Fighting Fraud and Protecting Livelihoods

Oct. 19, 2020 / Press Release

The citizens of the Commonwealth have been through so much over the past several months, from economic lockdown to struggling with receiving unemployment compensation from the Department of Labor and Industry. While Pennsylvania has been reopening, thanks to the work of House and senate Republicans, there are still two important pieces of COVID-19 policy the Legislature must address prior to the election: fraud and civil immunity. Currently in the House, House Bill 2352 is ready for action. This bill would create a state false claims act and provide civil immunity protections from COVID-19.

Stephens Establishes Committee of Academic Experts to Review PA Sentencing Policies

Oct. 19, 2020 /

HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) in his role as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing has established an ad hoc academic committee at the Commission on Sentencing to review sentencing policies. The Honorable Leon W. Tucker, Judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, will Chair the committee.

Give Police More Tools to Help Victims of Domestic Violence

Oct. 19, 2020 / Press Release

One of the unfortunate side effects of the mandates in response to COVID-19, such as the stay-at-home order, is a sharp increase in domestic violence. During the height of the stay-at-home order. Police departments in York County saw upticks in the number of domestic violence calls, including York Area Regional Police that saw a 36% increase, according to media reports.

House-Led Efforts to Lower Insurance Costs Paying Off

Oct. 16, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvanians who buy health insurance on a new state-based exchange are seeing lower costs thanks to legislation introduced in the House and sponsored by Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). That is according to the Pennsylvanian Department of Insurance, which approved lower rates for 2021 and attributed the savings to House Bill 3, now known as Act 42 of 2019.

Sonney to Co-Host Hearing with Appropriations Committee on PASSHE Report

Oct. 16, 2020 /

WHAT: Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie), chairman of the House Education Committee, will hold a joint public hearing with the House Appropriations Committee on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) report pursuant to Act 50 of 2020 and the system’s implementation plan for improvement of operations.

Struzzi Releases Statement on Commonwealth’s COVID Comeback Plan

Oct. 14, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – House Republicans today laid out their pro-jobs, recovery-focused plan to revive Pennsylvania’s economy after COVID-19 mitigation restrictions negatively impacted businesses throughout the Commonwealth. Entitled “Commonwealth’s COVID Comeback” the plan comes in the form of four bills and one resolution. This legislative package aims to incentivize manufacturing and job creation in Pennsylvania without imposing any new taxes or fees.

Cook Introduces Truth in Hiring Legislation

Oct. 13, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette) is seeking to end a practice used by Republican and Democratic governors that hides the true cost of their administration. The Truth in Hiring Act (House Bill 2913) aims to add transparency to Pennsylvania’s leadership.

House Republicans Unveil Bills to Drive the Commonwealth’s COVID Comeback

Oct. 09, 2020 /

WHAT: Rep. Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), House Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and other state representatives will unveil a pro-jobs, recovery-focused legislative package designed to achieve Pennsylvania’s better normal. The initiative, “Commonwealth’s COVID Comeback,” would rebound the economy by incentivizing manufacturing with no new taxes or fees following the pandemic.

Judiciary Committee Advances Boback Duty to Report Disappearance of a Child Bill

Oct. 07, 2020 /

HARRISBURG – The House Judiciary Committee has passed legislation authored by state Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) that would require a report about a missing child be made within 24 hours after his or her whereabouts became unknown. The bill does offer protection for guardians who have a legitimate reason to believe the child is safe with someone else.