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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Happy 250th Birthday, America!
This Saturday’s Independence Day is an extra special one as we mark our nation’s 250th birthday.
Pennsylvania isn't just where America began. It's where the American spirit lives. As our nation celebrates 250 years of freedom, join us in celebrating the people, places, and history that helped shape the United States of America, and you might find a familiar face and location from the 139th!
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Use Caution with Fireworks
Many of us enjoy celebrating our nation’s independence by watching public displays of fireworks, or by setting off our own.
If you choose to set off your own fireworks, be smart, be careful and be considerate of your neighbors. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission offers the following safety tips for using fireworks:
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Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. |
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Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, even sparklers. |
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Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly. |
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Never point or throw fireworks at another person. |
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Never pick up or try to relight fireworks that have not fully ignited. |
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Never use fireworks after consuming alcohol or other substances that impair judgement or the ability to act quickly. |
For details about the state’s fireworks laws, click here.
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Office Closures for Independence Day
As we prepare to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, please note my legislative offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the holiday.
Additionally, PennDOT driver license and photo centers will be closed on Saturday, July 4. Anyone planning to do business at PennDOT’s Riverfront Office Center in Harrisburg or the Pittsburgh Driver License Center should be aware they are closed on Friday, July 3.
PennDOT customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.
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District Happenings
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of District happenings, including getting a great meal at the Blooming Grove Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company breakfast!
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Supreme Court Upholds Laws Protecting Fairness in Women’s Sports
Great news for our girl athletes! The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 this week that states can limit participation in women’s sports to biological females only. The decision specifically upheld laws from Idaho and West Virginia, determining that biological sex-based restrictions do not violate the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause or Title IX.
The ruling reaffirms it is time for House majority Democrats to stop playing games and run a bill that would ensure fairness in women’s sports in Pennsylvania once and for all. House Bills 158 and 1849, along with Senate Bill 9, have been shuffled from committee to committee over the last year as Democrat leaders have worked to avoid a vote on the issue. This week, the bills were moved from the House Judiciary Committee to the House Health Committee.
Polls indicate 80% of people, regardless of political party, support women’s sports being for biological women only. Athletic competitions give women the opportunity to demonstrate their strength and skill, while also providing opportunities for recognition ranging from accolades to college scholarships. We owe it to our female athletes to ensure these rights and opportunities are protected.
Join us in support of this effort by signing the “I Believe” promise at defendingdaughters.com.
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Keep the Lights On, Costs Down
With a Maximum Generation Emergency warning issued this week amid extreme heat and a warning of mounting strain on the regional electric grid, House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive 10-bill legislative package designed to keep the lights on, lower electricity costs, expand reliable baseload generation and cement Pennsylvania’s role as America's energy leader.
The unveiling of this package of bills comes on the heels of the House of Representatives passing House Bill 2224, which is included in the package and would eliminate the Gross Receipts Tax on electric utility service.
Additional bills in the package would:
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Establish a one-year timeline for environmental permit appeals. |
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Create a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Permit Ombudsman to assist applicants and improve permitting efficiency. |
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Modernize Environmental Hearing Board appeals to focus on the administrative record developed during permitting. |
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Eliminate the DEP regulatory petition process that allows outside organizations to initiate new regulations. |
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Align state environmental permitting standards with applicable federal standards. |
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Protect Pennsylvania ratepayers from subsidizing electric transmission costs driven by other states through a Pennsylvania-first grid reliability approach. |
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Replace the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards with a Reliable Energy Portfolio Standard that prioritizes dependable, dispatchable generation. |
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Protect consumer energy choice through a uniform statewide policy that preserves access to a variety of energy sources.
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Ensure projects with valid DEP permits are not unnecessarily stalled while permit appeals are pending. |
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Upcoming District Events – Mark Your Calendars, Details Coming Soon!
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Saturday, Aug. 22: Document Shredding and e-Recyling with Sen. Rosemary Brown |
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Thursday, Sept. 18: Pike County Senior Expo |
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Wednesday, Sept. 23: Wayne County Senior Expo |
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