PA State Rep. Marguerite Quinn

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Contact Information

District Office
1032 N. Easton Rd
Doylestown, PA 18902-1055
Plumstead Township
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F *
Phone: (215) 489-2126
Fax: (215) 489-2129
*District office is handicapped accessible

Capitol Office
Hon. Marguerite Quinn
141 East Wing
PO Box 202143
Harrisburg PA 17120-2143
Phone: (717) 772-1413
Fax: (717) 783-3793

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

9:15 AM - Commerce Committee
Voting meeting on HB 2429, HB 2453, HB1360 and any other business that may come before the committee.

Pa. State Rep. Marguerite Quinn comments about fashioning a budget in which government must live within its means.

I recently appeared on Comcast Newsmakers to discuss the implementation of REAL ID in Pennsylvania.

View My Photo Gallery

During the week of Oct. 29, a single blue light will serve as a tribute to the 11 men and women killed last weekend at the Tree of Life in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh. This reminder symbolizes that together, we will be stronger than the hate that seeks to divide us.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn emphasized the importance of passing her House Bill 2060 during a press conference held by the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence in commemoration of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. House Bill 2060, which is now law, would take firearms out of the hands of convicted abusers sooner. The new law makes the relinquishment period 24 hours, rather than the current timeframe of 60 days. This new law will go a long way toward saving lives and better protecting victims of domestic violence.

Congratulations to Ann Kuntzmann, a guidance counselor at Lenape Middle School, for her dedicated service over the years. Kuntzmann, who is embarking upon her retirement, recently received a shout-out from music superstar Pink, who thanked for her assistance when she was a student. Alecia Moore, as she is known, was one of the thousands of students with whom Ann made a connection.

To honor those who have fought breast cancer or are fighting it now, the fountain at the Pennsylvania State Capitol’s East Wing was dyed pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The pink fountain is also a reminder to all women of the importance of mammograms and early detection. The American Cancer Society estimates that 268,670 women and men in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer this year, and that’s why it is important to continue to educate the public about breast cancer and stress the importance of routine self-breast exams, regularly scheduled doctor visits and yearly mammograms as recommended. Rep. Quinn is pictured with Pat Halpin-Murphy, founder and president of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

During House session in September, Rep. Quinn had the pleasure of meeting former state Rep. Joseph Zeller (D-Lehigh), who served in the 134th District in the 1970s. Rep. Zeller, who is a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, just celebrated his 100th birthday this fall and continues to be active in the Lehigh Valley.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn’s Senior Expo, held Sept. 28, at the Central Bucks Senior Center, attracted hundreds of area seniors. The event also included excellent discussion about state legislative issues, and vendors from across our district shared information about services and programs designed to benefit older Pennsylvanians.

Congratulations to the students of Kutz Elementary for being awarded the 2018 PSATS (PA State Association of Township Supervisors) Youth Award for their video birthday card to commemorate Doylestown Township’s Bicentennial. More than 1,400 municipalities entered the contest. Kutz students first won at the county level and then submitted to the state level for consideration with the win. CB Cares provided the Innovative Learning grant to fund the project.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn was excited to be part of the ceremony setting the final steel beam for the new Center for Heart and Vascular Care. As a grade-schooler, she watched this hospital being built at its present site. Over the years it has responded to the growth in the community, and its health care demands with compassion and high-quality care. The community’s investment in Doylestown Health is reflective of how much this health care system means to all who live here.

As a member of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control Committee, Rep. Quinn took advantage of the opportunity to tour the historic A.J. Meerwald Tall Ship Sept. 7 at the Bristol Wharf and to hold a press conference regarding the importance of the river to the Commonwealth and the region. The basin provides drinking water for about 15 million people, including 5.5 Pennsylvania residents. According to information at the event, the river is cleaner than it’s been in decades, thanks to water quality improvement programs spearheaded by the DRBC, and people are returning to their local waterfronts to reconnect with the river.
Pictured with her is Tony M. Guerrieri, executive director of the joint committee. For more information – including links to each of the presentations -- go to this link: <em>https://bit.ly/2NnLB2o</em>

This summer, Rep. Quinn joined up with past and present colleagues to celebrate Pennridge Community Days. Pictured with her are (from left) Rep. Kathy Watson, former Rep. Paul Clymer and Rep. Craig Staats.

Congratulations to Jim Steeley, who was named this year’s Pennridge Citizen of the Year. Steeley has done so much for this community. In addition to his involvement with Pennridge Community Day, he has volunteered with the July Fourth National Bell Ringing in Sellersville, the local Memorial Day parade, the Sellersville Fire Company, Pennridge Community Center, Pennridge High School plays, the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Perkasie, Sellersville’s Winterfest, the Pennridge Gallery of the Arts and the Sellersville Museum.

One of the students whose artwork is showcased in Rep. Quinn’s district office during July was Luciano Braffo (pictured above) of Pine Run Elementary School. He and his family stopped by to see his work and that of his fellow artists. That month’s display was a collaboration between the Michener Art Museum and Pine Run Elementary’s third-graders. The display also included work by Jimmy Weeks, an aspiring artist and a current art student, who shared a digital art interpretation of a poem titled “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird,” and other digital creations.

Logan High, a third-grader from Pine Run Elementary School, and his brother stopped by Rep. Quinn’s district office in Doylestown to see his artwork and those of his classmates. The July display was a collaboration between the Michener Art Museum and Pine Run Elementary’s third-graders.

During this summer’s Middletown Grange Fair, Rep. Quinn caught up with two young 4-Hers, including Julia Blake, who exhibited her rabbit. They are pictured with her brother, Evan.

At a press conference at the Bucks County Administrative Building on June 29, Rep. Quinn voiced her commitment to continue fighting for a vote on her legislation, House Bill 2060, that seeks to better protect domestic violence victims and their families. Joining her were others who support this commonsense legislation, including Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub (pictured above); local attorney Jess Pritchard, who has extensive experience in Protection From Abuse (PFA) cases; Tam St. Clare of Bucks County Women’s Advocacy Coalition; Melissa Carden of Moms Demand Action; and Penny Ettinger with Network of Victim Assistance.

At the annual “Old Timers and Get Acquainted” event at the Doylestown Fire Company No. 1 on June 6, Rep. Quinn had the opportunity to personally thank dozens of first responders. The event included life members, auxiliary members and representatives from our neighboring municipalities which are served by the all-volunteer company. This year marks the 138th year of Doylestown Fire Company No. 1 protecting life and property! Thank you for all you do in keeping us safe! Pictured with her are James Hilton and fire company president Jay Fetterolf.

Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego (left) visited Doylestown to show his appreciation to the company, its officials and volunteers during the organization’s June 6 Old Times and Get Acquainted event. He also sat down with fire company officials before the event to talk about the challenges facing the fire service. Pictured with Trego and Rep. Quinn are James Hilton and Jay Fetterolf, president of the fire company.

Among those honored was John Cope (center), who has served the company for 50 years! Rep. Quinn and Cope are pictured with Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Bruce Trego.

The Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 2018 SuperBowl win, made its way to the state Capitol on June 4, where many of her Philadelphia-area colleagues and fans, including Rep. Quinn, had the opportunity to have their photo taken with it.

On June 6, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the Philadelphia Eagles for their 2018 SuperBowl win, was on display inside the Governor’s Reception Room where Rep. Quinn had her photo taken with the historic trophy.

On April 30, Rep. Quinn was one of the featured speakers at a rally supporting legislation that would fight back against domestic violence and rape. The PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence and PA Coalition Against Rape spoke about her proposal, House Bill 2060, that would strengthen Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders by requiring the relinquishment of firearms after a final PFA is ordered by the court. This bill, which she is hopeful will come up in the House Judiciary Committee this summer, is a commonsense measure to protect victims of domestic violence. The companion bill, Senate Bill 501 sponsored by Sen. Tom Killion (R-Chester/Delaware), passed the Senate unanimously earlier this year. To watch her remarks, go to this link: https://youtu.be/1G2n0ZiHXPk

In an effort to ensure tax fairness among overnight lodging facilities, the House Tourism and Recreational Development and Finance committees held a public hearing on the issue and Rep. Quinn’s related legislation on May 1. Her House Bill 1511 would update and clarify the collection of the hotel occupancy tax from online travel companies (OTCs). Traditionally, when a hotel room is sold to a consumer, the hotel collects and remits the state sales tax and the local hotel occupancy tax (where applicable) on the full retail rate charged for the room. Currently, OTCs collect and remit the sales tax and hotel occupancy tax on the room rental rate they negotiated with the hotel, not the full rate that the consumer pays. This legislation would level the playing field by applying the state sales and the local hotel occupancy tax to the full price paid by the consumer at point of sale for booking the hotel room, inclusive of any additional fees or markups that an online travel company charges customers for booking the hotel room.

On May 2, Rep. Quinn joined her colleagues in supporting a resolution declaring May 6-12, 2018, as “Women’s Lung Health Week” in Pennsylvania. The resolution encourages all Pennsylvanians to learn more about the detection and treatment of lung cancer. While the lung cancer death rate among men has decreased 29 percent in the last 39 years, it has increased 102 percent among women. After the vote, the lawmakers paused for a photo wearing turquoise, the color designated to raise awareness about lung cancer in women.

Wednesday, May 23, was recognized at the State Capitol as Pennsylvania National Guard Day, an opportunity for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to properly thank and acknowledge the valuable contributions of the men and women who are part of our state’s National Guard. Rep. Quinn had the chance to speak with Pennsylvania Adjutant General Anthony Carrelli, while he was in the House chamber that day.

Sgt. Farber, who is with the Medical Battalion Training Site, met with Rep. Quinn at an exhibit held in the East Wing during National Guard Day in Pennsylvania on May 23. Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 36,000 individual deployments of our soldiers and airmen have taken place in support of global contingencies, with many serving multiple deployments, making the PA Guard one of the busiest and most heavily deployed National Guards in the United States.

Rep. Quinn recently thanked Doylestown Township and Jeannine Mitchell, chairperson, for organizing this year’s Native Plant Garden Party Dedication. The dedication and garden were made possible by the Doylestown Township Environmental Advisory Council/Shade Tree Commission, which focuses on environmental issues that directly and indirectly affect the township and its residents. Each month, the EAC reviews current development plans and discusses other current or anticipated issues, such as waste collection, recycling (batteries, leaves, cardboard, medicine, etc.), Tree City USA (since 1998), Arbor Day, World Wide Day of Play, and the Audubon Society’s Bird Town program.

In May, Rep. Quinn had the pleasure of meeting up with one of her legislative colleagues, Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon), as he made good on a recent sports bet in which he pledged to travel the entire length of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, if the Philadelphia Eagles won the SuperBowl. He started in Bristol, and Rep. Quinn hiked part-way with him. They were joined by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Executive Director Elissa Garofalo, Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, and Reps. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) and John Galloway (D-Bucks). This year is the 30th Anniversary of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor that runs 165 miles from Bristol Borough in Bucks County to Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County. The trail, which is steeped in history, winds through two state parks and three state forest districts. So far, 92 percent of the 165-mile D&L Trail is now connected and it is becoming an economic driver fueling heritage tourism, small businesses and a key element for accessible wellness activities.

Rep. Quinn recently had the privilege of hosting nearly 60 Central Bucks West High School art students and their families for a reception in her district office on April 19. Each student was presented with a House citation during the open house exhibit. The students also had the opportunity to visit with the first-ever Bucks County Artist in Residence, Alan Fetterman. Thank you to art teachers, Allison Levin and Steph Ferraro, for bringing their students to her office for the past 11 years and for all of their efforts in helping to curate this show and for inspiring so many of our area’s young artists.

Rep. Quinn welcomed first-ever Bucks County Artist in Residence, Alan Fetterman, to her monthly student Art Show on April 19. Fetterman stopped by to talk to the art students from Central Bucks West High school and offer some of his own wisdom about his passion for the arts.

Members of the Bucks County Farm Bureau traveled to Harrisburg in April to hold their annual advocacy day at the state Capitol. During this year’s legislative lunch, Rep. Quinn stopped to say hello to Mark Scheetz, president of the Bucks County Farm Bureau; and Dr. Jim Diamond, former dean at Delaware Valley University.

Delaware Valley University students Kalyn Bryan and Margaret Gadomski had the unique opportunity to present their research at the state Capitol April 17 as part of a special program that highlights the great work undergraduate students are doing around the state. Kalyn studied the effects of using human medicine to create a drug for Lyme disease in the equine and bovine species as well as how it will effect horses that have not been treated for Equine Protozoal Myloencephalitis (EPM). Margaret’s research involved the Six Sigma quality methodology to ensure quality of consumer products. Congratulations to both students! You obviously have great futures ahead!

Pennsylvania is always proud to honor the men and women who have dedicated themselves to military service, especially during war-time. During House session on April 17, Rep. Quinn had the special privilege to meet two Pennsylvania residents, Dr. Eugene Richardson and Nathan Thomas, who were part of 1,000 African-American military pilots trained in Tuskegee, Ala.

Combined, these pilots flew over 15,000 sorties in World War II. April 17 was designated as Tuskegee Airmen Day in the Commonwealth, as part of House Resolution 753. Eventually, the Tuskegee Airmen would form the famous 332nd Fighter Group, which was also known as the “Red Tails” due to the distinctive red markings on the tails of their aircraft.

During House session in April, Rep. Quinn welcomed Phil Wismer, a constituent from Doylestown, to the state Capitol. Wismer, who is a member of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, visited the Capitol to discuss funding support services for the deaf.

To find ways to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania while respecting the Second Amendment, the House Judiciary Committee held a two-week a series of hearings on various pieces of legislation pertaining to firearms and public safety. Rep. Quinn appeared before the committee on April 9 to talk about her legislation, House Bill 2060. This legislation would strengthen Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders by removing third-party safekeeping as an option for a domestic violence defendant who is ordered by the court to relinquish firearms; and would narrow the window of time an abuser has to relinquish their guns from 60 days (current law) to 48 hours with a misdemeanor conviction of domestic violence. This legislation still upholds due process rights, as federal and state laws already require surrender of firearms in convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence.

Several ladies who worked in manufacturing during World War II -- known as Rosie the Riveters -- visited the House in April, where they received a very warm welcome. Pictured with Rep. Quinn are Concetta Gillen and Dorothy Trate. The ladies, along with some of their fellow Rosies, came to Harrisburg for Rosie the Riveter Day. Joining them was John Fleming (not pictured), whom she also had the pleasure of meeting. Fleming is a veteran from the Battle of the Bulge.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn ask questions of Secretary Randy Albright from the Office of the Budget during Thursday’s House Appropriations budget hearing.

Rep. Marguerite Quinn held a town hall meeting at Grundy Hall, a senior living facility, on March 9th to discuss what's happening in Harrisburg. There was a great turnout. Thank you to everyone who attended.

On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee heard from members of the Pennsylvania State Police as part of our ongoing budget hearings. I had the honor of meeting state police Commissioner Col. Tyree Blocker and Lt. Col. Robert Evanchick. I want to thank these two men for their years of service to the Commonwealth and all state police troopers for their continued work to keep residents safe.

I recently had the privilege of hosting an art reception to celebrate the artwork of Palisades School District elementary students. Thanks to Mrs. Dana McNichol for bringing her students to my office for 10 years now. House certificates of recognition were presented to more than 50 student artists.

What a pleasure it was to attend the Inauguration of Delaware Valley University's 13th President, Dr. Maria Gallo! “Dream..Design..Do,” take a dream, apply the discipline and design a workable plan.....I can't wait to watch Dr. Gallo in action at Del Val!