Jul. 13, 2020 /
![House Committee Seeking Answers for Pennsylvanians Struggling to Access Unemployment Compensation Benefits]()
HARRISBURG – More than one out of every four Pennsylvanians has applied for unemployment compensation benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nearly one out of every 10 eligible applicants still has not received benefits. With so many eligible Pennsylvanians still waiting for relief from a system they paid into for years, House Labor and Industry Committee Chairman Jim Cox (R-Berks/Lancaster) plans to hold a hearing in Harrisburg on Aug. 12 to get some answers.
Jul. 13, 2020 /
![Senate Committee Approves Bernstine’s Legislation to Provide More Transparency to Pennsylvanians]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) commended Senate State Government Committee Chairman John DiSanto (R-Dauphin/Perry) and members of the committee for passing his legislation that would amend the Sunshine Act to require a public agency to post public meeting agendas no later than 24 hours prior to the start of a meeting.
Jul. 13, 2020 /
![Toohil Takes Part in National Kidney Foundation Policy Briefing, Discusses Her Living Donor Protection Bill]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) participated in a recent webinar for legislators and others hosted by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) that focused on how COVID-19 is impacting kidney patients in Pennsylvania. Toohil is a living kidney donor for her mother.
Jul. 10, 2020 /
![Ortitay Proposes Bill to Help Address COVID-19-related Unemployment Compensation Claim Issues]()
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today introduced legislation to help end the backlog in unemployment claims due to the governor’s COVID-19 pandemic closure.
Jul. 10, 2020 /
![Bucks House Delegation Demands Investigation into Failures of the Unemployment Compensation System]()
HARRISBURG- Republican House Members from Bucks County today issued a letter to House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) requesting the House Government Oversight Committee conduct an investigation into the failure of the Unemployment Compensation program.
Jul. 09, 2020 /
![House Republicans Express Concern Over Health Secretary’s Westmoreland County Restaurant Shutdown Threat]()
HARRISBURG - Today, Westmoreland County Republican House members expressed surprise, deep concern and frustration over Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine's recent threat to close restaurants and bars for the next two weeks in Westmoreland County.
Jul. 09, 2020 /
![Wentling Legislation to Equip Predator Hunters with Thermal and Night Vision Now Law]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Crawford/Erie/Lawrence/Mercer) to allow hunters of predatory animals to use thermal and night vision equipment (House Bill 1188) is now law.
Jul. 09, 2020 /
![House Passes Mizgorski's Legislation to Update Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code]()
HARRISBURG - Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Rep. Lori Mizgorski (R-Allegheny) that would update Pennsylvania's vehicle code to establish timelines for individuals who hold commercial driver's licenses (CDL) to report non-parking traffic violations to their employers.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![House Advances Ryan Bill to Create a Financial Study Commission]()
HARRISBURG – In a bipartisan vote today, the House passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon) to develop a roadmap for improving the Commonwealth’s financial condition.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Resolution to Terminate Emergency Declaration Sent to Wolf]()
HARRISBURG – A resolution to end the COVID-19 emergency declaration in Pennsylvania was presented to Gov. Wolf for his signature today. The termination was delayed after the Wolf administration took legal action to block the implementation of HR 836 despite a bipartisan adoption by the General Assembly.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Gaydos Issues Statement on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Vote]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) today issued the following statement regarding the passage of House Bill 2025, which would require legislative approval before Pennsylvania could impose a carbon tax on electric generation, manufacturing or other industries operating in the Commonwealth, or enter into any multi-state program, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), that would impose such a tax.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Gabler, Sankey Stand Up to Protect Jobs, Preserve Citizens’ Voice in Government]()
HARRISBURG – According to state Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Tommy Sankey (Clearfield/Cambria), voting for House Bill 2025 is as much about protecting Pennsylvania’s citizens from an unaccountable executive as it is about protecting jobs in key local industries.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![House Passes Struzzi Bill to Ensure Legislative Consideration for RGGI]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today voted to advance Rep. Jim Struzzi’s (R-Indiana) House Bill 2025, which would require legislative authorization before Pennsylvania could impose a carbon tax on employers engaged in electric generation, manufacturing or other industries operating in the Commonwealth, or enter into any multi-state program, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), that would impose such a tax. The bill was passed by a bipartisan majority of 130-71.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Oberlander Applauds Vote to Ensure People’s Voices Are Heard]()
HARRISBURG – Ensuring that the people’s voices are heard on major environmental policies statewide, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) today thanked her House colleagues in voting for legislation that would require legislative authorization before Pennsylvania could impose a carbon tax.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Owlett Takes Up Front Line Defense of Second Amendment as New Member of House Judiciary Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) has been appointed to serve on the House Judiciary Committee, giving him the opportunity to be the first line of defense on any proposal that may seek to infringe on people’s Second Amendment rights.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Kaufer: Medicaid Fraud Doesn’t Just Hurt the System But Those Who Depend On It Most]()
HARRISBURG – Yesterday, the House passed Rep. Aaron Kaufer’s (R-Luzerne) House Bill 2350 by a vote of 164-37. This legislation is part of a crucial Medicaid Fraud Reform bill package aimed at strengthening requirements for Medicaid providers, ensuring taxpayer funds are being used responsibly, providing stronger system oversight and making proper adjustments to the Medicaid system to increase its usefulness and reliability.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Diamond Appointed by Speaker to Election Law Advisory Board]()
HARRISBURG - Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) has been appointed by House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) to serve as one of 23 members on the Election Law Advisory Board within the Join State Government Commission. The board was established as a component of Act 12 of 2020, which modernized the Commonwealth’s electoral system.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Murt Bill to Give Discounts to Vets at State Parks Passes House]()
HARRIBURG—Legislation sponsored by Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia) to give veterans a discount on state park fees has passed the House.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Causer Bill to Expand Hardwoods Development Council Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – A bill to expand membership on the state’s Hardwoods Development Council has been unanimously approved by the state House, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), prime sponsor of the measure.
Jul. 08, 2020 /
![Gaydos’ Prescription Drug Pricing Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG — Legislation that would increase transparency and consumer choice in the prescription drug marketplace now awaits Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature to become law, according to Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny), the bill’s prime sponsor.