Feb. 10, 2016
HARRISBURG – During his line-item veto of the 2015-16 budget passed by the Legislature in December, Gov. Tom Wolf eliminated $3.78 million in funding for Pennsylvania hospital burn units. Today, the Pennsylvania House approved
House Bill 1803, introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh), to restore the governor’s cuts. The final vote was 117-61.
“It’s baffling why the governor specifically targeted hospital-based burn centers with a line-item veto,” said Mackenzie. “The budget that was passed funded burn centers at levels he requested. These centers offer critical care to injured firefighters, first responders, automobile accident victims and others. Today we took an important step in restoring that funding.”
While the governor’s veto of state funding is problematic, the negative impact is compounded by a loss of more than $4 million in matching federal dollars, effectively doubling the cut in funding to critical care burn units. This threatens the ability of burn specialists to offer burn victims the high-quality care they need and deserve.
“Lehigh Valley Health Network – Cedar Crest houses one of the most advanced burn centers in Pennsylvania, and could be substantially impacted if these dollars aren’t restored soon,” said Mackenzie. “The care this facility provides to burn victims is often a matter of life and death. Approving this funding is the compassionate thing to do, and I hope the Senate and governor agree.”
For more information, visit
RepMackenzie.com or
Facebook.com/RepMackenzie.
Representative Ryan Mackenzie
134th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ryan Travis, 717.260.6335
rtravis@pahousegop.com
RepMackenzie.com /
Facebook.com/RepMackenzie