Past Hearings - 2023

2024 | 2023

Funding Our Children's Future Tuesday, December 12, 2023 Main Capitol Bldg. Harrisburg , PA  Agenda/Testimony Testifiers:   •   Lori Milach, Public Services Director, Dauphin County Library System   •   Myles Slade-Bowers, Graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School   •   Joshua Quartmon, Parent at The Samuel School   •   Chad Weaver, Parent at The Samuel School

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Funding Our Children's Future Friday, December 8, 2023 Holy Family University’s Education and Technology Center Auditorium, 9801 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, PA Agenda/Testimony Testifiers:   •   Zakiyyah Boone, CEO, Wonderspring Early Education   •   Christi Buker, CAE, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Library Association   •   Ryan Haney, Parent at Archbishop Ryan High School   •   Floyd Faria, Parent at Archbishop Ryan High School

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Funding Our Children's Future Thursday, December 7, 2023 Bishop Canevin High School Pittsburgh, PA Agenda/Testimony Testifiers:   •   Chris Watts, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania   •   Ruth Alicea, Parent at Leadership Christian Academy   •   Cassie Smith, Parent at Calvary Baptist Academy

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Stopping Disastrous Energy Policies Monday, October 30, 2023 Main Capitol Bldg. Harrisburg , PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Jim Welty, Vice President of Government Affairs, Marcellus Shale Coalition   •   Robert Bair, President, Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council   •   David Taylor, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association

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Aging with Confidence Wednesday, Oct. 25.2023 Redstone Highlands Community Center, Murrysville Campus Murrysville, PA   Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Hon. Harry F. Smail, Jr., Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Westmoreland County    •   Nicole Ziccarelli, District Attorney, Westmoreland County    •   John R. Dickson, IV, President and CEO, Redstone Highlands Communities    •   Dr. Pamela Toto, Ph.D., Professor and Director, Doctor of Clinical Science in Occupational Therapy Program, University of Pittsburgh

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Advancing Our Rural Connectivity Tuesday, Oct. 24 Fay-Penn Economic Development Council Lemont Furnace, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Gregg Downer, Supervisor, Luzerne Township   •   Richard Black, 911 GIS/Systems Manager, Fayette County Emergency Management Agency; Paramedic, Brownsville Ambulance Service; Fire Chief, Brownsville Fire Company No. 1    •   Brandon Carson, Executive Director, PA Broadband Development Authority    •   Andrew French, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette    •   Jeremy Crandall, Assistant Vice President, State Legislative Affairs, CTIA

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Bridging the Gap: Repairing Our Infrastructure Thursday, Oct. 19 Chanceford Township Building Brogue, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Kent Heffner, supervisor, Chanceford Township Supervisor    •   Laura Taylor, Southern York County EMS    •   Tammy Gemmill and Gay Barbour, residents of Lucky Road Bridge    •   Richard Reisinger, PE., acting district executive for PennDOT District 8    •   W. Runyen, PE., director of the Bridge Bureau, PennDOT

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Keeping Our Communities Safe from Increasing Crime Thursday, Oct.12 Northampton Township Building Richboro, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Jennifer Schorn, first assistant district attorney, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office   •   Fred Harran, sheriff, Bucks County   •   William McVey, director of public safety, Bensalem Police Department   •   Steven LeCompte, chief of police, Northampton Township Police Department   •   Dominic Varacallo, chief of police, Upper Southampton Police Department   •   Rudolph P. Muller, Jr., regional director, supply chain security, Bimbo Bakeries

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The Cost of Higher Education Wednesday, Sept. 27 Main Capitol Building Harrisburg. PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Dr. Daniel Greenstein, Chancellor, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education   •   Thomas P. Foley, President, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania   •   Dr. Quintin Bullock, President, Community College of Allegheny County, On behalf of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges

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Creating Educational Pipelines to Prosperity Tuesday, Sept. 19 Wallenpaupack High School Hawley, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Mary Beth Wood, executive director, Wayne Economic Development Corporation   •   Joann Hudak, Ed.D., chairperson of the board, Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance   •   Tony Seiwell, business manager, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA)   •   Keith Gunuskey, superintendent, Wallenpaupack Area School District

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Education: A Lifeline to Opportunity Tuesday, Sept. 12 IUPAT District Council 21 Philadelphia, PA Agenda/Testimony Video   Testifiers:   •   Andrew Brady, president, West Catholic Preparatory High School   •   Joy Converse, Former Public School Teacher   •   Jaslin Vasquez-Gonzalez, student, St. Joseph’s University   •   Kemah Brewington, parent   •   Shannon Mitchell, parent

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Addressing The Mental Health Needs of Rural Communities Thursday, Sept. 7 Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release  Testifiers:   •   Keith Wagner, executive director, Lycoming Clinton Joinder    •   Ryan Gardner, Lycoming County District Attorney    •   Sherry Shaffer, Chief Operating Officer and Government Programs Officer of Community Care Behavioral Health, UPMC Insurance Services Division    •   Dr. Eric Briggs, South Williamsport Area School District Superintendent

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Reclaiming Our Potential: PA Rare Earth Minerals Tuesday, Aug. 22 River’s Landing & Event Center Clearfield, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release   Testifiers:   •   Dr. Pete Rozelle, Ph.D., dvisor, Pennsylvania State University College of Earth & Mineral Sciences, Retired Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy   •   Dr. Sarma Pisupati, Ph.D., Professor of Energy & Mineral Engineering: Professor of Chemical Engineering, Director of the Center for Critical Minerals, Pennsylvania State University   •   Anthony Marchese, Chairman, Texas Mineral Resources Corp.   •   James Swistock, President and Co-Founder, Penncara Energy, LLC

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Discovering Pennsylvania Wednesday, August 9 ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks Bethlehem, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Alex Michaels, president and CEO, Discover Lehigh Valley   •   Kassie Hilgert, president and CEO, ArtsQuest   •   Jessica Naderman, vice president and general manager, Dorney Park   •   Amanda Shurr, president and CEO, Lehigh Valley Zoo   •   Kurt Landes, president and general manager, Lehigh Valley IronPigs Baseball Team

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Pennsylvania’s Energy Policy: Boom or Bust Friday, June 23 Homer City Fire Hall Homer City, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Gregg Kalemba, Business Manager, Homer Center School District   •   Jud Kroh, President, Robindale Energy   •   Shawn Steffee, Business Agent, Executive Board Trustee, Boilermakers Local 154   •   Nick Cohen, President and CEO, Doral Renewables, LLC   •   David T. Stevenson, Director, Center for Energy & Environmental Policy, Caesar Rodney Institute

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Electrifying Our World: Impacts on Grid Integrity & Reliability Friday, June 16, 2023  Back Mountain Regional EMA 3593 State Route 118 Dallas, PA 18612 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Stephen Bennett, Manager of Regulatory/Legislative Affairs, PJM Interconnection   •   Glen Thomas, President, GT Power Group   •   Robert Bair, President, Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council   •   George Stark, Director of External Affairs, Coterra Energy

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The Negative Impacts of the Energy Tax Monday, June 12 Location: Room 205, Ryan Office Building, State Capitol, Harrisburg Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Greg Moreland, Pennsylvania State Director, National Federation of Independent Business    •   David Taylor, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association

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Pregnancy Resource Centers Wednesday, June 7 Location: Room 205, Ryan Office Building, State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Amy Scheuring, Executive Director, Women’s Choice Network   •   Jill Hartman, Executive Director, A Woman’s Concern   •   Chelsey Youman, National Legislative Advisor and Texas State Director, Human Coalition   •   Quinn Laffin, Client, Women’s Choice Network   •   Crystal Morales, Client, A Woman’s Concern   •   Lindsay Smith and Nicholas Luccarella, Clients, A Woman’s Concern

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For Our First Responders Tuesday, May 30 Emerald Star Hose Fire Company #1 7748 Penn Street, Slatington, PA Lehigh County Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Tito Burgos, fire chief, Emerald Star Hose Fire Company #1   •   Brian Carl, deputy chief, Weisenberg Volunteer Fire Department   •   J.T. Klein, firefighter, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 507, Hazleton and Northeast Field Service Representative, Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association   •   Commissioner Thomas Cook, acting state fire commissioner, Office of the State Fire Commissioner   •   Howard Schwartz, certified paramedic and board trustee, Northern Valley EMS   •   Don DeReamus, legislative committee chair, Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania

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Career & Technical Education: A Pathway to Opportunity Wednesday, May 17 Upper Bucks County Technical School, Perkasie PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Dr. Michael Herrera, executive director, Upper Bucks County Technical School    •   Rich Matthias, instructor, Upper Bucks County Technical School   •   Raymond Slifer, graduate of Upper Bucks County Technical School and Junior Manufacturing Engineer, Bracalente Manufacturing   •   John Maketa, strategic advisor, Workforce Development

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Keeping our Communities Safe Monday, May 8 Municipal Complex, Glen Mills, PA Agenda/Testimony Video  Press Release  Testifiers:   •   Chief John Egan, chief of police, Bethel Township Police Department   •   Chris Eiserman, president, Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 27   •   Bob McCarron, president, Chester County Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11   •   Professor Gregg Volz, director of youth courts, Harcum College   •   Liam N. Power, chair of the education task force, Office of Advocacy and Reform

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Hospital Pricing Thursday, May 4 Lewisburg, PA 17837 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Dean Clancy, senior health policy fellow, Americans for Prosperity Testimony, Part 1 Testimony, Part 2   •   Patrick Neville, former Republican leader, Colorado State House of Representatives   •   Jim Jusko, JD, president and founder, FireLight Health   •   Chris Deacon, owner, VerSan Consulting

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Effective School Transportation for Our Drivers and Our Students Tuesday, May 2 House Republican Caucus Room, Harrisburg Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Aaron Sepkowski, president, Pocono Transportation   •   DJ Frye, owner, Frye Transportation Group   •   Todd Rittenhouse, fleet manager, Rittenhouse Bus Lines

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Manufacturing Our Way into the Future Thursday, April 27 Hampton Community Center Allison Park, PA 15101 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Matt Blackburn, senior manager of government relations, Aurora   •   Bryan Iams, vice president, chief communications and government affairs officer, PPG   •   Brian Kennedy, senior vice president, operations and government affairs, Pittsburgh Technology Council

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Permitting Reform Wednesday, March 22 205 Ryan Office Building Pennsylvania Capitol Harrisburg, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Kevin Sunday, director of government affairs, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry    •   Michael Ford, secretary-treasurer, Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council   •   David Taylor, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association

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Educational Opportunities for Our Children Thursday, March 16 Christian School of York York, PA 17404 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Martin Lueken, Ph.D., director of Ed Choice’s Fiscal Research and Education Center, Rev. Aaron J. Anderson, president and CEO, Logos Academy   •   Anterria Graham, parent at York Academy Regional Charter School   •   Carol Thomson, parent at Christian School of York   •   Eden Turnow, student at Christian School of York

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Impact of the Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Tuesday, March 14 Darlington Fire Department Darlington, PA 16115 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Randy Padfield, director, PA Emergency Management Agency    •   Richard Negrin, acting secretary, PA Department of Environmental Protection   •   Dr. Debra L. Bogen, acting secretary, PA Department of Health   •   Russell Redding, secretary, PA Department of Agriculture   •   Mike Carreon, vice chairman, Darlington Township Board of Supervisors   •   Daniel C. Camp III, board of commissioners, Beaver County   •   Jeremy Shoemaker, regional executive director for state relations, Norfolk Southern Corporation

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Infrastructure and Transportation Thursday, March 9 The Crane Room Grille New Castle, PA 16105 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Cheryl Moon-Sirianni, Executive Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation   •   Scott Boyd, Board Member, Ellwood City Group   •   Vincent P. Tutino, President, The Lindy Group   •   Chad Marsilio, Chief Operating Officer, PGT Trucking

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Good Government Reforms Tuesday, Feb. 21 G50, Irvis Office Building Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   David Burton, Senior Fellow in Economic Policy, The Heritage Foundation   •   Robert McCafferty, Operator, North Country Brewing   •   Jelden Arcilla, MBA, RNC, NEA-BC, Field Vice President at LifePoint Health® & Chief Nursing Officer, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center On behalf of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania

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Public Safety and First Responders Wednesday, Feb. 15 G50, Irvis Office Building Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   David Kennedy, President, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association   •   Atah Akakpo-Martin, PA Fraternal Order of Police Legislative Committee, Captain, Uniform Patrol Division, Harrisburg Bureau of Police   •   Larry Gerrity, PA Fraternal Order of Police Legislative Chairman, Detective (Ret.), Marple Township Police Department   •   Donald Dereamus, Legislative Committee Chair, Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania & QA Manager and Government Relations Liaison, Suburban EMS   •   Heather Sharar, Executive Director, Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania   •   Steve Rabine, Fire Chief, United Hook and Ladder #33, New Oxford PA

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Rising Price of Energy in Pennsylvania Monday, Feb. 6, Main Capitol Building Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   David Callahan, president, Marcellus Shale Coalition   •   Rachel Gleason, executive director, Pennsylvania Coal Alliance   •   Terry Fitzpatrick, president and CEO, Energy Association of Pennsylvania   •   Rod Williamson, executive director, Industrial Energy Consumers of Pennsylvania   •   Kevin Sunday, director of government affairs, PA Chamber of Business and Industry   •   Greg Moreland, Pennsylvania State Director, NFIB   •   Mike Butler, Mid-Atlantic executive director, Consumer Energy Alliance

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Developing Our Workforce Thursday, Feb. 2 Cranberry Township Municipal Center Cranberry Township, PA 16066 Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Stacy Hepinger, president and CEO, Right at Home   •   Filippo Lombardo, general manager, Domenico’s Ristorante.   •   Carrie Amann, executive director, PA Workforce Development Association   •   Jeff Nobers, executive director, Builders Guild of Western PA and Pittsburgh Works Together   •   Tom Bender, council representative, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters   •   Kenny Broadbent, business manager, Pittsburgh Steamfitters Local Union 449

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How Our Children's Future is Funded Monday, Jan. 30 Room 140, Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA Agenda/Testimony Video Testifiers:   •   Nathan Benefield, senior vice president, Commonwealth Foundation.   •   Michael A. Whisman, CPA, founder and executive officer, Charter Choices.   •   Dr. Lawrence F. Jones JR., CEO, Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School.   •   Dr. Beth Jones, COO and interim CFO, Insight PA Cyber Charter School.   •   Brian Hayden, CEO, PA Cyber Charter School.

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Pennsylvania Made – Discussing Ways to Propel Our Manufacturing Opportunities Friday, Jan. 27 South Park Community Center Brownsville, PA   Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers:   •   Norm Candelore, Vice President of Vendor Relations, Sarris Candies   •   Yemi Akinkugbe, Chief Excellence Officer, CNX Resources Corporation   •   Mark Shelleby, Treasurer, Vista Metals, Inc.   •   Christopher J. Masciantonio, General Manager, State Government Affairs, United States Steel Corporation

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Constitutional Amendments – Why We Care Monday, Jan. 23 Room 140, Main Capitol Harrisburg Agenda/Testimony Video Press Release Testifiers   •  Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair/Huntingdon)     •   Frank Larose, Ohio Secretary of State   •   Madeline Malisa, senior fellow for the Foundation for Government Accountability   •   David Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association   •   Grant Gulibon, environmental specialist for the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

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