Crime Victims Should Have Rights Too

Apr. 18, 2019 /

My colleagues and I are moving to strengthen the protections for victims of crime. Just as those accused of a crime have certain rights, we need to ensure crime victims are treated with dignity and respect throughout the entire criminal justice process.

Supporting PA National Guard Families

Mar. 22, 2019 /

Ensuring a better future for our Pennsylvania National Guard members and their families is the driving force behind a first-of-its-kind Military Family Education Program.

Veterans Should Review Benefits

Jan. 24, 2019 /

As the New Year starts, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) suggests veterans review the benefits they have earned through their service.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

Jan. 23, 2019 /

Tax season is upon us. For many people, this means having to choose between paying high fees to have their taxes prepared by a third party or attempting the filing process on their own.

Looming Crisis in Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service

Jan. 03, 2019 /

With fire and ambulance services continuing to struggle across the Commonwealth, a 39-member commission created by lawmakers to study the situation issued dozens of recommendations in their report released last week.

Thoughts on the Upcoming Budget Debate

Jan. 03, 2019 /

As we head into the new legislative session, the focus of the House Republican Caucus will be on creating a budget that does not rely on new taxes or fees and that supports job creation. So, far, revenue collections are strong, and the state Treasury has collected $333 million more than expected through the end of November.

Thanking Our Veterans

Nov. 16, 2018 /

This past Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice which ended World War I, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month. President Woodrow Wilson declared a national day to commemorate the armistice a year later in 1919. That has since become Veterans Day.

House Votes to Support Victims

Oct. 10, 2018 /

In a historic, bipartisan vote, the House passed legislation that would empower victims of sexual abuse by eliminating the criminal statute of limitations for prosecutions of sexual abuse of minors and extending the civil statute of limitations for lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors until the victim reaches 50 years of age.

PennDOT Making Plans to Roll Out REAL ID

Sep. 12, 2018 /

Starting Sept. 4, eligible Pennsylvania residents who wish to obtain a REAL ID may begin the pre-verification process. Customers who received their first license before September 2003 and want to obtain a real ID will need to bring the required documents to a Driver License Center so they can be verified in person. (Residents who received their first license after September 2003 have been able to pre-verify since March.) Those documents include:

Save for College with State 529 Plan

Sep. 06, 2018 /

For families looking to plan for higher education, the Pennsylvania Treasury offers the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP), in which growth is tied to the rate of college tuition inflation, and the PA 529 Investment Plan (IP), which offers 15 investment options by The Vanguard Group.

Enhancing Consumer Protections

Jul. 27, 2018 /

With news breaking last week of a security breach at the Pennsylvania Department of Health and a previous breach at the Department of Human Services, the House has asked the Office of Attorney General to investigate. Since then, it has come to light that the personal information of nearly 13,000 personnel and inmates within the state Department of Corrections may have been compromised in recent weeks.