COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Legislative Journal · and we realize their God-given authority over us. Scripture teaches that we are to pray for those in authority over us. So in

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Legislative JournalWEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

SESSION OF 2014 198TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 22

SENATEWEDNESDAY, April 9, 2014

The Senate met at 11 a.m., Eastern Daylight Saving Time.

The PRESIDENT (Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley) in theChair.

PRAYER

The Chaplain, Reverend ROCKY SPEAR, Pastor of MongulChurch, Shippensburg, offered the following prayer:

Let us pray.Heavenly Father, we humbly pause before You today recog-

nizing You as the giver of life. It is our privilege to quiet our-selves before You as we begin our day and we acknowledge Youas Creator, thanking You for Your goodness to the people of thisCommonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are grateful for our greatnation and the freedoms that we enjoy, and we ask that Youwould guide the leaders of our country and give them wisdomand may we honor You as a nation. Father, in this room todayare men and women who have willingly chosen to serve theirState by representing their communities. We thank You for them,and we realize their God-given authority over us. Scriptureteaches that we are to pray for those in authority over us. So inobedience to that I pray for Governor Corbett. I ask that Youwould guide him as he leads the Commonwealth of Pennsylva-nia. Give him the wisdom to discern what is best for the peopleof our State, protect, we ask, as he serves our people. Also, weask for Your blessing on our Lieutenant Governor as he fulfillshis responsibilities.

This morning I pray for every Senator gathered here. WouldYou grant them wisdom in the daily decisions they make whichimpact the citizens of this State. May they carefully considerwhat is best for the people. We ask that You will protect theirlives as they fulfill their duties. In addition, we pray for the fami-lies of these Senators. I ask that You would provide daily forthem the things they need, and keep them from danger. Nowtoday, You are aware of the decisions that will be made. I prayfor wisdom for each Senator and a boldness to stand for right.Remind each of us, Father, that we will give an account of ourlives to You one day, and may our every decision be made withthis truth in mind. We ask Your blessings upon this gatheringtoday, and upon each one who will be making decisions for ourState, in Jesus' name. Amen.

The PRESIDENT. The Chair thanks Pastor Spear, who is theguest today of Senator Alloway.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

(The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by those assembled.)

BILLS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senator WHITE, from the Committee on Banking and Insur-ance, reported the following bills:

SB 594 (Pr. No. 1943) (Amended)

An Act limiting copayments and coinsurances for insured medicalservices.

SB 1329 (Pr. No. 1925)

An Act amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284),known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, extensively revisingprovisions on life and health insurance guaranty associations; and mak-ing editorial changes.

RESOLUTION REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senator WHITE, from the Committee on Banking and Insur-ance, reported the following resolution:

SR 340 (Pr. No. 1924)

A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States toreauthorize Federally provided terrorism reinsurance for insurers.

The PRESIDENT. The resolution will be placed on the Calen-dar.

LEGISLATIVE LEAVES

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromDelaware, Senator Pileggi.

Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I request a legislative leavefor Senator Tomlinson.

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromAllegheny, Senator Costa.

Senator COSTA. Mr. President, I request a temporary Capitolleave for Senator Williams, and a legislative leave for SenatorFarnese.

The PRESIDENT. Senator Pileggi requests a legislative leavefor Senator Tomlinson.

Senator Costa requests a temporary Capitol leave for SenatorWilliams, and a legislative leave for Senator Farnese.

Without objection, the leaves will be granted.

1628 LEGISLATIVE JOURNAL — SENATE APRIL 9,

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Senator PILEGGI asked and obtained a leave of absence forSenator ROBBINS, for today's Session, for personal reasons.

JOURNAL APPROVED

The PRESIDENT. The Journal of the Session of March 17,2014, is now in print.

The Clerk proceeded to read the Journal of the Session ofMarch 17, 2014.

Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I move that further readingof the Journal be dispensed with and that the Journal be ap-proved.

On the question,Will the Senate agree to the motion?

The yeas and nays were required by Senator PILEGGI andwere as follows, viz:

YEA-49

Alloway Farnese Pileggi VulakovichArgall Ferlo Rafferty WagnerBaker Folmer Scarnati WardBlake Fontana Schwank WashingtonBoscola Gordner Smith WhiteBrewster Greenleaf Smucker WileyBrowne Hughes Solobay WilliamsBrubaker Hutchinson Stack WozniakCorman Kasunic Tartaglione YawCosta Kitchen Teplitz YudichakDinniman Leach TomlinsonEichelberger McIlhinney VanceErickson Mensch Vogel

NAY-0

A majority of the Senators having voted "aye," the questionwas determined in the affirmative.

The PRESIDENT. The Journal is approved.

GUESTS OF SENATOR JUDY SCHWANKPRESENTED TO THE SENATE

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentlewomanfrom Berks, Senator Schwank.

Senator SCHWANK. Mr. President, today I have the honorand pleasure of introducing a group of young men and womenfrom my district who are going to take all of our jobs. They arehere today as part of a model Senate that my staff and I havebeen holding back in my district. They have been in several ses-sions and they are raring to go and ready to work later on todayto pass some legislation, a lot faster than we do, Mr. President.My colleagues would be interested to know that throughout theschool year, these model Senators have inherited your districtsand even your committees as they have worked on legislationthat they themselves have drafted. In a few minutes, these Sena-tors are going to take part in their final session where seven oftheir surviving bills will be debated and voted on. After which,our model Governor and his cabinet will veto or sign the billsinto law.

My staff and I have been continuously impressed with thecaliber of these students, juniors and seniors, representing highschools throughout Berks County. I am extremely proud of thework that they have done, and the serious way in which theyhave approached this effort. Believe me when I say, not only amI proud that they are the future of Berks County, I am proud theywill be the future of State and Federal government as well.

Thank you, Mr. President.The PRESIDENT. Would the guests of Senator Schwank

please rise so that the Senate may give you its usual warm wel-come.

(Applause.)

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESSSENATE RESOLUTION ADOPTED

Senators BAKER, MENSCH, SOLOBAY, ROBBINS,FERLO, DINNIMAN, STACK, TEPLITZ, WOZNIAK,GREENLEAF, WASHINGTON, ERICKSON, BROWNE,ARGALL, EICHELBERGER, FONTANA, RAFFERTY,SCHWANK, FARNESE, PILEGGI, FOLMER, WHITE, YAW,HUGHES, HUTCHINSON, VOGEL, KASUNIC, ALLOWAY,BREWSTER, SMITH, COSTA, VULAKOVICH, YUDICHAK,VANCE, BRUBAKER, TARTAGLIONE, CORMAN,GORDNER, McILHINNEY, SCARNATI, SMUCKER,TOMLINSON, WAGNER and WARD, by unanimous consent,offered Senate Resolution No. 350, entitled:

A Resolution designating April 9, 2014, as "National Guard Day"in Pennsylvania.

On the question,Will the Senate adopt the resolution?

LEGISLATIVE LEAVE CANCELLED

The PRESIDENT. Senator Williams has returned and histemporary Capitol leave is cancelled.

And the question recurring,Will the Senate adopt the resolution?

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentlewomanfrom Luzerne, Senator Baker.

Senator BAKER. Mr. President, Senator Mensch, SenatorSolobay and I are honored to recognize "National Guard Day"and, more importantly, to pay tribute to the 20,000-plus guards-men and women across the Commonwealth. These highly trainedvolunteers carry out a double mission: to defend freedom aroundthe globe and to protect citizens here at home. More than 250years after Ben Franklin started a volunteer militia, Pennsylva-nia's National Guard remains one of the biggest, the busiest, andthe absolute best. Whether keeping the peace overseas, fightingdrugs along our borders, or cleaning up debris after a tornado,they are ready and willing to serve and to sacrifice. The price ofliberty is steep. Since 9/11, more than three dozen PennsylvaniaNational Guardsmen have lost their lives and many more havebeen seriously wounded. We mourn for their loss and pledge oureternal gratitude and support. So, today we thank the soldiers andairmen for the protection they provide to each and every one ofus every day as we declare April 9, 2014, as National Guard Dayin the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Thank you, Mr. President.

2014 LEGISLATIVE JOURNAL — SENATE 1629

And the question recurring,Will the Senate adopt the resolution?A voice vote having been taken, the question was determined

in the affirmative.

GUESTS OF SENATOR ROBERT B. MENSCH,SENATOR ELISABETH J. BAKER,

AND SENATOR TIMOTHY J. SOLOBAYPRESENTED TO THE SENATE

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromMontgomery, Senator Mensch.

Senator MENSCH. Mr. President, today I am joined by Sena-tor Baker and Senator Solobay in having the opportunity to hostthe Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, Major General WesleyCraig. Major General Craig personifies the heart of the Pennsyl-vania National Guard and its dual mission to protect freedom andsave lives both here and abroad. Like the 19,000 citizen-soldiershe leads--and I want to again comment, citizen-soldiers, volun-teers, those of us who lived through the draft days of Americaunderstand that well--General Craig is highly trained and alwaysprepared for any crisis or challenge. He exhibits enormous calmunder pressure and he can be both a peacekeeper and a fighter asthe need arises. These past few years, he and Pennsylvania'sall-volunteer Guard were called upon to help residents in Penn-sylvania, as well as our neighboring States, with the aftermath ofSuperstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. Heis fighting to protect the jobs of military technicians from thebudget axe of sequestration, and he is leading the charge to pro-tect counter-drug enforcements. He is responsible for the State'ssix veterans homes and the care of 1,500 residents, and he worksto extend veteran outreach services.

General Craig has served with distinction as the Commanderand chief executive officer of the 28th Division, which includes14,000 soldiers from 85 communities across 3 States. He hasoverseen the mobilization and deployment of more than 6,000soldiers to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.He has successfully transformed the 56th Infantry Brigade intothe Army National Guard's only Stryker Brigade Combat Team.You can witness in General Craig both a devotion to duty as wellas a love of country, that he is so inspired to protect.

Today, on National Guard Day, we are reminded that we mustnever forget the fallen, never neglect their families, and neverabandon the survivors who bear the wounds of war, both visibleand invisible. Whether our guardsmen and women are deployedin military missions, engaged in peacekeeping, responding tocivil or natural emergencies, or cooperating in drug interdictionefforts, they are indeed the very best. No matter how strong thefiscal pressures are on Pennsylvania's purse strings, we can neverweaken our commitment to our military and to its veterans. Thisesteemed leader has been a tireless advocate for that cause.

We are honored to have General Craig with us here today.Joining General Craig today are Brigadier General Tony Carrelli,Commander and Deputy Adjutant General-Air of the Pennsylva-nia Air National Guard; Brigadier General Timothy J. Hilty,Director of Joint Staff for the Pennsylvania National Guard JointForce Headquarters; and Brigadier General Carol A. Eggert,Assistant Adjutant General for the Pennsylvania National GuardJoint Force Headquarters. Mr. President, join me in giving ourguests a very warm welcome.

The PRESIDENT. Would the guests of Senator Mensch, andmy neighbors, please rise so that the Senate may give you itsusual warm welcome.

(Applause.)Major General CRAIG. Good morning, Governor Cawley,

Senator Scarnati, Members of the Senate, distinguished guests inthe balcony, fellow soldiers and airmen. It is a pleasure to bewith you to represent the finest men and women in the Common-wealth of Pennsylvania, the soldiers and airmen of your Pennsyl-vania National Guard. We remain one of the strongest, bestequipped, and best prepared forces for the nation in both Federaland State duty. I assure you, and as you all well know, our forceshave been extremely busy. While today combat operations seemto be winding down in Afghanistan, our involvement from Penn-sylvania has not. We were one of the first in, we will be one ofthe last out. For as I stand before you today, more than 700 ofour soldiers and airmen are at various stages of preparation fortraining for deployment to Afghanistan or to the local region.These troops include security forces, aviation personnel, un-manned aerial systems operators, and a large number of engi-neers. They will play an important role in executing the safe andsuccessful transition just as they did in Iraq 3 years ago.

The Pennsylvania National Guard has been integral to everyoverseas contingency operation since that terrible day on Sep-tember 11, 2001. With 19,500 assigned, we have deployed al-most 40,000 times in the past 13 years. We have been in Afghan-istan, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, Libya, Egypt, South Korea,Canada, the Mexican border, and various countries in Europe.We were there. An astonishing record of service for what is apart-time force. Unfortunately, our close involvement in combatoperations has come at a cost, and 53 deployed guardsmen werekilled in action. But our mission is a noble one. Our resolve isstrong. So, our all-volunteer force remains as committed as ever.I am proud to tell you this day that the Pennsylvania NationalGuard stands at 103 percent strength. As I said to both commit-tees, we have people literally waiting in line to join our ranks.

When our citizens here in the Commonwealth are in need, weare always ready to respond as well. From the moment that ourGuard members responded to help secure our airports back onSeptember 11, to just months ago when we responded to winterstorms Nika and Pax, and the 45 missions of State active duty inbetween, we were always ready and always there. We were therefor hurricanes, blizzards, power outages, and security for majorevents here, in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washing-ton, D.C., Florida, and elsewhere.

In closing, on this National Guard Day here at the Capitol, Iwant to thank you, the Members of the Senate, for your enduringsupport. The budget situation in Washington, D.C., has placedthe Pennsylvania Army Guard now especially at peril. The De-partment of the Army has developed plans that would cause usto lose up to 1,500 members from our force structure. SenatorMensch, the new chair of the Senate Committee on VeteransAffairs and Emergency Preparedness, will be introducing a reso-lution very shortly that reinforces the just-passed PA House Res-olution No. 739. This resolution urges the Pennsylvania delega-tion in Washington to cosponsor H.R. 3930. This will set up acommission to study the entire force structure of the entire Army,Active Guard, and Reserve. It is our best hope for a good solu-tion to this problem. With adoption of H.R. 3930, I am confidentit will lead to preserve this national treasure that is your National


Guard. So, I urge you to support this forthcoming resolutionwhen it comes to the floor. This will ensure that we can keep thePennsylvania National Guard "Always Ready, Always There."

I again close with thanking all of you for your tremendoussupport to our soldiers and airmen. We could not have done whatwe have done without your support here in the PennsylvaniaSenate. Thank you very much.

(Applause.)

GUEST OF SENATOR ELISABETH J. BAKER,SENATOR PATRICIA H. VANCE, ANDSENATOR STEWART J. GREENLEAF

PRESENTED TO THE SENATE


Senator BAKER. Mr. President, I am pleased to join withSenator Vance and Senator Greenleaf in recognizing a specialguest in the gallery today. Sometimes it is those individualsrarely in the spotlight who provide the most consistent, highestquality of public service. Today, one of those individuals is retir-ing and our Senate record should reflect his accomplishmentsand our gratitude. Jim Anderson has served as the executive di-rector of the State Juvenile Court Judges' Commission since1986. Based on the recommendations of his peers, Jim earned thenational recognition as a champion of change. Very well de-served.

Jim was there for some decided high points. As part of theSpecial Session on crime in 1995, he was part of the team whosucceeded in getting the concept of balanced and restorativejustice into law. And he worked through some of our low points.When the "kids for cash" scandal hit Luzerne County, it exposedsome serious weaknesses in the structure of our juvenile justicesystem. Reform was needed, but we did not need to scrap thesystem that had a well-deserved reputation for excellence andjurisprudence, and Jim would constantly remind us of that truth.Some of our best public servants and finest judicial minds arefound in the juvenile courts. Jim had their trust and confidencefor over a quarter of a century. That is quite a compliment toboth ability and performance. We have come a long way in ourapproach to juvenile justice. Certainly the contributions of JimAnderson have tremendously aided us in that journey.

So, we wish him well in his new pursuits. I ask all of you toplease join me in offering our usual warm Senate welcome to JimAnderson.

Thank you, Mr. President.The PRESIDENT. Would the guest of Senator Baker please

rise so that the Senate may give you its usual warm welcome.(Applause.)

GUESTS OF SENATOR JOHN R. GORDNERPRESENTED TO THE SENATE

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromColumbia, Senator Gordner.

Senator GORDNER. Mr. President, I am proud to have somestudents and their professor in the gallery today. They are stu-dents from Bloomsburg University taking a government class,

mostly juniors and seniors, and it is always great when they havean opportunity to come to the State Capitol, to see us in Session,and to see government in action. So, I would like to welcome theprofessor and students from Bloomsburg University's govern-ment class, and I ask that they be recognized.

The PRESIDENT. Would the guests of Senator Gordnerplease rise so that the Senate may give you its usual warm wel-come.

(Applause.)

RECESS


Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I request a recess of theSenate for the purpose of a meeting of the Committee on Rulesand Executive Nominations to be held in the Rules room imme-diately.

The PRESIDENT. For the purpose of a meeting of the Com-mittee on Rules and Executive Nominations, without objection,the Senate stands in recess.

AFTER RECESS

The PRESIDENT. The time of recess having expired, theSenate will come to order.

BILLS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senator PILEGGI, from the Committee on Rules and Execu-tive Nominations, reported the following bills:

SB 21 (Pr. No. 1917) (Rereported) (Concurrence)

An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylva-nia Consolidated Statutes, in provisions and responsibilities for report-ing suspected child abuse, further providing for definitions, for personsrequired to report suspected child abuse, for persons permitted to reportsuspected child abuse, for reporting procedure, for documentary evi-dence on a child subject to report and for taking child into protectivecustody; in organization and responsibilities of child protective service,repealing provisions relating to taking child into protective custody;and, in miscellaneous provisions, further providing for education andtraining.

SB 1181 (Pr. No. 1794) (Rereported) (Concurrence)

An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176),known as The Fiscal Code, in additional special funds, further providingfor the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund.

RESOLUTION REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senator PILEGGI, from the Committee on Rules and Execu-tive Nominations, reported the following resolution:

SR 339 (Pr. No. 1939) (Amended)

A Resolution amending Senate Ethical Conduct Rules 1 and 2.

The PRESIDENT. The resolution will be placed on the Calen-dar.


CALENDAR

THIRD CONSIDERATION CALENDAR

BILLS OVER IN ORDER

SB 428, HB 434, SB 799 and SB 959 -- Without objection,the bills were passed over in their order at the request of SenatorPILEGGI.

BILL LAID ON THE TABLE

SB 1085 (Pr. No. 1597) -- The Senate proceeded to consider-ation of the bill, entitled:

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),known as the Public School Code of 1949, in terms and courses ofstudy, further providing for agreements with institutions of higher edu-cation; in opportunities for educational excellence, further providing fordefinitions and for concurrent enrollment agreements; and extensivelyrevising charter school provisions.

Upon motion of Senator PILEGGI, and agreed to by voicevote, the bill was laid on the table.

SB 1085 TAKEN FROM THE TABLE

Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I move that Senate Bill No.1085, Printer's No. 1597, be taken from the table and placed onthe Calendar.

The motion was agreed to by voice vote.The PRESIDENT. The bill will be placed on the Calendar.

BILL ON THIRD CONSIDERATIONAND FINAL PASSAGE


An Act amending Title 26 (Eminent Domain) of the PennsylvaniaConsolidated Statutes, further providing for limited reimbursement ofappraisal, attorney and engineering fees.

Considered the third time and agreed to,And the amendments made thereto having been printed as

required by the Constitution,

On the question,Shall the bill pass finally?

The yeas and nays were taken agreeably to the provisions ofthe Constitution and were as follows, viz:

YEA-49

Alloway Farnese Pileggi VulakovichArgall Ferlo Rafferty WagnerBaker Folmer Scarnati WardBlake Fontana Schwank WashingtonBoscola Gordner Smith WhiteBrewster Greenleaf Smucker WileyBrowne Hughes Solobay WilliamsBrubaker Hutchinson Stack Wozniak

Corman Kasunic Tartaglione YawCosta Kitchen Teplitz YudichakDinniman Leach TomlinsonEichelberger McIlhinney VanceErickson Mensch Vogel

NAY-0

A constitutional majority of all the Senators having voted"aye," the question was determined in the affirmative.

Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate present said bill tothe House of Representatives for concurrence.

BILLS OVER IN ORDER

SB 1219, SB 1220 and SB 1255 -- Without objection, the billswere passed over in their order at the request of SenatorPILEGGI.

BILLS ON THIRD CONSIDERATIONAND FINAL PASSAGE

HB 1259 (Pr. No. 3199) -- The Senate proceeded to consider-ation of the bill, entitled:

An Act providing for the regulation of indoor tanning facilities;establishing the Indoor Tanning Regulation Fund; and providing forpenalties.





YEA-40

Alloway Dinniman Leach TomlinsonArgall Eichelberger McIlhinney VanceBaker Erickson Mensch VulakovichBlake Farnese Pileggi WashingtonBoscola Fontana Scarnati WhiteBrewster Gordner Smith WileyBrowne Greenleaf Smucker WilliamsBrubaker Hughes Stack WozniakCorman Kasunic Tartaglione YawCosta Kitchen Teplitz Yudichak

NAY-9

Ferlo Rafferty Solobay WagnerFolmer Schwank Vogel WardHutchinson


Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate return said bill tothe House of Representatives with information that the Senatehas passed the same with amendments in which concurrence ofthe House is requested.



An Act amending Title 65 (Public Officers) of the PennsylvaniaConsolidated Statutes, in ethics standards and financial disclosure,further providing for definitions and for restricted activities; and pre-scribing penalties.





Senator BAKER. Mr. President, whenever wrongdoing oc-curs, Pennsylvanians have become accustomed to hearing a lotof words and promises about reform, but it is not so typical tohave an understandable and effective remedy developed andvoted so quickly after the trouble has come to light. Senate ap-proval of this legislation gives hope that an ugly problem is aboutto yield a respectable solution. There is nothing complicatedabout this bill. This sets in law basic ground rules everyone canreadily grasp. For individuals and interest groups dealing withState officials, do not offer cash gifts or anything resemblingcash. For those holding positions of public responsibility, ifsomeone offers it, reject it and report the infraction. That iswhere most of us believed the system was, until the recent stingoperation proved otherwise. Now there is no longer reliance ongood faith. There are enforceable penalties for violations. Fromthe conception of this legislation to our action today, this processhas been bipartisan, constructive, and responsive to the publicinterest. Leaders and Members have demonstrated leadership indirection and in action.

This is what the people want to see, not just on this matter ofreform, but across many of the issues we confront. Come to-gether, do what we must for the public interest. People believe,rightly, and we must acknowledge, that the work of reform is farfrom finished. There is every reason for us to act on other re-forms in the same sense of purpose and demonstration of respon-sibility that is evidenced on this measure. So, today I am pleasedto ask all of you to join me in support of Senate Bill No. 1327.

Thank you, Mr. President.The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from

Allegheny, Senator Smith.Senator SMITH. Mr. President, I rise to simply commend

Senator Baker and Senator Smucker for their work on this legis-lation. It is a positive, bipartisan step toward common sense re-form. I am very hopeful, as we all are on this side of the Capitol,that it will not only be bipartisan, but will prove to be bicameral.We are very hopeful that the House will act on it quickly andsend it to the Governor's desk for his signature. Again, I want tocommend Senator Baker and Senator Smucker for their work onthis commonsense step toward bipartisan reform.


Philadelphia, Senator Williams.

Senator WILLIAMS. Mr. President, I, too, want to thank Sen-ator Baker, Senator Smucker, Senator Smith, and all involved inthis particular moment. The Members of this Chamber, unfortu-nately, are confronted with a perspective and an image, whichdoes not simply speak to Members of this body receiving cash,it speaks to a culture, that for whatever reason, has emanatedacross Pennsylvania. Today is a first step, and I want to under-score, a first step, in an effort to reconnect with voters, voterswho have finally had enough of how we have conducted thepeople's business. Voters, regardless of whether they are Demo-cratic, Republican, Libertarian, Tea Party, all voters have a per-spective, unfortunately, in Pennsylvania, and increasingly acrossAmerica, that those of us who serve the public do it for our ownself-interest. Too often they are confronted with stories that re-veal truths with regard to that. It is my hope that, and my under-standing that, there are Members within this Chamber who arefrustrated that 99 percent of us come to work, work in our dis-tricts, pray in our districts, live with our families, and do thepeople's business in a constructive, totally ethical manner. Butunfortunately, there are far too many gray areas that many of usdo not fall into but others are allowed to fall into, that have givenus an image of self-serving activities.

Today is a first step in terms of removing that stain which hasbeen cast upon all of us, but understand that those of us who feelthat this first step is a comfortable one and an obvious one, thereare others which have to be confronted that are not so comfort-able. There are traditions and habits within the Harrisburg com-munity that have to be confronted and have to be changed. Theyhave to be changed not simply because they are corrupt or uneth-ical, because in fact, many times they are not corrupt or unethi-cal. But sometimes, they are simply not principled, and no longerdo they meet the pale of that gray area. There should no longerbe a line in Harrisburg that is confusing to those of us whochoose to conduct ourselves in such ethical manners. In fact,there should be a line that all of us understand clearly, that arenot just claims and statutes, but screams out to us in practical,commonsense terms. I am grateful that the Leaders on both sidesof the aisle have committed to do that kind of work. I am particu-larly grateful to my Leader that he is committed to that process,and to all of the Democrats on my side of the aisle who werecommitted to that process, and look to extend our arms on theother side of the aisle so we can resolve ourselves of this stain.So that the people of Pennsylvania understand that they deserveopen, transparent, and good government, and that, in fact, theywill receive such on every day that we serve the public.

With that, I want to thank you, Mr. President.

And the question recurring,Shall the bill pass finally?


YEA-49

Alloway Farnese Pileggi VulakovichArgall Ferlo Rafferty WagnerBaker Folmer Scarnati WardBlake Fontana Schwank WashingtonBoscola Gordner Smith WhiteBrewster Greenleaf Smucker Wiley


Browne Hughes Solobay WilliamsBrubaker Hutchinson Stack WozniakCorman Kasunic Tartaglione YawCosta Kitchen Teplitz YudichakDinniman Leach TomlinsonEichelberger McIlhinney VanceErickson Mensch Vogel

NAY-0


Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate present said bill tothe House of Representatives for concurrence.

BILL OVER IN ORDER

HB 1513 -- Without objection, the bill was passed over in itsorder at the request of Senator PILEGGI.

BILL ON THIRD CONSIDERATIONAND FINAL PASSAGE


An Act designating the bridge that carries State Route 35 over theJuniata River, in Juniata County, as the Juniata County Veterans Memo-rial Bridge.

Considered the third time and agreed to,



YEA-49


NAY-0


Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate return said bill tothe House of Representatives with information that the Senatehas passed the same without amendments.

SECOND CONSIDERATION CALENDAR

BILL LAID ON THE TABLE


An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Penn-sylvania Consolidated Statutes, in good Samaritan, further providing forfindings, for definitions, for eligibility and project inventory, for land-owner liability limitation and exceptions, for project liability limitationand exceptions, for exceptions and for water supply replacement; andmaking editorial changes.

Upon motion of Senator PILEGGI, and agreed to by voicevote, the bill was laid on the table.

BILLS OVER IN ORDER

SB 705, SB 979, SB 1078, HB 1164 and SB 1169 -- Withoutobjection, the bills were passed over in their order at the requestof Senator PILEGGI.

BILL REREFERRED


An Act providing for prescription drug monitoring; creating theABC-MAP Board; establishing the Achieving Better Care by Monitor-ing All Prescriptions Program; and providing for unlawful acts andpenalties.

Upon motion of Senator PILEGGI, and agreed to by voicevote, the bill was rereferred to the Committee on Appropriations.

BILLS OVER IN ORDER

HB 1214, SB 1225 and HB 1246 -- Without objection, thebills were passed over in their order at the request of SenatorPILEGGI.

BILLS ON SECOND CONSIDERATION


An Act amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225),known as the Dog Law, further providing for dogs used for law enforce-ment.

Considered the second time and agreed to,Ordered, To be printed on the Calendar for third consider-

ation.


An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consoli-dated Statutes, in snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, further provid-ing for definitions.



ation.


An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consoli-dated Statutes, in size, weight and load, further providing for length ofvehicles.


ation.

BILL ON SECOND CONSIDERATIONAND REREFERRED


An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance,further providing for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain excep-tional children in approved institutions; in charter schools, further pro-viding for funding for charter schools; and, in reimbursements by Com-monwealth and between school districts, further providing for specialeducation payments to school districts and for extraordinary specialeducation program expenses.


ation.Upon motion of Senator PILEGGI, and agreed to by voice

vote, the bill just considered was rereferred to the Committee onAppropriations.

BILL ON SECOND CONSIDERATION


An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the PennsylvaniaConsolidated Statutes, in county correctional institutions, further pro-viding for board meetings.


ation.

BILL OVER IN ORDER


BILLS ON SECOND CONSIDERATIONAND REREFERRED


An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the PennsylvaniaConsolidated Statutes, further providing for educational leave of ab-sence.





An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14),known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for basic educa-tion funding commission.




BILL OVER IN ORDER


COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE GOVERNORREPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON RULES

AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS

Senator PILEGGI, from the Committee on Rules and Execu-tive Nominations, reported the following nominations made byHis Excellency, the Governor of the Commonwealth, which wereread by the Clerk as follows:

MEMBER OF THE BANKING ANDSECURITIES COMMISSION

March 3, 2014

To the Honorable, the Senateof the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

In conformity with law, I have the honor hereby to nominate for theadvice and consent of the Senate, James R. Biery, 3 Gunpowder Road,Mechanicsburg 17050, Cumberland County, Thirty-first SenatorialDistrict, for appointment as a member of the Banking and SecuritiesCommission, serves at the pleasure of the Governor and until his suc-cessor is appointed and qualified, vice Steven Irwin, Pittsburgh, whoseterm expired.

TOM CORBETTGovernor

MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFTHE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

February 21, 2014

To the Honorable, the Senateof the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

In conformity with law, I have the honor hereby to nominate for theadvice and consent of the Senate, Cliff Benson, 133 Centennial Avenue,


Sewickley 15143, Allegheny County, Thirty-seventh Senatorial District,for appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylva-nia State University, to serve until July 1, 2016, and until his successoris appointed and qualified, vice Ira Lubert, Philadelphia, whose termexpired.

TOM CORBETTGovernor


February 21, 2014


In conformity with law, I have the honor hereby to nominate for theadvice and consent of the Senate, Todd Rucci, 5 Southview Lane, Lititz17543, Lancaster County, Thirty-sixth Senatorial District, for appoint-ment as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania StateUniversity, to serve until July 1, 2015, and until his successor is ap-pointed and qualified, vice Alvin Clemens, St. David's, whose termexpired.

TOM CORBETTGovernor

NOMINATIONS LAID ON THE TABLE

Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I request that the nomina-tions just read by the Clerk be laid on the table.

The PRESIDENT. The nominations will be laid on the table.

EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion was made by Senator PILEGGI,That the Senate do now resolve itself into Executive Session

for the purpose of considering certain nominations made by theGovernor.

Which was agreed to by voice vote.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Senator COSTA asked and obtained a leave of absence forSenator YUDICHAK, for today's Session, for personal reasons.

NOMINATIONS TAKEN FROM THE TABLE

Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I call from the table certainnominations and ask for their consideration.

The Clerk read the nominations as follows:

MEMBER OF THE BANKING ANDSECURITIES COMMISSION

March 3, 2014

To the Honorable, the Senateof the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

In conformity with law, I have the honor hereby to nominate for theadvice and consent of the Senate, James R. Biery, 3 Gunpowder Road,Mechanicsburg 17050, Cumberland County, Thirty-first Senatorial

District, for appointment as a member of the Banking and SecuritiesCommission, serves at the pleasure of the Governor and until his suc-cessor is appointed and qualified, vice Steven Irwin, Pittsburgh, whoseterm expired.

TOM CORBETTGovernor


February 21, 2014


In conformity with law, I have the honor hereby to nominate for theadvice and consent of the Senate, Cliff Benson, 133 Centennial Avenue,Sewickley 15143, Allegheny County, Thirty-seventh Senatorial District,for appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylva-nia State University, to serve until July 1, 2016, and until his successoris appointed and qualified, vice Ira Lubert, Philadelphia, whose termexpired.

TOM CORBETTGovernor


February 21, 2014


In conformity with law, I have the honor hereby to nominate for theadvice and consent of the Senate, Todd Rucci, 5 Southview Lane, Lititz17543, Lancaster County, Thirty-sixth Senatorial District, for appoint-ment as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania StateUniversity, to serve until July 1, 2015, and until his successor is ap-pointed and qualified, vice Alvin Clemens, St. David's, whose termexpired.

TOM CORBETTGovernor

On the question,Will the Senate advise and consent to the nominations?


YEA-48

Alloway Erickson McIlhinney TomlinsonArgall Farnese Mensch VanceBaker Ferlo Pileggi VogelBlake Folmer Rafferty VulakovichBoscola Fontana Scarnati WagnerBrewster Gordner Schwank WardBrowne Greenleaf Smith WashingtonBrubaker Hughes Smucker WhiteCorman Hutchinson Solobay WileyCosta Kasunic Stack WilliamsDinniman Kitchen Tartaglione WozniakEichelberger Leach Teplitz Yaw

NAY-0



Ordered, That the Governor be informed accordingly.

EXECUTIVE SESSION RISES

Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I move that the ExecutiveSession do now rise.

The motion was agreed to by voice vote.

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESSSUPPLEMENTAL CALENDAR No. 1

SENATE CONCURS IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS


An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylva-nia Consolidated Statutes, in provisions and responsibilities for report-ing suspected child abuse, further providing for definitions, for personsrequired to report suspected child abuse, for persons permitted to reportsuspected child abuse, for reporting procedure, for documentary evi-dence on a child subject to report and for taking child into protectivecustody; in organization and responsibilities of child protective service,repealing provisions relating to taking child into protective custody;and, in miscellaneous provisions, further providing for education andtraining.

On the question,Will the Senate concur in the amendments made by the House

to Senate Bill No. 21?


Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I move that the Senate doconcur in the amendments made by the House to Senate Bill No.21.


The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromAllegheny, Senator Costa.

Senator COSTA. Mr. President, may we be at ease?The PRESIDENT. The Senate will be at ease.(The Senate was at ease.)

And the question recurring,Will the Senate agree to the motion?

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentlewomanfrom Westmoreland, Senator Ward.

Senator WARD. Mr. President, before I begin speaking aboutthe bill, I ask this body to offer prayers to the families, students,and friends of the Franklin Regional School District, where thismorning they experienced firsthand what school violence canmean.

I rise today to thank this General Assembly, GovernorCorbett, and others for consideration of Senate Bill No. 21,which clarifies who is a mandated reporter under the Pennsylva-nia Child Protective Services Law, and when and how they are

required to report suspected child abuse. With the passage of thisbill, our children and children from generations to come have astronger layer of protection, one that they did not have before.We pass so many bills here, but this is one I think that our Gen-eral Assembly should be proud of, our entire child care package,because we have made a difference in kids' lives forever, I hope.

With this bill, there will no longer be any mistake as to whohas a requirement to report abuse. There will be no more passingthe buck and no more finger-pointing at someone else saying thatthey should have reported. There is a clear path on what they areto do with suspected child abuse. Collectively in the Assembly,we have passed 15 pieces of legislation regarding child abuseinto law, which is, I am told, the largest package of bills pertain-ing to a single subject passed in recent memory. This entire bodyand all of my colleagues are to be commended for taking thesenecessary steps to better protect our kids, and none of this stuffever gets done in a vacuum. No one ever does anything alone.We do this together, and there are some folks I would like to takea minute to thank, starting with Senator Mensch and SenatorWashington, Kirsten Kenyon, Kelly Phenicie, Kathy Eakin, Mi-chael Deery. I especially would like to give a thanks to VickiWilken, who has been working with me on this for years, since2011. She helped from the very beginning and then shepherdedthe entire package through with the tax force and she was invalu-able. So, thank you, Vicki.

I would like to thank everybody for their cooperation and askfor your support for this bill. Thank you.

LEAVE CHANGED

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromAlleghey, Senator Costa.

Senator COSTA. Mr. President, I request that SenatorYudichak's leave be changed from a personal leave to a legisla-tive leave.

The PRESIDENT. Senator Costa requests Senator Yudichak'sleave be changed from a personal leave to a legislative leave.Without objection, the leave will be changed.

And the question recurring,Will the Senate agree to the motion?


YEA-49


NAY-0



Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate inform the Houseof Representatives accordingly.

SENATE CONCURS IN HOUSE AMENDMENTS


An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176),known as The Fiscal Code, in additional special funds, further providingfor the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund.

On the question,Will the Senate concur in the amendments made by the House

to Senate Bill No. 1181.


Senator PILEGGI. Mr. President, I move that the Senate doconcur in the amendments made by the House to Senate Bill No.1181.



YEA-49


NAY-0


Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate inform the Houseof Representatives accordingly.

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESSSUPPLEMENTAL CALENDAR No. 2

SENATE RESOLUTION No. 339, ADOPTED

Senator PILEGGI, without objection, called up from page 1of Supplemental Calendar No. 2, Senate Resolution No. 339,entitled:

Amending Senate Ethical Conduct Rules 1 and 2.RESOLVED, That Rule 1 of the Ethical Conduct Rules of the

Senate be amended by adding definitions to read:

Rule 1. Preliminary provisions.As used in these rules, the following words and phrases shall

have the meanings given to them in this rule unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise:

* * *"Cash gift."

(1) Any of the following:(i) United States or foreign currency.(ii) A money order.(iii) A check.(iv) A prepaid debit or credit card.(v) A gift card or certificate.

(2) The term does not include:(i) A political contribution reported as required by law.(I) AN EXPENDITURE OR OTHER TRANSACTION

SUBJECT TO REPORTING UNDER ARTICLE XVI OF THE ACT OF JUNE 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, NO.320), KNOWN AS THE PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION CODE.

(ii) A commercial loan made in the ordinary course of business.

(iii) A transaction involving reasonable consideration of equal or greater value.

(iv) A cash gift from a parent, sibling, spouse, child, stepchild, stepparent, stepsibling, grandparent, grandchild, parent-in-law or, sibling-in-law or other close relative when the cir-cumstances make it clear that the motivation for the action wasa personal or family relationship.

(v) A cash gift available to the public or offered to mem-bers of a group or class in which membership is not related to being a Senator or Senate employee.

(vi) An award or prize given to competitors in any contestor event open to the public, including random drawings.

"COMMERCIAL LOAN MADE IN THE ORDINARY COURSEOF BUSINESS." A LOAN FROM A BANK OR OTHER FINAN-CIAL INSTITUTION ON TERMS GENERALLY AVAILABLE TOTHE PUBLIC.

* * *"Lobbyist." Any individual, firm, association, corporation, partner-

ship, business trust or other entity that is registered as a lobbyist under65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 13A (relating to lobbying disclosure).

* * *"Official action." An administrative action or legislative action, as

those terms are defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03 (relating to definitions).* * *"Principal." Any individual, association, corporation, partnership,

business trust or other entity that is registered as a principal under 65Pa.C.S. Ch. 13A (relating to lobbying disclosure).

* * *RESOLVED, That Rule 2 of the Ethical Conduct Rules of the

Senate be amended by adding a subsection to read:Rule 2. Practice.

* * *(h) Cash gifts.--No Senator or Senate employee shall accept or

solicit a cash gift from any of the following:(1) A lobbyist or principal.(2) A person that is seeking official action from the Senator

or Senate employee.RESOLVED, That the amendment of Rules 1 and 2 of the Ethical

Conduct Rules of the Senate apply to cash gifts made on and after theadoption of this resolution.

On the question,Will the Senate adopt the resolution?A voice vote having been taken, the question was determined

in the affirmative.

UNFINISHED BUSINESSSENATE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

Senators GORDNER, PILEGGI, COSTA, WASHINGTON,FERLO, VULAKOVICH, DINNIMAN, GREENLEAF,ERICKSON, RAFFERTY, FOLMER, ALLOWAY, HUTCHIN-


SON, SMITH and BRUBAKER, by unanimous consent, offeredSenate Resolution No. 351, entitled:

A Resolution designating April 22, 2014, as "Governor JamesPollock Remembrance Day" in Pennsylvania.


The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromColumbia, Senator Gordner.

Senator GORDNER. Mr. President, James Pollock was anative of Milton, Pennsylvania. During his incredible career, heserved the public in many different ways: He was a district attor-ney in Northumberland County for a couple of years; he waspresident judge in the Eighth Judicial District for 4 years; heserved in Congress as Representative of Pennsylvania's 13thCongressional District from 1844 to 1849; he then became Gov-ernor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While Governor,he signed the charter to establish the Pennsylvania State Univer-sity, and was a member of the founding board of trustees. In fact,if you go to State College and to Penn State University, you willfind several places that are named in recognition of GovernorJames Pollock.

After he served as Governor from 1855 to 1858, he ended upbeing called to service in Washington by President AbrahamLincoln. He was asked to be the director of the United StatesMint from 1861 to 1866. During the time that he was the directorof the United States Mint, he was directed in 1864 to come upwith something that could be put on our coinage to recognize ournation's history in regard to our God. As a result of that, he cameup with the language that says "In God We Trust." It was onApril 22, 1864, 150 years ago, that, in fact, Congress passed thelegislation that for the first time put the four words "In God WeTrust" on initially a 2-cent coin, and then the penny after that.So, he is actually recognized as the father of that language of "InGod We Trust."

So, this resolution designates April 22, 2014, the 150th anni-versary of that date as "Governor James Pollock RemembranceDay" in Pennsylvania.



in the affirmative.

Senators TARTAGLIONE, STACK, FONTANA, WASH-INGTON, BRUBAKER, ERICKSON, DINNIMAN, FERLO,BROWNE, TEPLITZ, GREENLEAF, BAKER, KASUNIC,ARGALL, WOZNIAK, RAFFERTY, SMITH, SOLOBAY,FARNESE and COSTA by unanimous consent, offered SenateResolution No. 352, entitled:

A Resolution designating the week of April 6 through 12, 2014, as"Crime Victims' Rights Week" in Pennsylvania.


The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentlewomanfrom Philadelphia, Senator Tartaglione.

Senator TARTAGLIONE. Mr. President, each year, nearly 22million Americans are victimized by crime. Unfortunately, inthis great democracy that we live in, victims do not always re-ceive the justice they deserve, but our efforts to provide themwith a critical service have certainly come a long way. This year,the theme of the National Center for Victims of Crime is "30years: Restoring the Balance of Justice," which represents theremarkable strides that we have made in achieving justice forvictims since the passage of the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.The support system for victims has expanded considerably sincethat time, now providing for more advocates, counselors, andshelter services than ever before, but much work remains to in-sure victims of all ages, race, nationalities, creeds, abilities, andsexual orientations receive the specialized support they requireto rebuild their lives.

More than half of the violent crimes committed in this nationare unreported. Many victims end up falling through the cracksbecause they do not know where to go or they are unable to gainservices for their particular circumstance. For these reasonsalone, we must work together to continue developing solutionsthat will allow us to better protect, restore, and expand crimevictims' rights. This week, as victim service providers, criminaljustice officials, and concerned citizens are acknowledging theprogress that has been made on behalf of victims, I ask my col-leagues to do the same.

Today, please join me in observing the week of April 6through 12, 2014, as "Crime Victims' Rights Week" in Pennsyl-vania.



in the affirmative.

CONGRATULATORY RESOLUTIONS

The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the following resolu-tions, which were read, considered, and adopted by voice vote:

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Corporal Vic-tor Woerner and to Lenore Barkdoll by Senator Alloway.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Chad DavidWickiser, John Doppel, Cameron Keener, Thomas Banditelli,Sr., Linda Yulanavage, Joshua Michael Huneke, Solar Innova-tions, Inc., Sterman Masser, Inc., Reading Blue Mountain andNorthern Railroad and to the Schuylkill County Municipal Au-thority by Senator Argall.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to NortheastPennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association by Sen-ator Argall and others.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. KimberlyFerence, Robert Hricko, Trevor James Yip, Jacob William Ar-nold, Jordyn Rickrode and to Promised Land State Park's NatureArts and Crafts Program Volunteers by Senator Baker.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to StephanieJallen by Senators Baker and Yudichak.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Sister TerryO'Rourke, L. Peter Frieder, Dominic Keating and to WilliamPryle by Senator Blake.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to the HonorableLeonard N. Zito, Dennis Andrews, John Weiss, Jeff Wilson,


Tom Sedor, Christopher Taylor Holloman, Scott MichaelSchwartz, L. Charles Marcon, Matthew Manzo, Margaret A.Ferri, Joseph M. Fiore, Sr., John Yaroslav Lahutsky, Phillips PetFood and Supplies, Lehigh Valley Carpenters Union Local No.600 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America and toEast Stroudsburg University Men's Basketball Team by SenatorBoscola.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to BennieKhamneh, Ana Young, Mary S. Colon, North Penn Legal Ser-vices and to the Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter of the CancerSupport Community by Senators Boscola and Browne.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to JonathanDavidson, Deborah Wagner, LeRohn Deysher, WayneWoolever, Forrest Taylor, Dale Sourbeck, Maryann Moravek,Ken Lieberman, Audrey E. Heil, Dawn Elliott and to Bruce Ehlyby Senators Boscola, Browne, and Mensch.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to the ReverendStephen A. Kresak, Edith Mazzuco Reid, George A. Pivik, FrankW. Jones, Robert P. O'Block, Ella Mortland Koscik, Robert J.McCann, Harriet Lee Mulholland Miller, Thomas Snyir, TonyPinneri, Kevin Paul Manley, Lucas Stephen Surmick, Ryan An-drew Martin, Cody Joshua Miller, Rob McCord, Michael J.Crossey, Allegheny County Department of Human Services andto Allegheny County Economic Development Agency by SenatorBrewster.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. Robert S.Dolansky, Jr., Dorothy May Oberholzer, Clara Nell Bell, LouReda, Alex M. Medellin, Richard Bieniek, Zachary AdamPendzick, Otto Joseph Skrovanek, Viola M. Klegarth and toKeenan-Nagle Advertising, Inc., by Senator Browne.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Colin KrisOrlowski by Senators Browne and Baker.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. John VanBrakle, Albert Barone, Barbara W. Bigelow, Sandra L. Bodnyk,Diane D. Donaher, Patricia Mullin, John Woodling, CommunityService Committee of the Lehigh Valley Central Labor Council,Lutron Electronics Company, Inc., Orefield Middle SchoolBuilders Club, Da Vinci Science Center, Rider-Pool Foundation,FamilyWize Community Service Partnership, Wildlands Conser-vancy, East Stroudsburg University Go Green Committee, Ac-cess Office Technologies, Monroe County Waste ManagementAuthority, Pocono TreeVentures, Pocono Medical Center's Envi-ronmental Awareness Council, Mountain View Vineyard, Win-ery and Distillery, Monroe County Environmental EducationCenter and to Society of the Arts of Allentown by SenatorsBrowne and Boscola.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. Frank K.Schweighardt, I. Nathan Peter Korsen, Christopher Canceliere,Robert Heffentrager, Jason Jones, Susan Bauer, Karen Genaro,Gregory VanOmmeren, Hannah Kim, Qing Fan, Good ShepherdRehabilitation Network and to Just Born, Inc., by SenatorBrowne and others.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Saint Leo theGreat Catholic Church of Lancaster by Senator Brubaker.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Marlin Shope, Dr. Robert D. Brofee, Byron Worner, Skylar Mat-thew Bennage, Harvey C. Eby, Jr., Myron David Milliken, Al-fred Hughes, Devon Chenot, David Taylor, The PennsylvaniaState University Lionettes Dance Team and to the members and

coaches of The Pennsylvania State University Club Field HockeyTeam by Senator Corman.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to GeorgeNovak by Senator Costa.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Sister RuthMcCarthy, Honorable Curt Schroder, Richard P. Whitaker,James Hamilton, Todd D. Strong, Bonnie MacDougal Kistler,Megan E. Ritz, Stephanie Fuller, Edna F. Cramer, ShannonAlmquist, James Smith III, Cayla Castells, Maura Enderlein,Thaddeus Schlamb, Gawthrop Greenwood and to New CenturyClub of West Chester by Senator Dinniman.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Bonnie VanAlen and to Alice Hausmann by Senators Dinniman andErickson.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Robert F.Adams and to Joseph Rubino by Senators Dinniman and Pileggi.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Lynn Palmerand to Austin Stigers by Senator Eichelberger.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to JacobHorneman, Eroll Hoogendoorn, Benjamin Miller, Daniel J.McNeely and to Betty Ann Cassidy by Senator Erickson.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Brian DavidKlinger, Stephanie Ann Bicher, Joel Greeley and to StephenRudolph Slimak by Senator Folmer.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Richard AlanYoung and to Shawn Gonzalez by Senators Folmer and Teplitz.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to AndrewBayne Memorial Library by Senator Fontana.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Dennis Knepp, Dr. Carl B. Turner, Thomas Joseph Abraham,Margaret Laski Ladonis, Patrick Keehan, Gladys Long, VioletFeudale, Heather McDanel, David A. Sadock, Kurt R. Sivilichand to Joseph Leroy Brubaker by Senator Gordner.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Harry StephenBetz, Central Bucks High School South Ice Hockey Team and toLuther Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center by SenatorGreenleaf.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to the JosephLevine family by Senators Greenleaf and Leach.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to the ReverendBernice Jeter, Dr. Michael Pladus and to the Black History andCulture Showcase by Senator Hughes.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.James Chittester, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Schwab, Mr. and Mrs.Bill Salizzoni, Mr. and Mrs. David Hirsch, Honorable Robert L.Boyer, Tyler Joseph Haslett, Terry Henry, Nathan RichardGoreczny, Jimmy Stewart, Scott Grinder, Jefferson Dickson,Marlesse Schlott Hames, Jeffrey McAnallen and to the 1976-1977 Mars High School Girls' Basketball Team by SenatorHutchinson.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to McKinleyVincent by Senators Hutchinson and Robbins.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Peter Ruggieri and to Jacob Bradley Pile by Senator Kasunic.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Joseph J.Szczur by Senators Kasunic and Solobay.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. LindenMatthew Schwartz, Honorable Ann A. Osborne, KathleenKempfer, James Griffin, Eugene F. Barry, Carolyn Murphy andto Bridgeport Little League by Senator Leach.


Congratulations of the Senate were extended to RichardDePaola III, Neha Gupta, Pat Walker, Jack Benziger, MatthewE. Casey, Paul Westphal, Steve Catlett, Matthew Celentano, FredBeans Family of Dealerships, Pennsbury High School and toPennridge Community Center by Senator McIlhinney.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Ilijah Rodri-guez, Tyler Pietrowski, Roman Tkack, Bryce Tate, ZackPietrowski, Alessio Conigliaro and to Pete Vala by SenatorsMcIlhinney and Tomlinson.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to TimBar Pack-aging and Display by Senator Mensch.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Nancy Frei bySenators Mensch and McIlhinney.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to George JohnBevilacqua III, William J. Higgins III, Justin R. Perry, Helen F.Phillips, Jule B. Hoover, Tyler DelVecchio, Baylee J. Brennan,Louise R. Soika, James A. Pierce, Leonard Clifford Johnson IIIand to Eric R. Johnston by Senator Pileggi.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Edward Ward, Peter Cuetara, Cooper Reichwein, Richard J.Koeberle, Wade Knaster, Ryan J. Wildauer, Austin D. Wildauer,Timothy K. Mather, Woman's Club of Royersford and to Profes-sional Building Services by Senator Rafferty.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to A.Weitzenkorn's Sons, Inc., by Senators Rafferty and Mensch.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.John Middleton by Senators Rafferty and Pileggi.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Linda K.Bennett, Sam Breese, Cody James Mulligan, Kayce Gregory,Christopher R. Fiely, Frederick Douglass III, Landyn Hines,Bradley Garrett, Peggy A. Lewis, Desiree Cropek, JaidynRamirez, Brendan Patrick Hamilton, Active Aging, Inc., mem-bers of the Cochranton High School Millenium ForceRoboBOTS Team and to Saegertown High School by SenatorRobbins.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Wayne Minich, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shuey and to Ryan J. Free-man by Senator Scarnati.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Anne M.Doerr by Senators Scarnati and Wozniak.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Taylor RayRenninger, Keith J. Romig, Rising Sun Fastpitch Softball Team,Islamic Society of Berks County's new Masjid and Islamic Cen-ter in the City of Reading, parishoners of Saint Anthony of PaduaRoman Catholic Church and to the staff, Board of Directors andvolunteers of Friend, Inc., Community Services by SenatorSchwank.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. Bruce A.Wright, Matthew Speidel and to Spencer Graves by SenatorSmith.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Brandon Mar-tin by Senator Smucker.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Melvin Shoup, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sammartino, Trystan Weir,Jake Temple, Thelma J. Szarell, Job Chishko, Logan Macri, Dal-ton Macri, Solomon Chishko, Ellis Popiolkowski, RichhillTownship Volunteer Fire Department and to Edwin Scott LintonAmerican Legion Post 175 by Senator Solobay.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Division 39of the Ancient Order of Hibernians by Senator Stack.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Captain Jo-seph Zaffino, Denise McCarthy, Todd Bernstein, Kenneth I.Trujillo, Charles Robert Cappetti, Jr., Anthony Joseph Cappettiand to Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO by SenatorTartaglione.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.William Bistline and to MI Windows and Doors, LLC, by Sena-tor Teplitz.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Captain JoshHaley, Nick Pignatelli, Jane Roberts Neitzel, Dan Rogus, RobHolmes, Thomas A. Richmond, Neil Berman, Andrew A.DeSaro, Donald Bellerby, Jr., Joseph E. Premo, Jr., Hank Blatt,Robert J. Stengel, Jr., Robert Prato, Matt Croak and to FrankFenton by Senator Tomlinson.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to BrigadierGeneral Frank Joseph Sullivan, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Bistline, Jr.,Mr. and Mrs. Jack Taylor, Jesse Gantt, Andrew Keith Davis andto the Cumberland Valley High School FFA chapter by SenatorVance.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to James E. An-derson by Senators Vance and Baker.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Dr. LindaMitchell, Evan Vallecorsa, Gary B. Keefer, Blackhawk HighSchool Girls' Basketball Team and to the Lincoln Park Perform-ing Arts Charter School Boys' Basketball Team by SenatorVogel.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to BillCummings, Adam Rummel, Ken Long, William Rogers, HubertC. Dietrich, Tim Cantwell, James Varney, James Johnston,Lawton Gains, Robert Sampson, Richard Simpson, Richard Tate,James Srock and to Etna Volunteer Fire Department by SenatorVulakovich.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to SkylarLackey, Ryan Gardner and to John Ross Spinello by SenatorWagner.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Rachel Sagerand to William E. Lozier by Senator Ward.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Mr. and Mrs.Carroll Watkins, Dr. Nicole Davis, Florien White and to CorineLee by Senator Washington.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Douglas Fink,William E. Syster and to Grant C. Syster by Senator White.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Gregory W.Coppola II, Tabitha Bemis, Holly Stein, Valerie Majewski,Goezde Tekin, Laurel Lindsay, Jeremy James Mientkiewicz,Brian P. Lawson, Sarah Krolick, Five Star International, LLC,and to the members and coaches of the Edinboro University ofPennsylvania Women's Basketball Team by Senator Wiley.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Reverend Dr.Richard A. Dent, Racquel Perez-Irons, Christopher A. Bradley,Ebony Bright, Roxanne Sykes, Linda Homer, ErollHoogendoorn, Betty Ann Cassidy and to Denise V. Stewart bySenator Williams.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to John Ray-mond, John Machak, Aaron Reitz, Craig Allen, ChristineNeidrich, Scott Garman, Kim Powell, Amanda Keiffer, TeresaHamberger, Jennifer Forshey, Karina Guerrero, Jessica Bennettand to Elizabeth Whitty by Senator Wozniak.


Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Robert W.Grantier and to Ohev Sholom Congregation and Temple BethHa-Sholom by Senator Yaw.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to Carey W.Plummer by Senators Yaw, Scarnati, and Wozniak.

Congratulations of the Senate were extended to AdamNevenglosky, Chris Latona and to Hope of Christ PresbyterianChurch of Summit Hill by Senator Yudichak.

CONDOLENCE RESOLUTIONS

The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the following resolu-tions, which were read, considered, and adopted by voice vote:

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate Benton B. Hollister by Senator Baker.

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate Ralph B. Watson, Jr., by Senator Dinniman.

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate Catherine Louise Davis by Senator McIlhinney.

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate Mary Jane K. Carlin by Senator McIlhinney and others.

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate William G. Neal, Jr., and to the family of the late DorothyJane Lestan Caffrey by Senator Solobay.

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate Judith C. Hill by Senator Teplitz.

Condolences of the Senate were extended to the family of thelate Dr. John L. Ravin and to the family of the late Al J. Cihockiby Senator Yudichak.

POSTHUMOUS CITATIONS

The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the following cita-tions, which were read, considered, and adopted by voice vote:

A posthumous citation honoring the late G. Garner Ellis wasextended to the family by Senator Browne.

A posthumous citation honoring the late Steven Napora wasextended to the family by Senator Hutchinson.

Posthumous citations honoring the late Gladys Carlen and thelate Edna Roth were extended to the family by SenatorTomlinson.

BILLS ON FIRST CONSIDERATION

Senator WAGNER. Mr. President, I move that the Senate donow proceed to consideration of all bills reported from commit-tee for the first time at today's Session.

The motion was agreed to by voice vote.The bills were as follows:

SB 594 and SB 1329.

And said bills having been considered for the first time,Ordered, To be printed on the Calendar for second consider-

ation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE SECRETARY

The following announcements were read by the Secretary ofthe Senate:

SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014

10:00 A.M. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (public Room 8E-Ahearing on Financially Distressed East WingMunicipalities and Senate Bill No.1157)

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014

9:30 A.M. JUDICIARY (public hearing on Senate PhiladelphiaBill No. 1095 - SLAPP suits) Bar Assoc.

Conf. Ctr.

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014

10:30 A.M. STATE GOVERNMENT (public hearing Hrg. Rm. 1to discuss gift ban legislation) North Off.

Off the Floor APPROPRIATIONS (to consider Senate Rules Cmte.Bills No. 1180, 1194 and 1316) Conf. Rm.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014

9:00 A.M. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL Room 461AFFAIRS (to consider the nomination Main Capitolof James Van Blarcom to the MilkMarketing Board)

9:30 A.M. CONSUMER PROTECTION AND Room 8E-APROFESSIONAL LICENSURE (public East Winghearing to discuss Electric Reliability)

10:30 A.M. JUDICIARY (public hearing on Senate Hrg. Rm. 1Bill No. 1215) North Off.

PETITIONS AND REMONSTRANCES

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromLebanon, Senator Folmer.

Senator FOLMER. Mr. President, today, we honored our Na-tional Guard, the Pennsylvania National Guard, and rightly so.As a Lebanon Countian, I have to tell you that Fort IndiantownGap is located right there and has been there since as long as Ihave lived, and they have been great neighbors. We have the besttrained, the best equipped, and the most deployed NationalGuard in the country.

Which brings me to a sadder point here, today, Mr. President,and that is, post-traumatic stress syndrome. What we are findingout from studies from Israel and from the Realm of Caring inColorado is that medical cannabis has been proven to be a great,great benefit in treatment of that hard, hard, PTSD syndrome.While I am honored to be part of a General Assembly that re-gards its military in such high honor, it saddens me in knowingthat we have an alternative medication--and this is what Imean--in this journey, on my medical cannabis journey, I havehad an opportunity to meet a lot of different people. I met thiscouple, and I have to keep them nameless because what they dois illegal, but they were happily married, they were high schoolsweethearts. He served five tours of duty in Afghanistan andIraq, and he came home depressed. He went to the VA and hewas given his medications, but got to the point where his wife


had to--out of fear for her life and her children's lives--had toleave the house. She told the story to me that her husband wouldstand up, shake with his hand and show them the bottle in hishand--these are the FDA-approved medications--and say: You donot know what these do to me. You just do not know.

For their benefit, and I am saying this is illegal, a friend hap-pened to call, I think by the providence of God, and the wifeanswered the phone and she told them that her husband was hav-ing a really hard time. He said, listen, I think I have somethingfor him. This gentleman grows it illegally, and thank goodnessthat it does not have pesticides and mold in it, but you knowwhat has happened is this: rather than the family split up, thisgentleman is now living in a happy household, and by all intentsand purposes, you would never know that he has to do this ille-gally. I think the sin of it is that we are forcing people to dothings illegally for their health benefits. And that is, to me, theultimate sin. These are military personnel, like Vietnam vets whocame home and were told they were not allowed to wear theiruniforms, and all of the demons that went through their minds.We are forcing these people to take these drugs, it is not even adrug, to do it illegally, when we know that it works.

I was talking to Josh Stanley a little over a week ago, and thetreatment that they have had, they actually had government agen-cies wanting to use the process, and Josh warned them, he said,hey, listen, if you do this, you are probably going to lose yourfunding. They said, we do not care right now because your pro-gram is working. They had to stop because they were going tolose Federal funding, which is the other hypocrisy I want to talkabout. Here we have a Federal government that has marijuana asa Schedule I drug, but yet, we the people, the government, ownsa patent on medical cannabis. That is another example of hypoc-risy at its highest point.

My appeal to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania is this:Folks, we have nothing to fear in passing Senate Bill No. 1182.The only thing we have to fear is that it just may not help every-one.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from

Lancaster, Senator Smucker.Senator SMUCKER. Mr. President, the new Senate rule and

the legislation that we just approved banning cash gifts are asolid and sensible start on reform, but they are just a start. Thepeople whom many of us are hearing from in our districts andnearly all of the commentators believe that we need to go further.If we are serious about regaining public trust and confidence,then we must take additional and substantial reform steps. As Iindicated earlier this week, the Senate Committee on State Gov-ernment will hold a public hearing at the end of this month. Thesubject is the non-cash gifts from lobbyists and interest groups,such as entertainment and hospitality. We will look at variousproposals already in committee, at bills that are being drafted,and at the laws and practices in other States. This hearing is ofserious purpose. Much of what will be said about the state ofethics and the weakness of our laws will be unpleasant.

Our intention is to pull together a comprehensive bill andreport it out of committee so that there is plenty of availableSession time to turn a proposal into law. This inquiry is biparti-san. My expectation is for the result to be bipartisan as well.Neither party has been immune to wrongdoing, so we share aninterest and obligation to consider such reform. Recently, the

paper in my area, the Lancaster Sunday News, put the problemthis way in its editorial: "Ethics in Harrisburg is a contradictionin terms." Equally unflattering assessments are being carried injust about every paper in the Commonwealth. There is one wayfor us to turn this around: taking direct and decisive action tochange the culture, to strengthen ethical standards, and to makecertain that enforcement follows infractions, and that meaningfulpenalties are applied.

We all sought office with the intention of improving our State,but the system does not function very well when public trust issacrificed. This is our chance to strengthen ethical standards, andwe must seize the opportunity.


Allegheny, Senator Ferlo.Senator FERLO. Mr. President, I rise to speak today on my

growing concerns about the safety of Pennsylvania's watersources. This nation watched in shock earlier this year as the ElkRiver in West Virginia was tainted by a leaking chemical storagetank affecting 300,000 homes, leaving citizens unsure for weekswhether or not their water was safe for consumption, or any con-tact at all, for that matter. The Elk River is a drinking watersource for Charleston residents, West Virginia's capital and larg-est city. This follows on the heels of repeated oil spills withbarges crashing or collapsing along the Mississippi River down-stream. In February, a year ago, another barge crashed and it shutdown 65 miles of riverfront along the Mississippi. And I thinkthere was another spill in 2008, close to New Orleans, whichactually closed the Mississippi for 6 days involving the releaseof 283,000 gallons of oil, a slick along the Mississippi Riverdownstream going toward New Orleans.

The crisis in West Virginia and other rivers can easily, at anymoment, happen in western Pennsylvania and many of our Penn-sylvania waterways. I have served for the last decade on the Portof Pittsburgh Commission and I have seen, firsthand, how vitalwater is for not only industry and travel, but economic develop-ment and, most importantly, for consumption. My three-countySenate district along the Allegheny and Kiskiminetas Rivers isthe main drinking water source for many water authorities alongthose communities that reside next to the Allegheny River. In-dustrial facilities located close to water sources are commonthroughout the entire United States landscape, and we must takeaction before other waterways are poisoned. Late last week, andI do credit the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, which reviewed andrevealed a 2 1/2-month investigation, which found that Pennsyl-vania State inspectors failed to examine more than 45 percent ofthe 4,075 industrial plants, refineries, mines, sewage treatmentplants, and other facilities with permits to discharge into the OhioRiver watershed over the past 5 years. The most egregious of-fense I read in this report was that the Pennsylvania Departmentof Environmental Protection has not visited 796 sites within theOhio River watershed.

The Tribune-Review's investigation collected and analyzedtens of thousands of State and Federal government records in-volving water discharge permits and their oversight in the OhioRiver watershed. The newspaper's examination found one incon-sistent oversight - 4,075 with discharge permits, 796 places havenever been inspected by DEP, and of those 796 sites, 352 arefacilities that have livestock or industrial waste, stormwater po-tentially containing industrial pollutants and pesticides as well.


In 2012, the U.S. Coast Guard documented 76 incidents that ledto substances illegally entering the Ohio River or its tributaries.Late last year, the number increased to 98 spills. I know I sub-mitted testimony in opposition to the U.S. Coast Guard givingapproval to the barging of fracking fluid. We are all familiar withfracking fluid and its 150-plus carcinogenic materials, can-cer-causing materials. I do fear, along the Allegheny River wa-tershed and drinking water source, that a collapse of a barge withfracking fluid could even be more dangerous than the oil spillsthat we have been witnessing for the last several years.

On the issue of persistent scofflaws: DEP inspectors found arecord 935 water pollution violations at 525 facilities in 2013,three times as many in 2008. Over that 5-year span, DEP reachedsettlements totaling $9.4 million in fines against 1,068 siteswithin the watershed. DEP is limited, as we know, to a $10,000per day levy on a facility, but Federal regulators can shutter a siteif it continues to pollute. DEP inspectors discovered a recordnumber of violations while doing minimal inspections. Thou-sands of sites remain unvisited. Imagine how many more infrac-tions these facilities may have and what a danger they may pose.

On the issue of budget cuts, our Governor and the RepublicanMajority earmarked $127.7 million in fiscal year 2013 for DEP,63 percent less than they budgeted in fiscal year 2000. The larg-est concentration of Ohio River water consumers live in Alle-gheny County, which recorded half of all the chemical spillstabulated by the Coast Guard last year. The issues related to theOhio River watershed are just one of many examples of how theCorbett administration has sacrificed the natural resources of ourCommonwealth during its tenure. First, it came for the rights ofthe local municipalities to regulate oil and gas drilling, then itcame for the parks and State-owned lands, and now they arecoming for our water sources. It is long past time for strongeroversight to protect Pennsylvania's water. Further, my concernover our Commonwealth's water is not just limited to Pittsburgh'srivers, but the larger reality of these consequences of develop-ment, erosion, and sediment control, as well as land use plan-ning, or lack thereof.

Many of you remember the fatal flood on Washington Boule-vard in Pittsburgh, in my district, in 2011. Two children and twowomen lost their lives in an unexpected flash flood, which wasa result of an unprecedented downpour of water. Severe weatheris happening more and more often, and incidents like the Wash-ington Boulevard flood can happen anywhere, and we have wit-nessed other such incidents across our great Commonwealth. Wemust make permanent and sustainable changes to prevent futuredisasters. Because of the Washington Boulevard tragedy, theFederal consent decree to update Allegheny County's water andsewer system and the realities of climate change have begunwhat I refer to as Project 15206, an initiative in my district mak-ing up the five neighborhoods in the ZIP Code 15206, and actu-ally contain four very large watersheds which are contributing tothe issue of stormwater mismanagement. Along with severalcommunity partners, including the Penn State Center in Pitts-burgh, the Pittsburgh Community Services, Incorporated, NineMile Run Watershed Association, Project 15206, which has over50 stakeholders now participating, is beginning to take root inPittsburgh. The goals of the project are to improve water quality,reduce stormwater runoff and reduce the pressure it places on our

combined sewer system, demonstrate the viability of green infra-structure projects, and increase citizen activism around storm-water issues.

Again, this is an issue that is not unique to my district. This isan issue that every municipality and county faces throughout theCommonwealth. We must begin to organize around the govern-mental structures that are in place to manage our water resources.Local municipalities are often in charge of constructing andmaintaining our drinking water systems. County governments aretasked with planning for and managing stormwater. Also, theFederal government, through EPA, has issued directives dealingwith separating previously combined sewer systems. Even withall of this oversight and the resources utilized, we continue tostruggle to properly maintain our water systems, and as usual, we

are faced with multimillion dollar mandates, but unfortunately,no Federal revenue sharing. In Allegheny County alone, I thinkthe cost to address this issue is a few billion dollars.

There are numerous threats to our water sources here in theCommonwealth and some we can control, some we cannot. Theleast we can do is enforce the existing regulations dealing withkeeping our water free from pollutants and protect the future ofour clean water in a sustainable way. The drumbeat of disregardby the Marcellus Shale industry, essentially multinational oilconglomerates, as they continue to pollute our rivers, streams,and drinking water resources, continues unabated despite all ofthe propaganda commercials and the millions of dollars beingspent by the Marcellus Shale industry, the coalition, and theAmerican Petroleum Institute. Some of the commercials are actu-ally laughable on their face. Worse yet, they are aided and abet-ted by Harrisburg administration and a majority, unfortunately,of this House and Senate, some Members on both sides of theaisle, in my opinion, who are blinded by expanded commerce,but an expanded commerce that is not appropriately regulatedand at the expense of the health and safety of our constituentsand the communities in which they reside.

I want to close with Pope Francis's quote. The Pope, as somefolks may be aware, Catholic or not, is preparing a major encyc-lical for the Catholic Church and for humanity on the issue of,basically, ecology and our environment. And I quote Pope Fran-cis here: "The thirst for power and possessions knows no limits.In this system, which tends to devour everything that stands inthe way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environ-ment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market,which become the only rule." Our job is to not make the destruc-tion of our ecology and the environment the call of the day. Ourjob is to protect our environment, not only as our constitutionalmandate and for good public order and health, but more impor-tantly, for those who always talk about the financial legacy andconcern they have for their children and the next generation. Ithink we have to equally be concerned about the environmentallegacy we are leaving our children in the next generation.


BILLS SIGNED

The PRESIDENT (Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley) in thepresence of the Senate signed the following bills:

SB 21, SB 1181, and HB 1899.


RECESS

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromVenango, Senator Hutchinson.

Senator HUTCHINSON. Mr. President, I request a recess ofthe Senate. For the information of the Members, no moreroll-call votes will be taken today.

The PRESIDENT. Without objection, the Senate stands inrecess.

AFTER RECESS

The PRESIDENT. The time of recess having expired, theSenate will come to order.

HOUSE MESSAGES

HOUSE CONCURS IN SENATE AMENDMENTSTO HOUSE BILLS

The Clerk of the House of Representatives informed the Sen-ate that the House has concurred in amendments made by theSenate to HB 436 and HB 1794.

HOUSE CONCURS IN SENATE AMENDMENTS BYAMENDING SAID AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL

The Clerk of the House of Representatives informed the Sen-ate that the House has concurred in amendments made by theSenate by amending said amendments to HB 1559, in whichconcurrence of the Senate is requested.

The PRESIDENT. Pursuant to Senate Rule 13(c)(2)(i), thisbill will be referred to the Committee on Rules and ExecutiveNominations.

BILLS SIGNED

The PRESIDENT (Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley) in thepresence of the Senate signed the following bills:

HB 436 and HB 1794.

RECESS

The PRESIDENT. The Chair recognizes the gentleman fromLehigh, Senator Browne.

Senator BROWNE. Mr. President, I move that the Senate donow recess until Monday, April 28, 2014, at 1 p.m., Eastern Day-light Saving Time, unless sooner recalled by President pro tem-pore.

The motion was agreed to by voice vote.The Senate recessed at 3:50 p.m., Eastern Daylight Saving

Time.

Documents

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA Legislative Journal · and we realize their God-given authority over us. Scripture teaches that we are to pray for those in authority over us. So in