Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness 2023-2024
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met today, March 8, 2023 and reported out the following:
- Senate Bill 433 (Baker) would require Senate confirmation of the PEMA Director.
- Reported as committed by a vote of 8-3 (Muth, Kane, Tartaglione voted no)
- Senate Bill 508 (Mastriano) establishing an emergency grant program for PA residents and small businesses impacted by the train derailment and chemical release.
- Unanimously reported as committed.
- Senate Resolution 59 (Mastriano) recognizing the impact of the train derailment and chemical release on PA and calling on Congress and US DOT to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.
- Unanimously reported as committed.
- Motion to Subpoena to Norfolk Southern asking for specific documentation, data and test results regarding the train derailment, controlled burn/chemical release.
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- Motion passed by a unanimous vote.
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The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met today, March 1, 2023 and reported out the following:
- SB 162 (Hutchinson) Would broaden the definition of ‘health professional’ in the Medical Officer or Health Officer Incentive Program to include additional health professionals.
- SB162 was unanimously reported as committed
- SB 446 (Mastriano) Language states that members of the PA National Guard and PA Air National Guard will never be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccination
- SB446 was reported as committed by a party-line vote (7-4)
- SB 447 (Mastriano) Would formally establish the DMVA “Vet Connect” program in law
- SB447 was unanimously reported as committed.
- A motion to authorize the issuance of a subpoena to Norfolk Southern president Alan Shaw to appear before the Committee to discuss the train derailment.
- Senator Muth made a Subsidiary Motion to command Alan Shaw to also produce to the Committee any and all testing data done by Norfolk Southern since the train derailment; modeling data and information related to the decision that a controlled burn was the safest course of action to deal with the substances on the train; and information about the contents of all train cars. Senator Muth’s Subsidiary Motion was tabled by a party-line 6-4 vote (Sen. Langerholc recused himself from the vote).
- Senator Collett made a motion to table the motion to subpoena and that motion failed by a party line 6-4 vote (Sen. Langerholc recused himself from the vote).
- The motion to subpoena Norfolk Southern president Alan Shaw to appear before the Committee next Wednesday, March 8 was approved by a 9-1 vote (Sen. Pennycuick voted against the motion, Sen. Langerholc recused himself from the vote)
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on January 10, 2023, and reported out the following:
Senate Bill 126 (Mastriano) provides for the exclusion of 100% of a veteran’s federal disability compensation or pension from income calculations for any Commonwealth program or benefit.
- The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
Senate Bill 141 (Mastriano) provides the ability to recognize civilians and members of the military of a friendly foreign nation with the awarding of the Pennsylvania Distinguished Service Medal and the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal.
- The bill was unanimously reported as committed.
Senator Katie Muth
Committee Chair