Articles by Press Releases

The Senate today (June 27) approved a budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 that reaffirms Pennsylvania’s strong commitment to farming families, according to Senator Elder Vogel (R-47), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. Video House Bill 790 also includes no tax increases, provides funding for essential services, promotes workforce development efforts, bolsters education spending at all levels and makes a substantial investment in the state Rainy Day Fund. Video HB 790 maintains Senate Republicans’ commitment to Pennsylvania’s farmers by restoring all of the Governor’s proposed cuts and increases the overall appropriation to the Department of Agriculture by 13…

HARRISBURG –The House of Representatives this week advanced legislation which would allow high school students to obtain real-world work experience while still in school. The bipartisan bill to prepare Pennsylvania’s youth for the 21st-century workforce was authored by state Reps. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), Kate Klunk (R-York) and Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia). House Bill 796 would establish a pilot grant program which would encourage schools and local businesses to collaborate to provide work-based learning opportunities for high school students. “This innovative pilot program would bring our business leaders and students together to transform our education system and prepare Pennsylvania students for jobs…

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) voted “no” today on House Bill 790, the 2019-20 state budget spending plan, which spends almost $34 billion. After it ultimately passed in the House by a 140-62 vote, Bernstine issued the following statement: “I didn’t come here to be a copy-paste legislator, I came here to lead on real issues. Before I got elected, I watched Harrisburg politicians put the highest gasoline tax in the country on people’s backs, and I refuse to spend more of their money than is absolutely necessary. Taxpayers were overtaxed by nearly $850 million this year, and…

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee will consider five bills intended to assist Pennsylvania farmers and promote agricultural operations in the Commonwealth at a meeting set for 12:30 p.m., today (Monday, June 24) in Room 461 of the State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg, according to Committee Chairman Senator Elder Vogel. House Bill 1514 provides for Farm-To-School Program grants. House Bill 1516 establishes the Agriculture Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account to provide emergency money for training, equipment and other resources necessary for rapid responses to transmissible diseases, plant pests, plant diseases, controlled and noxious weeds, foodborne illnesses and natural and other…