Senate Approves $507 Million Support Package for First Responders, Nursing Homes, Long-term Care Facilities
When Senator Joe Pittman introduced Senate Bill 1122, the measure was intended to provide financial relief to Pennsylvania’s struggling volunteer fire companies and EMS stations. [Read More]
Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, Westmoreland Counties Go “Yellow” on May 15
All four counties in the 41st Senatorial District will step down their COVID-19 restrictions next Friday, a move that should have taken place today (May 8), according to Senator Joe Pittman. [Read More]
Senators Support Legal Action Against Business Closure Order
Four State Senators today offered their strong support for a lawsuit filed by Butler, Fayette, Greene, and Washington counties against the Administration’s mandatory business closure order. [Read More]
Pittman Decries Continued Lockdown of Local Economy
Senator Joe Pittman issued the following statement immediately following the announcement that Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties are not among the 24 counties cleared to step down their COVID-19 restrictions on May 8. [Read More]
Local Hospitals Share $22 Million in HELP Funding
Armstrong County Memorial Hospital (ACMH) and Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) will receive substantial awards from the Hospital Emergency Loan Program, or HELP, which provides short-term financial relief as hospitals combat the surge of COVID-19 cases, according to Senator Joe Pittman. [Read More]
PA Senators Ask Governor to Rescind RGGI Order
At the request of Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41), Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) and Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), eighteen members of the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus, including party leaders, signed on to a letter this week urging Governor Tom Wolf to rescind an Executive Order instructing the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a compact between several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states that impose a carbon tax on electricity production and require fossil fuel generation to purchase allowances. [Read More]
Telemedicine Bill Sent to Governor
As Pennsylvania continues to cope with the impact of COVID-19, the Senate today (April 21) gave final approval to a bill that promotes telemedicine as a way to overcome barriers to quality patient care created by distance and reduce the costs of those services, according to Senator Joe Pittman. [Read More]
Committee Approves Grant Program for Volunteer Fire/EMS Companies
The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee today (April 20) reported out legislation introduced by Senator Joe Pittman (R-41st) and Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46th) that would establish a special one-time grant program for Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire companies and EMS squads as they address the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. [Read More]
Senate Approves Measures to Improve COVID-19 Mitigation Process
The Senate approved two bills today that would create a better process for determining which businesses can operate during the COVID-19 pandemic and give county leaders a stronger say in determining the best mitigation measures for their citizens, according to Senator Joe Pittman. [Read More]
COVID-19 Resource Guide for Senior Citizens Now Online
An online COVID-19 resource guide to help older adults easily find useful information related to their health, safety and well-being is now available, according to Senator Joe Pittman. [Read More]
PENNVEST Approves $450 Million Program for Hospitals Impacted by COVID-19
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) today approved a $450 million emergency loan program to assist financially distressed hospitals as they work to address the COVID-19 outbreak, according to state Senator Joe Pittman and state Representative Donna Oberlander, who are both PENNVEST Board members. [Read More]
Volunteer Fire Company Grant Program Now Open
Senator Joe Pittman is encouraging volunteer fire companies serving rural areas and communities with fewer than 10,000 residents and where forest and brush fires are common to apply for grants of up to $10,000 for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires. [Read More]