 |
|
|
|
|
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link. |
New Bills Introduced to Boost Stream Maintenance
It’s past time we break down barriers that have prevented our communities and property owners from completing necessary stream maintenance to protect against extreme flooding. I have introduced two bills that aim to provide the funding and freedom needed to address this problem.
House Bill 2602 would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expand the work area associated with emergency permits for stream clearing activities awarded to a governmental entity like PennDOT or a municipality. Under current law, the permits only allow for clearing out the area 50 feet around a bridge; my bill would change the distance to 250 feet.
House Bill 2603 would address the extremely limited funding for stream clearing work by requiring any lease and royalty payments collected by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for oil and gas production under streambeds outside of state forests to be placed in restricted accounts that may be used only for proper maintenance of creeks and streams. The legislation would also require DCNR to retroactively pay the equivalent of how much money they have collected under existing leases since 2014 in each county to be put into these restricted accounts. This would give counties the ability to do some critical projects right away and ensure consistent funding in the future.
Read more here.
|
A VERY Special Delivery
As we’ve seen throughout the flooding from Tropical Storm Debby and ongoing recovery efforts, there is so much good, not only in our own communities but across the Commonwealth.
In case you missed it, Crary Hose Company of Westfield – which was absolutely critical in saving lives and coordinating flood response long after the water receded – was the recipient of a donated fire truck and loads of equipment from fire crews in Haverford Township, Delaware County.
Because of their generosity, our firefighters are well equipped to continue their outstanding service to the community. Be sure to check out the story from WENY!
|
Happy 100th Birthday!
I had the honor of helping Betty Hazelton Niles mark her 100th birthday over the weekend by presenting her with a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Betty, who resides in Wellsboro, has been blessed with two children, three stepchildren, 13 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. And after spending some time chatting with Betty, I think her family is as blessed by her as she is by them!
|
Tackling Crime in PA
Protecting public safety is a core function of our state government. This week, I joined a number of my fellow lawmakers in introducing a package of bills to address the effects of the national crime crisis in the Commonwealth.
We are taking a four-pillared approach to tackling crime and violent crime with focuses on prevention, policing, prosecution and punishment.
I authored two bills in the package. The first, which falls under the “policing” pillar, would establish a new criminal offense of wearing a disguise designed to avoid apprehension. This has become a greater problem with the normalization of wearing masks since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The second bill would require sentences for crimes of violence to be served consecutively for each victim when an offender harms multiple victims. Currently, courts have the discretion to allow sentences to be served concurrently, essentially meaning that despite multiple convictions for each victim, the offender may only serve a single sentence.
Click here to watch this week’s press conference about the issue.
Additional information is available here.
|
|
Anti-Energy Policies Stir Concern for PA’s Energy Future
Citing concerns about the future of the state’s energy industry, the House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing in Westmoreland County recently to discuss the impact of anti-energy policies. These are policies that threaten to eliminate thousands of jobs, leave families without sustainable incomes and push the energy grid to the brink of failure.
The hearing, titled “Opportunity Lost: Bureaucracy’s Battle Against Fracking,” focused on the bureaucratic hurdles Pennsylvania companies face and the urgent need to defend energy independence and protect the livelihoods of hard-working Pennsylvanians. It featured testimony from Michael Hillenbrand, CEO and president, Huntley and Huntley; Amy McChesney, owner, McChesney Farms; Randy M. Roadman, government relations director, General Carbide Corporation; and Jeff Nobers, executive director, Pittsburgh Works Together.
Click here to watch the complete hearing.
|
Unleashing PA’s Tourism Potential
Citing concerns about the future of the state’s energy industry, the House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing in Westmoreland County recently to discuss the impact of anti-energy policies. These are policies that threaten to eliminate thousands of jobs, leave families without sustainable incomes and push the energy grid to the brink of failure.
The hearing, titled “Opportunity Lost: Bureaucracy’s Battle Against Fracking,” focused on the bureaucratic hurdles Pennsylvania companies face and the urgent need to defend energy independence and protect the livelihoods of hard-working Pennsylvanians. It featured testimony from Michael Hillenbrand, CEO and president, Huntley and Huntley; Amy McChesney, owner, McChesney Farms; Randy M. Roadman, government relations director, General Carbide Corporation; and Jeff Nobers, executive director, Pittsburgh Works Together.
Click here to watch the hearing.
|
Questions About PA’s Automatic Voter Registration
I joined more than five dozen members of the House Republican Caucus recently in sending a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro late last week calling on him to address concerns with the state’s automatic voter registration program raised in a recent court decision.
The program automatically takes residents, who are obtaining new or renewed driver licenses and ID cards and are eligible to vote, through the voter registration application process unless they choose to opt out of doing so. Previously, residents were first asked if they wanted to register to vote and then were directed to the voter registration application.
Earlier this month, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling involving a contested ballot in a Luzerne County primary election. The voter who cast the contested ballot had testified before a lower court that he believed changing his vehicle registration address — not his driver’s license — had triggered a change in his voter registration address. The majority of the court ruled PennDOT lacks the authority to make such a change outside the scope of a state driver’s license or identification card update.
Auditor General Tim DeFoor also announced recently he would conduct an audit of the automatic voter registration program, saying sufficient data is now available to assess the program which was launched one year ago by the governor.
|
Poll Workers Sought for Upcoming Election
Beyond exercising your right to vote, what can you do to help elections run smoothly across the Commonwealth? Consider serving as a poll worker in the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Open positions vary by county but may include judge of elections, majority inspector and minority inspector, which are elected positions. Counties also need clerks and machine operators/inspectors at each precinct. These positions are filled by appointment.
Counties train poll workers on their election day duties. Workers receive payment for training and for their service on election day.
In order to serve, you must be registered to vote in the county where you wish to work. Exceptions exist for 17-year-old high school students; contact your county election office for more information. Government officials and government employees generally are not allowed to serve as poll workers. Likewise, you are not permitted to serve if your name appears on the ballot.
Poll workers generally work for the entire day on election day, from before the time the polls open at 7 a.m., until after the polls close at 8 p.m.
People interested in serving as poll workers should start by filling out this form. If you have questions, call 877-VOTESPA (877-868-3772) or email re-voterreg@pa.gov.
|
Fire, EMS Grant Applications Due Soon
All fire companies, emergency medical service providers and volunteer rescue squads may now apply for the latest round of grants through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Projects for which grants may be used include facilities, equipment, debt reduction, training, education, recruitment and retention.
The deadline to apply is Sunday, Oct. 20. For more information, please visit www.osfc.pa.gov.
|
Learn More About PA Game Lands
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is planning a series of driving tours through several state game lands next month.
The tours are designed to help people learn more about opportunities available on game lands statewide, while showcasing how habitat work being done on these tracts benefits wildlife. All tours are free, held rain or shine, and open only to vehicles licensed for travel on public roads.
The tours will be held on three Sundays in October and include select game lands in Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Cambria, Dauphin, Elk, Fayette, Huntingdon and Luzerne/Wyoming counties. A detailed schedule is available here.
|
|
|