Sep. 28, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf addressed a joint session of the General Assembly to emphasize the magnitude of the effects that the opioid and heroin abuse crisis has on Pennsylvania. Rep. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe/Pike) has been a sponsor and supporter of meaningful legislation to create solutions to this epidemic. Due to her work on the issue, Brown was selected to serve as a member of the governor’s escort committee, where legislators are responsible for escorting the governor to the House floor for his address. She issued the following comment at the conclusion of the joint session:
Sep. 28, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf spoke before a joint session of the General Assembly about Pennsylvania’s ongoing opioid and heroin abuse crisis. Throughout the 2015-16 legislative session, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) has been leading policy discussions and developing solutions for this issue, and the governor acknowledged Kaufer and other legislators for their work on this issue during his speech. After the governor’s address, Kaufer issued the following statement:
Sep. 28, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf spoke before a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday to reinforce the need for meaningful legislation to address Pennsylvania’s ongoing opioid addiction epidemic, which is plaguing all regions of the Commonwealth. After the joint session, Rep. Kurt A. Masser (R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland) made the following statement:
Sep. 28, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) today issued the following statement after Gov. Tom Wolf addressed a joint session of the House and Senate to encourage support for several bills seeking to address the state’s opioid epidemic.
Sep. 28, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – State Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Tommy Sankey
(R-Clearfield/Cambria) joined House Finance Committee members on both sides of the aisle Tuesday in advancing legislation that would replace the 40 percent wholesale tax on electronic cigarette and vapor products with a 5-cents-per-milliliter vapor products tax. House Bill 2342 may now be considered by the full House.
Sep. 28, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) joined other members of the House of Representatives and Senate for Gov. Tom Wolf’s address regarding the Commonwealth’s opioid epidemic. The governor called on the Legislature to send bills fighting addiction to his desk before the close of the 2015-16 legislative session.
Sep. 27, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed to provide career and technical education students with greater flexibility in fulfilling their graduation requirements has been introduced by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin).
Sep. 27, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – In order to draw attention to Down syndrome, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by the condition, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) today recognized September as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in Pennsylvania with House Resolution 999.
Sep. 27, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – The House Finance Committee approved legislation authored by Rep. Jeff C. Wheeland (R-Lycoming) which would change the current 40 percent wholesale tax on electronic cigarettes and vapor products and replace it with a 5-cent-per-milliliter retail tax on the vapor liquid only, to stave off a massive loss of jobs in that industry. The bipartisan vote was 18 to 4.
Sep. 27, 2016 /
HARRISBURG—Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) has introduced legislation to re-write Pennsylvania’s animal abuse laws and significantly increase the penalties for animal cruelty.
Sep. 27, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Legislative language drafted by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) to salute a 2003 Penn Manor High School graduate who was killed in the line of duty while serving in Afghanistan was passed unanimously by the House Transportation Committee this week.
Sep. 27, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-Bushkill Township) has authored legislation that would give parents a voice in the treatment of their minor children who are suspected of drug or alcohol use.
Sep. 27, 2016 /
WHAT: House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) will highlight the success of the recent $25 million increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program for Fiscal Year 2016-17. The Speaker will also announce new legislation to increase the amount of EITC and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credits (OSTC) to record numbers. The two programs give tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to a Scholarship Organization, an Educational Improvement Organization, and/or a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Led by majority chairmen Reps. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) and Stan Saylor (R-York), the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness and Education committees held a hearing to hear testimony on House Bill 1858, which would require students to take the naturalization test as a condition of graduation.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
WHAT: Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) is holding a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 27, recognizing September as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Eric Waksmunski, a Down Syndrome advocate from Carbon County, will speak about his experience as a father of twins with Down Syndrome. Eric’s son, Jesse, will also speak, along with Josh Stranix from the Arc of Pennsylvania.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), will hold a public hearing to examine the impact of the devastating opioid and heroin epidemic on infants and children.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
LANGHORNE – State Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) recently received two awards from advocacy groups in recognition of his legislative efforts in the House of Representatives.
Sep. 23, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – A Lebanon County lawmaker and chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee said Thursday’s ruling by Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court proves Gov. Tom Wolf has again surpassed his authority in issuing certain executive orders.
Sep. 22, 2016 /
HARRISBURG: Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) issued the following statement in response to Philadelphia City Council’s resolution opposing House Bill 1885:
Sep. 22, 2016 /
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will hold a joint public hearing with the House Education Committee to consider the effects of amending the Public School Code by added a civics test graduation requirement based on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test.