsico Legislation to Stop Hazing Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Ron Marsico’s (R-Lower Paxton) legislation to protect students from harmful hazing rituals by making it a crime for hazing to occur at Pennsylvania schools and to require schools to write and enforce policies to prevent hazing passed through the House of Representatives today and will now head to the governor’s desk for final approval.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Kaufer Leads First PA-HOPE Caucus Meeting to Address PA’s Growing Opioid and Heroin Epidemic]()
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) co-chaired the first meeting of the newly established PA Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (PA-HOPE) Caucus at the Capitol. This caucus, which Kaufer co-chairs with Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny), has gained the interest of numerous other House members, all of whom are interested in addressing the growing opioid and heroin epidemic in the Commonwealth.
May. 17, 2016 /
![State House Honors CB South’s Ice Hockey Victory, Watson Says]()
HARRISBURG – To celebrate the Central Bucks High School South’s second state ice hockey championship, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th) today welcomed the athletes and coaches to the state Capitol for recognition by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Policy Committee to Review Proposed Game and Fish License Fee Increases]()
WHAT: The House Majority Policy Committee will host an informational hearing to discuss the concept of allowing the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to set their own license fees.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Senate, House Leaders Call on Wolf to Protect Excellent Teachers]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-28), Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-62) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34), along with school board representatives and education advocates, today called on Gov. Tom Wolf to side with Pennsylvania schools and sign House Bill 805.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Vereb to Introduce Resolution Seeking School Consolidation Study]()
HARRISBURG — State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) today announced he plans to introduce a resolution in the state House calling on a bipartisan agency of the state Legislature to produce a study examining the feasibility of consolidating school districts in Pennsylvania.
May. 17, 2016 /
![House Advances Maher Bill to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse, Protect Drinking Water]()
HARRISBURG – On Monday, the House unanimously approved legislation, sponsored by Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny/Washington), which aims to reduce prescription drug abuse and ensure the safety of Pennsylvania’s drinking water by providing for the proper disposal of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications.
May. 17, 2016 /
![Greiner Shepherds Historic Ignition Interlock Legislation to Overwhelming Passage in House]()
HARRISBURG – Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 290, which would make the ignition interlock program mandatory for certain first-time DUI offenders and, in those cases where the interlock program is applied, reduce driver’s license suspension requirements. State Rep. Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock) introduced companion legislation, House Bill 278, and has worked tirelessly alongside Sen. John Rafferty (Montgomery/Chester/Berks) toward the historic passage of this legislation. The bill was approved by a vote of 194-1.