NEWS INSIDE • Rockhill Quarry Update • Elcon Developments • Strengthening Gun Safety Laws • Promoting Renewable Energy to Fight Climate Change • Equal Pay for Equal Work • Steve in the Community

SANTARSIEROProudly Serving the 10th Senatorial District

SENATOR STEVE

Working for Our Community

Summer 2019

State Senator STEVE SANTARSIEROSERVING YOUDoylestown Office2003 Lower State RoadBuilding 100 • Suite 121Doylestown, PA 18901215-489-5000Fax: 215-489-5200Newtown Office3 Terry Drive • Suite 201Newtown, PA 18940215-497-9490Fax: 610-831-8837Harrisburg Office184 Capitol BuildingSenate Box 203010Harrisburg, PA 17120-3010717-787-7305Fax: 717-783-5962

E-MailSenatorSantarsiero@pasenate.com

SERVICES WE PROVIDEBirth and Death Certificate Applications • Voter RegistrationPennDOT Application AssistanceSEPTA Senior ID Card RegistrationREAL ID Assistance • Property Tax & Rent Rebates … and much more

Stay informed and sign up for my bi-monthly e-blast atwww.SenatorSteveSantarsiero.com

Dear Neighbor, As you know, Bucks County is a very special place to live, work,worship, learn, and play. I am proud of the rich history andunique offerings in every one of our communities, from Tullytownto Perkasie.

In these first six months as state Senator, I have been getting toknow my colleagues from both sides of the aisle and across theCommonwealth. While we may have differing views on somepolicy matters, we all share a common goal of workingtogether in the best interests of our constituents. In that spirit, Iam continuing some of the efforts I began as a member of theHouse of Representatives (where I served from 2009-2016) – such as protecting the environment for our children andgrandchildren, promoting quality public education for allstudents, minimizing college student debt, making our schools,homes, and public places safe from gun violence, andimproving our regional transportation infrastructure.

I am grateful to call Bucks County home and I’m truly honoredto serve a community that has given us so much. Whether youare raising a family here, growing a business, or enjoyingretirement, let us know how we can work together to keep ourtowns vibrant!

Steven J. Santarsiero10th Senatorial District

Senator Santarsiero with wife Ronni and three children, Billy, Nancyand Johnny

he recent reactivation of the Rockhill Quarry in East Rockhill Township hasraised several questions aboutaspects of the operation. I amworking with CongressmanBrian Fitzpatrick (R-1),Representative Craig Staats (R-145), township officials, andresidents to address concernssurrounding the records ofcontinuous operation, asbestossampling and monitoring, theproposed asphalt plant, andwater quality issues. We brought these concerns tothe Pennsylvania Departmentof Environmental Protection(DEP) in January and requestedmore transparency and aninternal investigation. Therequested webpage dedicated

Rockhill Quarry Update

fter a public meeting in which the FallsTownship supervisorsunanimously voted toreject Elcon’sapplication to build ahazardous wastewaterprocessing facility and thePennsylvania Department ofEnvironmental Protection’s (DEP) “Noticeof Intent to Deny” Elcon’s application totreat hazardous waste, I wrote a publicletter to the DEP outlining my oppositionto Elcon. In the letter, I called on DEP toreject Elcon due to the numerousdeficiencies in the company’s plan andfor their repeated attempts to avoidfollowing state laws. Ultimately, allowing Elcon to operate inthe proposed location would be a failureof DEP’s mission to protect the residentsof Pennsylvania.

o one should have to go out into the world in fear of gun violence, especially not in their schools, workplaces, or houses of worship. There have beenmore than 160 mass shootings in the United States so farthis year, with five occurring right here in Pennsylvania.Continued inaction on commonsense gun violenceprevention is costing lives every day. That is why I wrote Senate Bills 137 and 138. These billsrequire the safe storage of firearms when not in use by the owner. Taking such precautions will drasticallydecrease the likelihood of an accidental firing or firing by an authorized user. I have also joined my senatecolleagues insupporting legislationthat strengthensbackground checks.These simplemeasures respect theindividual rights ofresponsible firearmowners, while alsomaking ourcommunities safer.

Strengthening GunSafety Laws

Senator Santarsiero with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-1) and RepresentativeCraig Staats (R-145) discussing Rockhill Quarry with residents

T

NAElconDevelopments

Sen. Santarsiero with Rep. Perry Warren(D-31) and Council Rock North studentsat a press conference announcing SB 137 and SB 138.

State Senator Steve Santarseiro ............................................................................................................Working for Our Community

aspects of the operation of thequarry follow the letter of thelaw. I will continue to advocatefor our residents on theseimportant quality of life issues.

to updating the community onquarry matters is now up andrunning. You can find this pageby visiting www.dep.pa.govand searching “Rockhill Quarry.” My priority is to make sure all

limate change is the great challenge facing our generation. To helpaddress this issue, I co-sponsoredand wrote a bill, SB 600, withSenators Art Haywood (D-4) andTom Killion (R-9), which aims to: • Expand renewable energy usage in Pennsylvania to 30% by 2030, with 10% being from solar energy;• Direct the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to study the benefits of a renewable energy storage program;• Provide for several protections that control costs for consumers.SB 600 will diversify our energy

Promoting Renewable Energy to Fight Climate Change

n the eve of Equal Pay Day, a date that symbolizes how far intothe year women must work toearn what men earned in theprevious year, I joined Senator

men, amounting to a gap ofover $10,000 a year. It’s longoverdue that we guarantee all workers arepaid fairly and fully for the work they do.Our legislation would updatePennsylvania’s antiquatedEqual Pay Law by:• Broadening the scope of current laws to include more employees and fringe benefits;• Protecting employees from retaliation when inquiring about wage information;• Providing workers the ability to collect unpaid wages when an employer is found to have violated the law.

Maria Collett (D-12) in callingfor legislation that will ensureworkers are compensated fairlyfor their work. Women inPennsylvania currently earn 79cents for every dollar paid to

Modernizing Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Law

Senator Santarsiero meeting withmembers of the Bucks CountyWomen's Advocacy Coalition.

Senator Santarsiero with fellow legislators, residents, business owners, andrenewable energy advocates in the Capital rotunda introducing SB 600.

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State Senator Steve Santarseiro ............................................................................................................Working for Our Community

portfolio, create thousands offamily-sustaining jobs, and

contribute to a greener,healthier environment.

It was a great day at the New HopeCelebrates Pride Parade.

I was honored tomarch in the FallsMemorial DayParade, along withFalls SupervisorRobert Harvie.

The doctors, nurses, support staff, andadministrators of Grand View Health inSellersville provide critically importantmedical services to the residents of Bucksand Montgomery Counties. I fully supporttheir plan to build a state-of-the-art cancercenter so that patients can access theselife-saving treatment close to home.

Joining Representative Wendy Ullman (D-143), Doylestown Mayor Ron Strouse, Chalfont Mayor Brian Wallace,Doylestown Borough Council President Jack O’Brien, Central Bucks Regional Police Department Chief KarlKnott, Heritage Conservancy COO Linda Cacossa, and acting PennDOT Maintenance Manager for BucksCounty Kevin Herdin, I had the pleasure of announcing the award of a $1.5 million grant for the newDoylestown municipal complex.

I had the opportunityto tour the CentralBucks EmergencyMedical Services

facility in Doylestownand discuss the day-

to-day operationsand needs of thestaff with ChiefChuck Pressler.

Steve in the Community10

St

ate Senator

Steve Santars

iero

It was my honor to welcome two constituentsfrom Chalfont, Rachel and Ryan Leach, tothe capitol as the senate passed a resolutionrecognizing March as Endometriosis AwareMonth in Pennsylvania. Rachel is one of 176 million women worldwide living with thisdisease and she is also the founder of theEastern Pennsylvania Endometriosis SupportNetwork. Since passing this resolution inMarch, so many other women have reachedout to me with their own personal storiesabout living with endometriosis, or otherserious conditions, and the struggle theyfaced in receiving an accurate diagnosis,some going undiagnosed and untreated for years. Their pain was prolongedunnecessarily as they searched for answers.When it comes to such serious healthcareissues, women’s experiences must be trusted,and their voices must be heard.

Issue Spotlight: Endometriosis Awareness

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PAIDHARRISBURG, PAPERMIT NO. 603State Senator

Steve SantarsieroSenate Box 203010

Harrisburg, PA 17120-3010