School Leaders Back Nelson, White Bill to Replace PSSA Testing

Sep. 22, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – With the support of area school superintendents, Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland) and Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia), Republican Caucus Secretary, unveiled a plan to eliminate the annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing system used by public schools and replace it with benchmark testing technology.

Twardzik Tobacco Settlement Protection Bill to Get Governor’s Signature

Sep. 22, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-Schuylkill) to protect hundreds of millions of dollars in promised monies from the landmark 1998 Tobacco Settlement Agreement may be signed into law as early as next week. The agreement was the outcome of a 46-state lawsuit against major tobacco companies to recoup health care costs of smoking-related illnesses.

Gaydos, Kinkead Hear from Constituents Concerning Assistance for Landslide-Prone Victims

Sep. 21, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – During a town hall meeting on Wednesday in Sewickley, Allegheny County, state Reps. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) and Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) discussed their legislation to create a new insurance program for homeowners living in landslide-prone areas, as well as assistance to local governments that wish to mitigate the risk of landslides within their communities.

Staats to Introduce Campaign Finance Law Compliance Measure

Sep. 21, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) said Thursday he will soon be introducing legislation to put more teeth in campaign finance law compliance when third parties request documentation of reimbursements not already itemized in campaign finance reports.

Adams Hosts Policy Committee Hearing on Creating Educational Pipelines to Prosperity

Sep. 19, 2023 /

HAWLEY – Rep. Joe Adams (R-Pike/Wayne), House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington) and members of the committee held a hearing today in Hawley to examine what technical and vocational education services are available, the need for a centralized career and technical center (CTC), and how to develop existing services into more robust programs.

Scialabba Upholding Parental Rights, Involvement with Child’s Care

Sep. 19, 2023 /

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP – Rep. Stephenie Scialabba (R-Butler) announced she is introducing legislation after Pennsylvania became the first state in the country to award a statewide $3 million contract to Kooth, a London-based online platform where school-aged children can receive mental health care without parental knowledge, involvement or consent.

Automatic Voter Registration Should Require Legislation, Cutler Says

Sep. 19, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – With Gov. Josh Shapiro announcing Tuesday his administration will be implementing an automatic voter registration system in Pennsylvania, House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said that new system should be created through legislation, not executive guidance.

Gaydos, Kinkead to Host Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Landslide Legislation

Sep. 19, 2023 /

WHAT: Reps. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) and Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) will be hosting a town hall meeting to discuss proposed legislation that would create a new insurance program for homeowners living in landslide-prone areas, as well as assist local governments that wish to mitigate the risk of landslides within their communities.

Adams to Host Hearing on Creating Educational Pipelines

Sep. 18, 2023 /

WHAT: To boost education in our Commonwealth, Rep. Joe Adams (R-Pike/Wayne) will host a hearing titled “Creating Educational Pipelines to Prosperity.” This forum will examine what technical and vocational education services are available and how to develop those existing services into a more robust program.

Topper, Ortitay Warner Issue Statement on BEF Commission

Sep. 15, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – As the Republican House members on the Basic Education Funding Commission, Republican chairman of the House Education Committee Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) and Reps. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) and Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) issued the following statement:

Public Input Requested for Broadband Expansion Program, Says Metzgar

Sep. 15, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset), House Republican designee to the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA), announced today that the authority is asking for public input after it drafted its first volume of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.