PA Senate e-newsletters
Harrisburg Happenings Summer Spotlight Now that the state budget is signed, we now enter a season that is less fast paced and demanding, I would like to highlight some of the accomplishments I have been championing. Over the course of the upcoming weeks, I will be highlighting one area in each e-Newsletter that I am […] [Read More]
District Happenings: Visit to Conemaugh Health System It was great to welcome Speaker Mike Turzai to our area with PA State Rep. Jim Rigby. Bill Caldwell provided a tour of Conemaugh Health System TeleHealth Program. What a tremendous opportunity to highlight the innovative technology that the region is using! (l-r) Sen. Langerholc, PA State Rep. Jim Rigby, Bill Caldwell (CEO of […] [Read More]
Passage of 2019-2020 State Budget Pennsylvania’s new state budget, which I voted for, holds the line on spending, contains no new tax increases and includes record levels of state funding for public education. The new state budget calls for $12.8 billion in education funding, the largest-ever state investment in Pennsylvania’s schools. Additionally, the General Assembly […] [Read More]
On the Governor’s Desk for Signature Bill to Allow for Wider Farm Equipment on Pennsylvania Roads I am pleased that the House of Representatives approved my legislation (SB338) which increases the allowable width for farm equipment under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code from 16 feet to 18 feet to accommodate the more common, larger equipment that […] [Read More]
Cambria County Emissions Update The Senate Transportation Committee voted to move forward my Senate Bill 744 which exempts Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, and Westmoreland Counties form the vehicle emissions testing program. This is the first step in the legislative process and we will continue to fight for the people of western Pennsylvania who […] [Read More]
SB 1209 On October 16, the House unanimously approved my legislation, Senate Bill 1209, which makes further strides to address Pennsylvania’s backlog of untested rape kits. This legislation passed the Senate unanimously in September, and now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature. I applaud my colleagues in the House for their affirmative vote, […] [Read More]
Unanimous Passage of Senate Bill 922 On Tuesday, June 6, the State Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 922, legislation I sponsored that is aimed at helping courts provide better treatment options to defendants addicted to opioids. This bill is another tool that courts can use to combat this horrific epidemic and put defendants with addiction […] [Read More]
Safe2Say Program My remarks in support of Senate Bill 1142, the Safe2Say Program, which would allow anonymous reporting of the threats regarding unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in schools. The program would be patterned after the successful Safe2Tell program that was created in Colorado in 1999 after the school shooting at Columbine. […] [Read More]
Legislation Would Increase Mental Health Professionals in Schools As part of a comprehensive effort to make our schools safer, I am introducing legislation to increase the ability of school districts to hire additional professionals to focus on the mental health needs of their students. Visitors to Harrisburg I would like to remind constituents, to please […] [Read More]
Legislation to Increase Mental Health Professionals in Schools Senator Tom McGarrigle and I announced legislation to increase the ability of school districts to hire professionals to focus on the mental health needs of their students. Through conversations with school officials in our districts, it is evident that we need to dedicate serious and sustainable funding […] [Read More]
