Jul. 21, 2016 /
![Governor Signs Diamond Bill to Reintroduce Industrial Hemp]()
HARRISBURG – In an historic move that could result in billions in new agricultural revenue for Pennsylvania farmers, Gov. Tom Wolf today signed legislation sponsored by Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) to re-introduce the cultivation of industrial hemp in controlled studies.
Jul. 20, 2016 /
![Baker Hepatitis C Bill Signed Into Law to Save Lives]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter), chairman of the House Health Committee, announced today that his legislation to require physicians to offer hepatitis C screening to patients born between 1945 and 1965 has been signed into law.
Jul. 20, 2016 /
![Sankey Small Business Bill Becomes Law]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) that saves money and reduces “red tape” for Pennsylvania’s more than 400 scrap metal processors has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Jul. 19, 2016 /
![Farry Announces Recovery House Task Force Recommendations, Public Comment Period]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) announced today that the Certified Drug and Alcohol Recovery Housing (CDARH) Task Force has submitted its recommendations to the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) for certifying recovery houses in Pennsylvania. DDAP is currently seeking public comment on the recommendations.
Jul. 19, 2016 /
![Speaker Appoints Mother/Attorney to Medical Marijuana Advisory Board]()
HARRISBURG – House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) today announced his appointment of Jennifer Shuckrow to the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Advisory Board. Shuckrow is a 1994 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, a former practicing attorney and college administrator, and the mother of a child with an intractable form of epilepsy.
Jul. 18, 2016 /
![Rapp’s Legislation Awarding Students More Opportunities to Pursue Technology Education Now Law]()
HARRISBURG — Legislation authored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) to encourage high school students to gain computer science and technology skills is now law. The measure was included in the 2016-17 School Code bill, adopted as part of the annual state budget process.
Jul. 14, 2016 /
![Why Rep. Dan Moul Voted ‘No’ on State Budget, Tax Code]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) said Wednesday that he did not vote in favor of the $31.6 billion state budget or the legislation to authorize the funding to pay for it.
Jul. 14, 2016 /
![House Completes 2016-17 Budget, Says Staats]()
HARRISBURG – The House voted to pass several code bills which served as the final pieces of the 2016-17 budget, said Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks). Included in the package was the tax code (House Bill 1198), the education code (House Bill 1605) and the fiscal code (House Bill 1606). Staats opposed the tax code and supported the education and fiscal codes.
Jul. 14, 2016 /
![Barrar Blasts PA Auditor General for Irresponsible Comments about State Veterans Homes]()
HARRISBURG – Majority chairmen of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) expressed his disappointment in Pennsylvania’s Auditor General Eugene DePasquale for making wild assumptions based on his audit of wait lists and grievance procedures at the state’s six veterans’ homes.
Jul. 14, 2016 /
![Truitt: Bill to Foster Student Interest in Computer Science and Information Technology Becomes Law]()
HARRISBURG – Careers in computer science and information technology usually pay good wages while offering excellent benefits. Unfortunately, courses in these fields often don’t count toward high school graduation requirements, leaving Pennsylvania’s students at a disadvantage when competing for jobs or applying for college to major in these areas.
Jul. 14, 2016 /
![Causer Bill Clarifying Clean and Green Law Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – A bill aimed at ensuring the state’s Clean and Green program is working as it was intended is now on its way to the governor’s desk, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), prime sponsor of the measure.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![New State Budget Invests In Schools, Keeps Welfare in Check Without Raising Sales or Income Taxes, Reed Says]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives approved several budget-related bills today, finalizing the state budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17, House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) said.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Provision Authored by Staats Included in 2016-17 Budget]()
HARRISBURG – A measure introduced by Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) as House Bill 859 was included in one of the 2016-17 budget code bills passed by the House on Wednesday afternoon.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Speaker Turzai Applauds EITC Scholarship Expansion]()
Bipartisan vote demonstrates need, support across Commonwealth
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![House Advances Legislation to Increase Accountability of PA Schools, Says Christiana]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today sent to the governor’s desk legislation making Pennsylvania schools more accountable to taxpayers, parents and students, said Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington), who authored House Bill 1606, which became the Public School Code.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Gabler Endorses Bipartisan Budget Package]()
Legislator applauds bill which also levels playing field for local timber harvesters
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Nesbit Says State Revenue Plan Won’t Include Sales, Income Tax Hike]()
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania residents will not face a broad-based income or sales tax increase under a 2016-17 state budget and revenue package that has passed the House, said Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler), who supported the measures.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Oberlander Supports Budget Compromise]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) said today that the budget compromise that was reached in Harrisburg in recent days seeks to ensure that the state’s financial obligations are met, that the 2016-17 budget is balanced and that taxpayers will not be facing higher income and sales taxes.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Pickett Calls New State Budget Package a Fair Compromise]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) today said that the 2016-17 state budget and accompanying revenue proposal that passed the House this week does not contain any broad-based tax increases for Pennsylvania residents. The state budget officially became law on Monday night.
Jul. 13, 2016 /
![Corbin: Budget Avoids Repeat of Last Year’s Impasse]()
HARRISBURG – The House today formally wrapped up the 2016-17 budget process, approving a revenue package to fund the budget plan passed on June 30. The bill has passed the Senate and heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. After passage, Rep. Becky Corbin (R-Chester) issued the following statement: