PA Senate e-newsletters
Senate Panel Highlights Blair County’s Approach to Blight Blight affects communities of all shapes and sizes throughout the state, and it can present a serious threat to the financial health of entire towns and cities. The Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, which I chair, recently held a public hearing in Altoona to take a […] [Read More]
September 24, 2019 Committee Hears Testimony on Cost of Stormwater Systems-MS4 Requirements The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee recently held a hearing in Chambersburg to discuss a concern that many local leaders have shared with me – the cost of complying with laws governing municipal sewer systems. The hearing included a discussion of the […] [Read More]
Grants Available for Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Companies Many of our local communities are blessed to have a number of dedicated volunteer fire companies and emergency services companies ready to respond to a wide variety of emergencies. Unfortunately, the cost of training and equipment for these organizations is often a huge challenge for these organizations. […] [Read More]
PA GI Bill Extends Educational Benefits to National Guard Family Members For more than two decades, Pennsylvania has honored the service of the brave men and women serving in the National Guard by providing valuable educational benefits to members who make a six-year commitment to serve. A new law that was enacted in July extends […] [Read More]
August 9, 2019 New Law Will Reduce Long-Term Borrowing Costs to Taxpayers It is critical for elected officials to serve as good stewards of taxpayer dollars, including minimizing long-term costs to the state. A new law approved by the Senate in June will help state government pay off debts more quickly and save money on […] [Read More]
Governor Intends to Fund Voting Machine Replacement without Legislative Authorization After vetoing an important election reform bill that would have also provided $90 million in funding to assist counties replacing their voting machines, the governor has decided to bypass the Legislature and supply the funding unilaterally. Leaders in both the Senate and the House question […] [Read More]
New Bills Signed Into Law to Support Pennsylvania Farmers Farming is the most important part of the state’s economy and the lifeblood of many communities in our area. I am extremely pleased that a number of bills to support Pennsylvania agriculture were signed into law this week – including two bills that I introduced on […] [Read More]
Committee Votes in Favor of New Protections for Stage IV Cancer Patients Patients who are diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic cancer have extraordinary health care needs, and timely treatment is essential in order to successfully fight the disease. Unfortunately, some insurance plans may limit coverage or require patients to try alternative treatments first before covering […] [Read More]
June 3, 2019 Audit Details Serious Concerns Regarding PA Game Commission Financial Management The Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing the state’s wildlife resources and overseeing a budget that totals millions of dollars. A recent report from the Auditor General raised some serious concerns about the financial management of the agency, including cases of […] [Read More]
May 17, 2019 New Senate Committee Chairs Appointed Recent changes in the makeup of the state Senate created the need to change the leaders of several committees. I was honored to be appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati to lead the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee for the remainder of the current […] [Read More]
