Jun. 08, 2017 /
![Pickett Leads Effort to Bring Fairness, Regulation to Air Ambulance Industry]()
HARRISBURG – As a way to protect consumers from facing the high cost of air ambulance transport, Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) has secured House approval of a measure to encourage Congress to allow state regulation of the industry.
Jun. 08, 2017 /
![House Makes Historic Vote in Favor of Reforming PA’s Public Pension Systems, Tobash Says]()
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s ever-growing public pension debt has created a looming financial crisis, one which can only be addressed through meaningful reform. In response, Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin) joined the majority of his House colleagues in approving a historic public pension reform measure on Thursday to responsibly address the state’s escalating debt and move the state’s pension systems into the 21st century. The bill received bipartisan support in the House. After the vote on Senate Bill 1, Tobash made the following statement:
Jun. 08, 2017 /
![Lancaster County House GOP Delegation Supports Pension Reform]()
HARRISBURG – On Thursday, the state House passed pension reform legislation with bipartisan support that would reduce the unfunded liability by $5 billion and provide all new state and school district employees with three plan options, including two hybrid choices and a defined contribution-only plan. The bill now awaits Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature.
Jun. 08, 2017 /
![Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Oversight Measure Passes House, Say Turzai, Readshaw]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation to place the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) under the oversight of the Public Utility Commission (PUC) passed the House today by a vote of 195-0, said House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny).
Jun. 07, 2017 /
![Irvin Legislation Would Ensure Continuation of CHIP]()
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin) has authored legislation approved by the state House to continue the Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is set to expire on Dec. 31.
Jun. 07, 2017 /
![Career and Technical Education Bill Sent to Governor, Say Turzai, Tobash]()
HARRISBURG – A bill designed to provide career and technical education students with additional pathways to fulfilling their graduation requirements unanimously earned Senate approval this week and is now on its way to the governor. The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin).
Jun. 07, 2017 /
![House Approves Kaufer’s Bill to Certify PA ‘Sober Houses’]()
HARRISBURG – As a matter of public safety, the House unanimously approved House Bill 119, sponsored by Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne), which would require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to certify drug and alcohol recovery houses in Pennsylvania that receive public funding.
Jun. 07, 2017 /
![House Passes Wentling Bill to Honor Crawford County Soldier]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives unanimously passed on Wednesday legislation by Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Crawford/Erie/Lawrence/Mercer) to honor U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Douglas Mowris, who was killed during combat operations in Afghanistan in 2004.
Jun. 07, 2017 /
![House Passes Bill to Certify Recovery Housing in PA, Farry Says - Legislation based on task force recommendations]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) today announced passage of legislation by the House of Representatives to establish a certification process for recovery housing in Pennsylvania. The certification process was based on recommendations made by the Certification of Drug and Alcohol Recovery Houses Task Force (CDARH), which was established by Farry in 2014.
Jun. 07, 2017 /
![Bloom Renews Effort to Protect Excellent Teachers]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) today reintroduced legislation to help keep Pennsylvania’s best teachers in the classrooms and boost student achievement by ending the mandated practice of seniority-based layoffs in Pennsylvania.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Nelson’s Bill to Keep Seniors’ Prescription Drug Assistance Eligibility Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – The House today approved legislation, sponsored by Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Hempfield), to prevent seniors from losing their eligibility for the state’s prescription drug assistance programs due to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Santora, Driscoll Bill to Protect Contractors from Non-Payment Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislative language drafted by Reps. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) and Michael Driscoll (D-Philadelphia) to permit contractors to suspend their work if they are not paid per contract terms passed the House Commerce Committee unanimously today.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Topper Bill to Assist Veterans, Help Decrease EMT Shortage, Passed Out of Committee]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) to assist medically-trained veterans find jobs in the private sector medical field was unanimously approved by the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee this morning.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![House Passes Reed’s Bill to Rename Indiana County Bridge in Honor of Local Vietnam Veteran]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation to designate an Indiana County bridge in the memory of a local Vietnam War veteran, sponsored by House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), was passed unanimously by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday. House Bill 1219 now heads to the Senate for its consideration.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Tallman Legislation Honors Fallen Adams County Soldier]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) that would pay tribute to a member of the military from Cumberland County has passed the House unanimously. House Bill 154 may now be considered by the state Senate.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Tourism Committee Passes Bill Expanding Recreational Land Use, Says Millard]()
HARRISBURG – A bill introduced by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) that would expand recreational land use in Pennsylvania passed the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee on Tuesday morning, said Rep. David Millard (R-Berwick), chairman of the committee.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![House Approves Warner Performance-Based Budgeting Bill]()
HARRISBURG – The House today approved legislation authored by Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette/Westmoreland) to change the state budgeting process.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Measure to Exempt Roadside Produce Stands from Construction Code Passes House, Pickett Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) has continued her effort to bring more common sense to the state’s Uniform Construction Code (UCC) after a second piece of legislation she has authored to exempt certain structures passed the state House on Tuesday.
Jun. 06, 2017 /
![Helping Injured Workers Avoid Addiction]()
Thousands of people are dying every year in Pennsylvania from overdoses due to opioid and prescription drug abuse. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 10 Pennsylvanians are dying everyday due to an opioid or heroin overdose. In 2015, more than 3,500 Pennsylvanians died from an overdose of opioid drugs. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also found that 27 percent of people who abuse prescription pain medications receive them from a prescription from a doctor.
Jun. 05, 2017 /
![House Approves Bloom, DiGirolamo Bill to Improve Health and Human Service Helpline]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today approved House Bill 211, which would help to improve Pennsylvania’s 2-1-1 system through a public-private partnership. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and House Human Services Committee Chairman Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks).