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News You Can Use
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| Emergency Alert to Sound Test Next Week |
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on Oct. 3.
The wireless portion of the test commences at 2:18 p.m. EDT, and the EAS portion follows at 2:20 p.m. EDT. The test will assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether improvements are needed.
The WEA test message will be sent to cell phones that are connected to wireless providers participating in WEA. During this time, WEA compatible cell phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless provider participates in WEA should be capable of receiving the test message. Some cell phones will not receive the test message, and cell phones should only receive the message once.
The EAS test is made available to EAS participants (i.e., radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers) and is scheduled to last approximately one minute. The test message will be similar to regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar.
The WEA system is used to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children and other critical situations through alerts on cell phones. The national test will use the same special tone and vibration as with all WEA messages (i.e. tornado warning, AMBER Alert). Users cannot opt out of receiving the WEA test. |
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House Endorses Domestic Violence Bill to Save Lives
I am very grateful this week that more than 130 of my House colleagues voted in favor of House Bill 2060, which would take firearms out of the hands of convicted abusers sooner than in existing law. House Bill 2060 would make the relinquishment period 24 hours, rather than the current timeframe of 60 days. This legislation will go a long way toward saving lives and better protecting victims of domestic violence.
Under House Bill 2060, firearms relinquishment would take place in the case of a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence when the defendant has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In the case of a civil Protection From Abuse (PFA) order, a judge would order the relinquishment of firearms after a hearing at which evidence is presented and both parties have a chance to speak. A final PFA order cannot exceed three years.
House Bill 2060 would make it mandatory that firearms are relinquished to law enforcement, to an officer of the court, to a licensed firearms dealer or to a commercial armory -- and not to a family member or friend. Relinquishment would only apply after due process is complete and the person has been deemed by the court to be violent and a threat.
This legislation will have no effect on a law-abiding citizen. In fact, this would not apply to temporary PFAs, and nothing is put in place until due process has been completed.
The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
Both federal and state criminal law currently prohibit known abusers from having firearms in their possession. No firearms will be taken from responsible gun owners.
House Votes to Empower Victims
In another historic, bipartisan vote, the House passed legislation that would empower victims of sexual abuse by eliminating the criminal statute of limitations for prosecutions of sexual abuse of minors and extending the civil statute of limitations for lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors until the victim reaches 50 years of age. Among its most notable provisions, the House voted to open a two-year statute of limitations window for those victims claiming abuse who are beyond the age of 50.
According to statistics, one-third of victims of child sex abuse disclose the incidents when they are still children, while another one-third never disclose. For the remaining one-third, studies show that the average age to disclose is 52.
This legislation, Senate Bill 261, includes several of the recommendations outlined by the state attorney general after the August release of a report alleging widespread coverup of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church across the state and dating back generations. The bill now goes back to the Senate for concurrence.
Another one of the recommendations -- which would increase penalties for mandated reporters who continue to fail to report suspected child abuse and broaden the “continuing course of action” provision -- was reported out of the House Children and Youth Committee on Wednesday. That goes now to the House floor.
MidAtlantic Transportation Electrification Forum Showcases Possibilities
Opportunities to advance economic development, customer choice and a cleaner environment don’t come along very often. As policymakers, we’re normally in the position of making tough decisions, balancing interests and costs against benefits.
Investing in infrastructure -- especially for emerging technologies -- provides one of the few chances we see to advance win-win solutions that make our region stronger economically and a healthier place to live. That’s why I’m so excited about transportation electrification. Last Friday, I participated in the MidAtlantic Transportation Electrification Forum, which showcased many of the potential opportunities for a wide range of consumers.
As Pennsylvanians, we’re fortunate to live in a region rich in resources, leading research institutions and a geographic location second to none. With electrification continuing to become more cost competitive and able to meet a broader range of consumer needs, we need to begin planning for how we can bring the benefits of these technologies to our citizens in the most efficient means possible.
That’s why I’ve introduced House Bill 1446 to set the Commonwealth on the road to a cleaner transportation future. The bill sets a goal to expand transportation electrification, requires the development of regional plans for our metropolitan areas, and authorizes our public utilities to make investments in public charging infrastructure. The bill recognizes that these technologies are evolving quickly and requires these plans to be updated every four years.
I’m excited that Democrats and Republicans and a broad range of stakeholders have come together in support of House Bill 1446. It’s a forward-thinking approach that focuses on collaboration and investments in our future that we can all get behind.
Celebrating 100 Years
During a very busy session day on Monday, I 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 last week and continues to be active in the Lehigh Valley. Happy birthday, Joe! It was an honor to meet you!
Organizations Given Option of Carrying EpiPens
To help save lives in emergency situations, the House unanimously approved legislation this week that would allow law enforcement and a variety of organizations and businesses to carry epinephrine auto-injectors, known as EpiPens.
House Bill 126 would permit a number of entities – law enforcement, recreation camps, colleges, universities, day cares, youth sports leagues, amusement parks, restaurants, places of employment and sports arenas – to stock a supply of EpiPens in the event a patron comes in contact with an allergen and has an anaphylactic reaction, which could be fatal.
Under the bill, a designated employee must receive training in how to recognize signs and symptoms of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis; standards and procedures for the storage and administration of an epinephrine auto-injector; and emergency follow-up procedures. Immunity would be granted for those who reasonably administer the EpiPen in good faith.
Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) reports that as many as 15 million individuals have food allergies, and 6 million of those individuals are children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the prevalence of food allergies in children increased by 50 percent between 1997 and 2011. The bill has been sent back to the Senate for agreement.
Thank You for an Excellent Senior Expo!
Thank you to everyone who participated in today’s Senior Expo at the Central Bucks Senior Center. We had an excellent discussion about state legislative issues, and vendors from across our district shared information about services and programs designed to benefit older Pennsylvanians.
Kutz Students Win Statewide Honor for Video Birthday Card
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.
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| Office Locations |
| 1032 N. Easton Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902-1055 | Phone: (215) 489-2126 |
| 141 East Wing, PO Box 202143, Harrisburg PA 17120-2143 | Phone: (717) 772-1413 |
| Email: mquinn@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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