Author: kgordon

HARRISBURG – Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) will host a panel discussion Friday, June 9, from 9-11 a.m. in Capitol East Wing Room 8EA, where participants will discuss medical freedom in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic.

Mastriano sponsored Senate Bill 693 to prohibit mandatory COVID-19 and mRNA vaccinations of Pennsylvania residents. He also is the sponsor of legislation to prohibit the use and require the disclosure of mRNA in Pennsylvania’s food supply.

Speakers on the panel will include:

• Mastriano.
• World-renowned cardiologist Peter McCullough, one of the most published cardiologists in America with more than 1,000 publications and 660 citations in the National Library of Medicine.
• Attorney Thomas Renz, a graduate from Case Western University who has been counsel for many federal lawsuits challenging COVID-19 lockdowns, mask mandates and vaccine requirements.
• Steve Kirsch, a philanthropist and former Silicon Valley high-tech executive who testified before the U.S. Senate and Pennsylvania Senate about COVID vaccine safety and efficacy.
• Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick, who is nationally certified as a medicolegal death investigator by the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute and a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American College of Forensic Examiners.
• Members of the General Assembly.

Watch the panel discussion live at SenatorMastriano.com

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603

HARRISBURG – With the busy Memorial Day travel weekend approaching, Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33), Pennsylvania Turnpike officials and tow truck drivers on Monday held an event at the state Capitol to raise awareness about a new state law to protect roadside assistance workers.

Dressed in a yellow safety vest and surrounded by tow trucks with flashing lights, Mastriano highlighted the color of the lights – blue, instead of orange or yellow – which was made possible by the new law.

“Enabling tow truck drivers to use blue lights will protect roadside assistance workers as they help stranded drivers,” Mastriano said. “We want our tow truck drivers to make it home to their families at the end of the day.”

Mastriano introduced the bill that became Act 157 of 2022 and made it legal for tow trucks to install blue flashing lights in place of their old yellow or orange lights.

Mastriano cited studies conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation and University of Michigan showing drivers routinely ignored yellow or orange lights. Blue lights elicited a better response from drivers, are more visible in hazardous conditions and give distracted drivers more time to see and react when approaching a potential accident.

The idea originated when tow truck operator Justyn Arment from Denver, Lancaster County, contacted Mastriano’s office about allowing roadside assistance vehicles to install flashing blue lights. Mastriano introduced Senate Bill 1123 in March 2022. The bill was approved by the General Assembly and signed into law on Nov. 3, 2022.

“This is an example of state government responding to the ideas and needs of the people it was established to serve,” Mastriano said.

Mastriano and Turnpike officials also used Monday’s event to highlight Pennsylvania’s existing Move Over Law, which requires drivers approaching an emergency response area to move to the lane farthest away from the accident. Drivers unable to merge into a lane farther away from the emergency response are required to slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

Mastriano in 2020 introduced legislation that was signed into law creating a new point system for Move Over Law violations and doubled fines for a summary offense.

He announced Monday he is planning to introduce new legislation to have signs placed along Pennsylvania state highways and the Turnpike to remind drivers to slow down and move over. Each sign also would include a tribute in memory of a Pennsylvania resident who tragically lost their life in a roadside accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatal car accidents are more likely to happen during Memorial Day weekend than any other holiday weekend. The American Automobile Association estimates 39.3 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles during the Memorial Day weekend.

Mastriano was joined Monday by Todd Leiss, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s traffic incident coordinator.

Constituents of the 33rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603

HARRISBURG – The state Senate today approved two bills introduced by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) that would help Pennsylvania military veterans.

The first bill would create a loan program to help veterans build or expand their business, while the second bill would help them access programs and services tailored to their needs.

“These bills can make a positive impact in the lives of veterans across Pennsylvania,” Mastriano said. “During Military Appreciation Month, I’m honored that these measures received unanimous approval.”

Senate Bill 248 would create the Veteran-owned Business Loan Guarantee Program within the Pennsylvania Financing Authority. The program would be funded with $5 million of existing dollars from another program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The bill defines a veteran-owned business as one in which 51% or more of the organization is owned or controlled by one or more veterans.

Recent U.S. Census Bureau data show the nearly 340,000 veteran-owned businesses account for almost 6% of all businesses in America. Those businesses employ nearly four million workers and generate more than $175 billion in annual payroll.

“We want our veteran-owned businesses to have access to the capital they need to compete and succeed in a competitive marketplace,” Mastriano said. “Veteran-owned businesses play an important role in our economy and our communities. Senate Bill 248 will show our gratitude to those members of the United States military and the Pennsylvania National Guard who suspended their civilian lives and abruptly halted their careers and their lives to protect our freedom.”

Senate Bill 447 would establish in law the PA VETConnect program, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and helps the commonwealth’s more than 700,000 veterans access services in their communities. The database of resources enables local veteran advocates – including staff at county veterans affairs offices – to point veterans to information, resources, programs and services in their area and across the commonwealth.

“We want to make sure our veterans are able to access the resources established to meet the diverse and unique needs of men and women who served in the military,” Mastriano said. “The programs are much more effective when veterans know about and can access them.”

The bills now head to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Constituents of the 33rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603

HARRISBURG – Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) announced today that he introduced legislation to empower more parents to have an active role in oversight of what their children are taught.

Senate Bill 340 would require schools to post on a publicly accessible website an internet link or title from every textbook used, a course syllabus and the state academic standards for each instructional course offered. To ensure parents are aware of any changes throughout the school year, schools would be required to update this information no later than 30 days after any revision.

“Transparency is key to ensuring that all parents have a seat at the table and can make their voice heard on issues that impact their children,” Mastriano said. “Schools should be focused on teaching our children how to think, not what to think. I’ve heard from many parents who have no idea what is being taught until they see their children’s homework. This legislation ensures parents have the tools they need to be informed.”

Cosponsors of the legislation include Sens. Cris Dush (R-25), Judy Ward (R-30), Scott Hutchinson (R-21), David Argall (R-29), Pat Stefano (R-32), Michele Brooks (R-50), Ryan Aument (R-36) and Chris Gebhard (R-48).

Senate Bill 340 has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for consideration.

Constituents of the 33rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603

HARRISBURG – Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw is scheduled to appear before the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, chaired by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33), at a hearing on Monday, March 20, at 10 a.m. in Room 8EB of the state Capitol.

Shaw will appear before the committee to testify about the Norfolk Southern train wreck along the western border of Pennsylvania in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, and the decision to intentionally ignite five railroad cars full of dangerous chemicals on Feb. 5.

Shaw’s appearance follows two previous committee meetings where Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee members approved subpoenas to compel the Norfolk Southern CEO to testify and provide documents to the committee.

Monday’s hearing will also feature testimony from Bob Comer, a forensic railroad accident investigator who has investigated over 800 rail accidents nationwide throughout his career.

Watch live at SenatorMastriano.com or Veterans.PaSenateGOP.com.

Media contact: Josh Herman

717-787-9603