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Legislative Report
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Veterans Appreciation Picnic Scheduled
All military veterans or surviving family members of veterans residing in the 57th Legislative District are invited to my Veterans Appreciation Picnic on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 4-7 p.m., at Youngwood Park and Pool, 801 S. 10th St., Youngwood. For registration or more information, please contact my district office at 724-834-6400 by Tuesday, Aug. 1. Once the veteran information is compiled, a personal invitation will be mailed to each veteran or family member with further details.
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State Capitol Bus Trip Set
A bus trip from Greensburg to Harrisburg to tour the state Capitol, including a stop at the Flight 93 Memorial, is being arranged for Tuesday, Oct. 17. For more information and to find out how to reserve your seat, please call my district office by Aug. 17 at 724-834-6400. Seating is limited.
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State Budget Spending Plan Now on Governor’s Desk
With strong bipartisan support, the House sent to the governor a $32 billion budget that invests in key areas while also starting the process to reinvent state government. This is a good first step as we locked in the lowest growth in government spending in several years. House Bill 218 supports additional funding for schools, services for those with intellectual disabilities and a new line item for our drug courts, but demands additional savings across state government agencies and programs, including Medicaid. We still have a long way to go in revenue negotiations, but I remain opposed to broad-based or natural gas tax increases. We cannot burden the hard-working taxpayers of Pennsylvania.
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Protecting Children, Pets from Dangers of Hot Cars
Legislation is now before the state House that seeks to protect children and pets that are left inside dangerously hot vehicles. House Bill 1152 would provide civil immunity for any damage that may be done to a vehicle when forceful entry is necessary to rescue a child. The immunity only would apply when the person acts reasonably under the circumstances, has a good-faith belief that the child is in imminent danger and makes an effort to notify law enforcement. House Bill 1216 is similar in that it would provide civil immunity to police officers, humane society police officers and firefighters for property damage resulting from forcibly entering a vehicle to rescue an animal in imminent danger of suffering harm.
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Holding Caretakers Accountable
Individuals who endanger children in their care will face stronger criminal penalties under legislation that was recently signed into law. Under Act 12 of 2017, parents, guardians or those tasked with the care of a child will face harsher penalties in cases of child endangerment if the child is under the age of 6, if the endangerment results in serious injury or death, or if the endangerment is part of a continuing course of conduct. Currently, a person who endangers the welfare of a child under the age of 18 can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor, and if the conduct is part of a continuing course of conduct, the offense is graded as a third-degree felony. The new law will take effect in late August.
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Take a Road Trip in PA
Tourism is one of Pennsylvania’s largest industries, and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office has compiled a list of customized road trips for a wide variety of interests and locations. Available at VisitPa.com/pa-road-trips, the road trips are designed in each of the state’s 11 unique tourism regions, complete with off-the-beaten path stops and only-in-Pennsylvania attractions. Road trips are designed around nature, religious and spiritual destinations, kid-specific sites, historical attractions, photographic gems, shopping, keystone countryside, small-town charm, arts and culture, ghost rides, sporting events and culinary delights. Traveler spending generated an estimated $71.6 billion in total economic activity and supported nearly 500,000 jobs in the Commonwealth, according to a 2015 report from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
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| Office Locations |
| 101 Ehalt Street, Suite 105, The Train Station, Greensburg, PA 15601-2300 | Phone: (724) 834-6400 |
| Youngwood Borough Bldg, 17 South 6th Street, Youngwood, PA 15697 | Phone: (724) 925-5490 |
| 117B East Wing, House Box 202057, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2057 | Phone: (717) 260-6146 |
| Email: mailto:enelson@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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