Oct. 24, 2016 /
![House Approves James’ Unemployment Compensation Reform Bill Sparked by Local Plant Closing]()
HARRISBURG – The state House today approved an unemployment compensation reform bill introduced by Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) that aims to help unemployed workers like those who recently lost their jobs at the Joy Global Inc. plant in Franklin.
Oct. 24, 2016 /
![House Passes Moul Bill to Exempt Agricultural Easements, Land Bank Transfers from Retroactive Tax]()
HARRISBURG – By a unanimous vote today, the House passed legislation sponsored by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) that would prevent the Department of Revenue from taxing agricultural easements and land bank transfers prior to the exemption recently passed into law, which became effective on Sept. 11, 2016. Moul’s bill would also permit taxpayers to petition for a refund of taxes improperly imposed on transactions that took place prior to that date.
Oct. 24, 2016 /
![Barrar and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees to Learn About Veterans’ Services]()
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 Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee to learn about the state’s veterans’ programs, services and organizations.
Oct. 21, 2016 /
![House Committee to Examine Temporary Licensure of Behavioral Specialists]()
WHAT: The House Insurance Committee, led by Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna), will hold an informational meeting to learn more about temporary licensure of behavioral specialists and two corresponding pieces of legislation: House Bill 1559 (sponsored by Rep. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), which would establish a temporary graduate behavior specialist license; and House Bill 2010 (sponsored by Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-Bucks), which would make it easier for licensed professionals to supervise those working to get their licenses. Both are the result of a 2008 law that created licensure requirements for behavior specialists working with children with autism and the subsequent difficulty in hiring enough specialists to staff caseloads.
Oct. 21, 2016 /
![House Passes Gingrich Bill to Allow Fix of Unemployment Compensation Benefit Delivery System]()
HARRISBURG – This week, the House overwhelmingly approved legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon), chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee, which would enable the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) to adequately fund its Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund (SIIF) through 2017, and allow necessary improvements to the Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefit delivery system.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![York County House Members Support Bill to Promote Career and Technical Students]()
HARRISBURG – The York County House Republican delegation joined its colleagues Wednesday in advancing legislation that would more accurately measure the academic proficiency of students in vocational education programs. House Bill 2381, which passed unanimously, may now be taken up by the state Senate.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![House Unanimously Approves Turzai Legislation to Support Career and Technical Education]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed to provide career and technical education students with alternative pathways to fulfill graduation requirements was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, said House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), who sponsored the legislation.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![Hennessey Says Aging Waiver Enrollment Issues Must Be Resolved]()
HARRISBURG -- Citing a volume of reports of senior citizens not receiving home health services through the Pennsylvania Aging Waiver, and many problems with phone calls and paperwork delays, Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-Chester/Montgomery), chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, conducted a hearing this week along with the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, to investigate a host of problems.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![Rapp Legislation to Exempt Veterans’ Disability Payments from Property Tax Relief Eligibility Requirements Goes to Governor]()
HARRISBURG — Legislation sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), which would eliminate veterans’ disability payments from income eligibility under the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program (House Bill 683), was unanimously passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![Grove Amendment Makes 48,000 workers Eligible for Unemployment Compensation, Creates $1.5 Billion in Savings]()
HARRISBURG – A comprehensive amendment by Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) to an unemployment compensation (UC) bill would make 48,000 seasonal workers eligible for unemployment benefits while also saving the UC trust fund $1.5 billion and put the fund on pace to be solvent two years ahead of schedule.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![House Passes Petri Bill to Expedite Termination of Parental Rights in Adoption Process]()
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday evening, the House unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that seeks to ease the Commonwealth’s adoption process, giving Pennsylvania children a better chance of being adopted.
Oct. 20, 2016 /
![House Passes Gingrich Resolution to Improve Property Tax Assessment Process]()
HARRISBURG – By an overwhelming vote, the House today approved a resolution by Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) that would establish a task force to study Pennsylvania’s property tax assessment process and find ways to improve it.
Oct. 19, 2016 /
![Godshall Lauds House Action on Bill to Permit TNCs to Operate Legally in PA]()
Tremendous improvements ahead for transportation services statewide
Oct. 19, 2016 /
![Faculty Strike Disrupts More Than 100,000 Students, Gingrich Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) said she is disappointed to learn that faculty at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) 14 state-owned universities went on strike this morning, disrupting fall classes for more than 100,000 college students statewide.
Oct. 19, 2016 /
![Majority Leader Dave Reed Statement on State System Strike]()
HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana County) released the following statement on the state system strike:
Oct. 19, 2016 /
![Boback Works to Designate Oct. 19 as Prescription Lock ‘Em Up Day in PA]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to raise awareness about medication diversion and remind Pennsylvanians to lock up their prescription drugs, Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), Rep. Matt Baker (R-Bradford/Tioga/Potter), Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-Chester/Montgomery), Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne), Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny) and Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne addressed legislators and members of the public on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Oct. 18, 2016 /
![House Advances Farry Legislation to Protect Pets Left Unattended in Cars]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today approved legislation, authored by Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks), to protect pets left unattended in a hot car.
Oct. 18, 2016 /
![House Approves Cutler’s Bill to Name Local Bridge for Fallen Soldier]()
HARRISBURG – Today the House approved legislation with unanimous support sponsored by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) to recognize Cpl. Eric M. Torbert Jr., a local soldier who lost his life serving our country in Afghanistan in 2010.
Oct. 18, 2016 /
![Boback Designates Oct. 19 as Prescription Lock ‘Em Up Day in PA]()
WHAT: Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), along with House members, will announce Oct. 19 as Lock ‘Em Up Day in Pennsylvania to encourage residents to lock up their prescription drugs in order to prevent medication diversion.
Oct. 18, 2016 /
![House Sends Veto-Proof Sanctuary Cities Bill to the Senate]()
HARRISBURG – In a strong showing of support, members of the York County House Republican delegation joined a bipartisan mix of lawmakers to approve legislation by a veto-proof majority that would hold cities and municipalities liable for damages caused by unauthorized aliens who commit a crime in so-called “sanctuary cities.”