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In this Update:
Senate Committee Subpoenas Shapiro Cabinet Official
As chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, I convened a meeting this week to vote to subpoena one of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet officials – Revenue Secretary Pat Browne – to obtain tax information about the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ). The subpoena marks the culmination of my ongoing efforts to bring transparency and accountability to the Allentown NIZ, which has benefitted from more than $500 million in taxpayer investments during the past decade. The subpoena calls on Browne and the Department of Revenue to provide the Senate with a comprehensive breakdown of state taxes collected through the Allentown NIZ. I sought the information to help legislators make policy decisions related to the effectiveness of the Allentown NIZ. Read more about my ongoing efforts to obtain the Allentown NIZ tax information and the deadline Browne faces to turn over the information by reading the rest of this article on my website. Pennsylvania Game Commission Offers Free Learn to Shoot Event
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) in cooperation with Cabela’s is offering a free learn to shoot event on Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at State Game Lands 205, 6320 Warden Road, New Tripoli. Participants will receive one-on-one instruction with certified instructors in archery, shotgun, rifle, air rifle, clay birds, shooting simulation and gun cleaning. All firearms and ammunition will be provided at the event. No outside firearms will be permitted. Program Connecting Veterans with Benefits Receives Senate Approval
The Senate this week unanimously approved legislation to establish in law the PA VETConnect program to help Pennsylvania veterans access programs, services and benefits in their communities. Senate Bill 447 would establish in law the PA VETConnect program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and helps the commonwealth’s more than 700,000 veterans access services in their communities. The database of resources enables local veteran advocates – including staff at county veterans affairs offices – to point veterans to information, resources, programs and services in their area and across the commonwealth. Senate Votes to Expand Authority of Hospice Licensed Practical Nurses
The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1080 to enable licensed practical nurses (LPNs) working in a hospice setting to make death pronouncements, saving money and limiting unnecessary emotional distress for the patient’s family. Pennsylvania law currently allows registered nurses (RNs), medical doctors, physician assistants and coroners to make death pronouncements. Many hospice facilities across Pennsylvania face workforce shortages. Giving LPNs the authority to make death pronouncements can help hospice facilities address their staffing issues. Online Dashboard Shows Tick Hot Spots
Tick season is in full swing, but there are ways to continue to enjoy the many benefits of the Great Outdoors while minimizing the risk of becoming a victim of a tickborne disease. Pennsylvanians should take precautions every time they spend time outside as the state leads the nation in the number of Lyme disease cases. A new Pennsylvania Department of Health online dashboard shows where ticks are prevalent and the latest data on tickborne disease activity, such as Lyme disease. Tick bites can be limited using preventative measures. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Use Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents. Walk in the center of trails and avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. When returning indoors, check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks. Shower within two hours and check your body using a full-length mirror. Promoting Safe Driving Habits
Recognizing this week as Operation Safe Driver Week, which aims to reduce driving behaviors, here are some helpful tips so we can all enjoy the roadways safely. Speeding has been a factor in more than a quarter of crash deaths since 2008. Nearly half of passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019 were not wearing seatbelts. Distracted driving is another behavior that puts people at risk. The AAA Traffic Safety Culture Index revealed that 88% of drivers believe distracted driving has outpaced all other traffic-related issues as a growing safety concern. In June, the Senate passed legislation, now law, limiting the use of handheld cellular and other devices while driving.
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