Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness 2025-2026
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met on Monday, February 3, 2025 to hold a confirmation hearing for Acting Adjutant General John R. Pippy.
General Pippy’s nomination was reported favorably by a unanimous vote.
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee met today, Tuesday, January 28, 2025, and reported out the following:
Senate Bill 129 (Mastriano) – reform the structure of the advisory councils that oversee the operation of each of the state veterans’ homes
- Unanimously reported as committed.
Senate Bill 130 (Mastriano) – Requires that notice of a deceased serviceperson is provided to the appropriate county director of veterans’ affairs by a licensed funeral director, funeral entity, or cemetery company within 96 hours of receiving the remains of a deceased serviceperson. The bill also requires that the family of the deceased serviceperson be provided with contact information for the appropriate county director of veterans affairs.
- Unanimously reported as committed
Senate Bill 144 (Mastriano) – Establishes the Global War on Terrorism Veterans’ Compensation Act which would award a monetary bonus ranging from $500 to $1,000 to all qualified veterans who were Pennsylvania residents at the time of their service during the Global War on Terror between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2022.
- Unanimously reported as committed
Senate Bill 146 (Baker) – Would establish a Grant Evaluation Committee under the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to review and evaluate applications for grants under the Veterans’ Trust Fund.
- Senator Baker offered amendment A0017 to remove all language from the current bill and instead establish the Veterans’ Trust Fund Board within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
- Amendment A0017 was adopted by a unanimous vote
- Senate Bill 146 was unanimously reported as amended
Senate Bill 173 (Pennycuick) – Would afford the same rights, benefits, recognition, and privileges that are provided to veterans of the United States armed forces to any Pennsylvania resident who is a naturalized citizen of the United States and a veteran of the Korean Armed Forces who served on active duty during the Vietnam War.
- Unanimously reported as committed

Senadora Katie Muth
Presidente del Comité