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HARRISBURG – State Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) has introduced legislation designed to strengthen Pennsylvania's commercial driver's license (CDL) standards by reinforcing federally required English language proficiency requirements while enhancing safeguards within the Commonwealth's CDL licensing process.
HARRISBURG – A recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in a case which originated in Clearfield County is drawing praise from state Rep. Dallas Kephart (R-Clearfield/Cambria).
HARRISBURG – Following his vote against House Bill 1042, Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh) issued this statement:
HARRISBURG — Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) voted against House Bill 1042 Thursday, saying House Democrats intentionally prevented the General Assembly from enacting a constitutional sentencing law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's deadline, opening the door for more than 1,100 convicted felony murderers serving life without parole to seek resentencing and possible release.
HARRISBURG — Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) says legislation addressing the sentencing of second-degree murders will miss a court-ordered deadline due to partisan politics, and there's a possibility convicted killers could be let loose.
HARRISBURG – Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) voted against House Bill 1042 this week, saying the legislation fails to provide meaningful accountability for those convicted of second-degree murder and creates uncertainty for victims and their families.
HARRISBURG – Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) issued this statement following the vote on House Bill 1042, legislation that addresses the sentencing of those convicted of murder of the second degree:
HARRISBURG—Reps. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) and Josh Bashline (R-Clarion/Armstrong) today announced plans to introduce a two-bill legislative package establishing reasonable safeguards for the use of automated surveillance technologies, including automated license plate readers (ALPRs) and facial-recognition systems.
HARRISBURG - Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) voted against House Bill 1042 after House Democrats amended the legislation, replacing a bipartisan Senate-passed solution with provisions that weaken accountability for violent offenders and create uncertainty for crime victims and their families.
HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) issued the following statement after his vote against House Bill 1042, a bill that would change the punishment for second-degree murder in Pennsylvania:
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) voted Thursday against House Bill 1042, saying the legislation fails to provide a strong constitutional sentencing framework for second-degree murder convictions and falls short of protecting public safety and the rights of crime victims.
HARRISBURG – State Reps. Mike Armanini (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Dallas Kephart (R-Clearfield/Cambria) released the following statement in reaction to legislation passed today by the House of Representatives. The measure was intended to change the sentencing framework for anyone convicted of second-degree murder, commonly called felony murder. However, an amendment greatly broadened the scope of the measure and added provisions that include opportunities for inmates to be released for medical reasons.
HARRISBURG – Legislation addressing the sentencing of convicted murders will miss the state deadline due to House Democrat maneuvers, potentially putting killers back on the streets, said Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin).
HARRISBURG — Rep. Brad Roae (R-Crawford/Erie) issued the following statement in response to the vote on House Bill 1042:
HARRISBURG – House Democrats have yielded to pressure from Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) and her Republican colleagues from greater Philadelphia by signaling plans to vote on legislation affecting the sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder.
ERIE – Rep. Jake Banta (R-Erie), a lifelong sportsman and member of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, today applauded the ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declaring warrantless searches unconstitutional.
HARRISBURG – Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Montgomery) announced today that legislation she championed to improve services for veterans affected by military sexual trauma has been signed into law.
HARRISBURG – Great news for Pennsylvania sportsmen, homeowners and landowners, after lengthy deliberation, the state Supreme Court today joined a growing number of other states in recognizing our Commonwealth's constitutional protections for Pennsylvanians against the federal “open fields doctrine” loophole which law enforcement has abused for decades to negate private property rights.
HARRISBURG – Because a court-mandated deadline is fast approaching, hundreds of men and women already convicted of second-degree murder could be resentenced and released from incarceration because of inaction from House Democrats, according to Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia).
WHAT: Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) will host a press conference tomorrow at 10 a.m. to discuss the need for immediate legislative action to address Pennsylvania's second-degree murder sentencing laws before the Supreme Court-imposed deadline of July 24.
HARRISBURG – Rep. Donna Scheuren (R-Montgomery) today called on House Democrats to immediately bring Senate Bill 1400 before the House Judiciary Committee, warning that continued inaction could have serious consequences for victims, public safety and the administration of justice in Pennsylvania.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata); Rep. Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington); and other lawmakers will host a press conference to unveil a comprehensive 10-bill package aimed at increasing energy production, lowering electricity costs, strengthening grid reliability, and positioning Pennsylvania as the nation's energy leader. The package facilitates the development of reliable baseload energy and reflects House Republicans' commitment to an all-of-the-above energy strategy that keeps the lights on, costs down, and Pennsylvania competitive.
WHAT: Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R- Warren/Crawford/Forest) will welcome Scott Newton, owner of Gaughn's Drug Store in Warren, to testify before the House Health Committee regarding legislation that would create a single Pharmacy Benefit Administrator (PBA) model for all of Pennsylvania's state-funded health care programs.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata); Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), chairwoman of the House Children and Youth Committee; and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled "Making Child Care Affordable for Pennsylvania Families." The hearing will explore challenges facing families and providers across the Commonwealth and will be followed by the unveiling of a legislative package focused on improving affordability, expanding access, and supporting child care providers.
WHAT: Press are invited to learn more about plan to protect Pennsylvanians from unfair electric rate price hikes because of growing demand on the grid.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. John Schlegel (R-Lebanon), and other lawmakers will host the third and final hearing in a series titled “Expanding Access to Homeownership” to explore solutions to make homeownership more affordable and attainable for Pennsylvania families.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Jeff Olsommer (R-Wayne/Pike), and other lawmakers will host the second hearing in a series titled “Expanding Access to Homeownership,” to explore solutions to make homeownership more affordable and attainable for Pennsylvania families.
House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Rep. David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia), and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Making Senior Living Affordable” to examine the financial pressures threatening the stability of Pennsylvania's nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Scott Barger (R-Blair/Huntingdon) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Making Childcare Affordable for Pennsylvania Families” to examine how burdensome childcare regulations are constraining providers, driving up costs for families, and standing in the way of workforce participation.
WHAT: Rep. Andrea Verobish (R-Blair) will take the oath of office as the state representative serving the 79th Legislative District.
WHAT: The House Judiciary Committee, of which Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia) is a member, will consider his House Bill 2102 – known as Aiden's Law – which would establish the Purple Alert System in Pennsylvania. 
WHO: Leadbeter and committee members.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Small Communities, Big Costs: Reforming the Rain Tax to Make PA More Affordable” to identify ways to ease the “rain tax” burden on smaller communities.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Making Child Care Affordable for Pennsylvania Families” to examine how burdensome child care regulations are constraining providers, driving up costs for families, and standing in the way of workforce participation.
WHAT: 	House Republican Policy Committee Deputy Chairman Dallas Kephart (R-Cambria/Clearfield), Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Strengthening Rural Pennsylvania” to examine strategies to ensure that rural communities remain affordable places to live, work and grow.
WHAT: As Pennsylvanians are being priced out of everyday life, Pennsylvania House Republicans will hold a press conference on Wednesday, March 25, to launch its “Freedom Through Affordability” initiative—a targeted effort to lower costs and push back against policies driving up the cost of living across the Commonwealth.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Built in Pennsylvania: Workforce Development in the Trades” to examine strategies to strengthen workforce development in the skilled trades across the Commonwealth.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Chad Reichard (R-Franklin) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Built in Pennsylvania: Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness” to examine how policymakers can ensure Pennsylvania's regulatory environment, energy policies and infrastructure systems support — not hinder — the ability of employers to compete and grow from Pennsylvania.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Ann Flood (R-Northampton) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Affordability for Families” to examine the affordability of everyday essentials families rely on and potential solutions to provide targeted, back-to-school relief.
WHAT: 	House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Expanding Educational Opportunities in Pennsylvania” to examine how Pennsylvania's proven school choice programs—EITC and OSTC—are expanding educational opportunity for families, and to evaluate the potential role of the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), also known as the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, in building on that success.
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman David H. Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Overcoming Challenges in Rural Health Care” to examine how Indiana County is responding to the unique challenges facing rural health care. The hearing will focus on workforce shortages, access to care, affordability, and long-term sustainability in rural communities.
