Senator Brewster Begins Another Term in Pa Senate
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January 17, 2021 – Issue 141 legislature and make it more transparent, including Senator Brewster Begins eliminating per diems, state vehicles, and a gift ban. Another Term in Pa Senate Brewster was first elected to the Senate in a n January 13, 2021, state Senator Jim special election in 2010. He was re-elected in 2012, Brewster (D) was sworn in for another term 2016, and 2020. O in the Pennsylvania State Senate, serving constituents in portions of Allegheny and Brewster said there are great challenges ahead Westmoreland Counties. for lawmakers this session. A budget deficit and the continuing challenges from the pandemic, he said. "It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens Even amid these substantive and difficult issues, he in the 38 communities that are a part of the 45th said that there was an opportunity to address issues District," Brewster said. "I will continue to pursue a involving local government. broad agenda that is focused on families. "As the former mayor of McKeesport, I know "My legislative proposals include measures to the difficulties that economically-stressed promote job creation, economic development, tax communities face," Brewster said. "Lawmakers in relief, education support and safety, and help for Harrisburg also need to focus on addressing the those who are in need." problems of small cities and struggling communities across Pennsylvania." The lawmaker has also proposed plans to help small businesses and families during the COVID-19 Source: PA Senate Democrats Press Release, pandemic, as well as to institute a responsible 1/13/2021 energy extraction tax on Marcellus Shale drillers and to use the revenue to fund education and environmental protection. He is also the prime sponsor of a package of bills to reform the State Government - Senator David G. Argall Corman Announces Senate (R-29) * Standing Committee Chairs Transportation - Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. (R-35) * for 2021-2022 Urban Affairs & Housing - Senator Joe Pittman (R-41) n January 13, 2021, Senate President Pro Veterans Affairs & Emergency Tempore Jake Corman (R-34) announced Preparedness - Senator Pat Stefano (R-32) * O the chairs for each of the 22 Senate Standing Committees for the 2021-22 Session. Note: Senate GOP Committee assignments have not been released, but will appear here soon: "I am proud to announce this session's standing https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/CteeInfo/Standi committee chairs," Senator Corman said. "These ngCommittees.cfm?CteeBody=S members will continue to provide careful and considerate oversight as we delve into the issues Source: Senator Corman Press Release, 1/13/2021 before us in the 2021-22 legislative session." Senate Standing Committee Chair PA Senate Democrats Assignments (* denotes new committee chairs): Announce Committee Chairs Aging & Youth - Senator Judy Ward (R-30) & Membership for 2021-22 Agriculture & Rural Affairs - Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) Legislative Session Appropriations - Senator Pat Browne (R-16) Banking & Insurance - Senator John DiSanto n January 15, 2021, Senate Democratic (R-15) * Leader Jay Costa announced the slate of Communications & Technology - Senator O Democratic chairs and members for the Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28) Senate's standing committees in the 2021-22 legislative session. Community, Economic & Recreational Development - Senator John Yudichak (I-14) * "Our caucus is diverse in every way - from Consumer Protection & Professional demographics to professional background, and the Licensure - Senator Robert Tomlinson (R-6) senators are uniquely qualified to tackle the breadth Education - Senator Scott Martin (R-13) * of issues that come through our standing Environmental Resources & Energy - Senator committees and onto the Senate floor," said Senator Gene Yaw (R-23) Costa. "I'm proud to announce this slate of chairs Finance - Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-21) and committee members, and look forward to their Game & Fisheries - Senator Dan Laughlin (R- collective work in this session." 49) Health & Human Services - Senator Michele The Democratic chairs will be (listed Brooks (R-50) alphabetically by committee), members listed below Intergovernmental Operations - Senator Doug in italics: Mastriano (R-33) Judiciary - Senator Lisa Baker (R-20) Aging & Youth: Maria Collett (Chair) Labor & Industry - Senator Camera Bartolotta o John Sabatina, Nikil Saval, Judy Schwank (R-46) Law & Justice - Senator Mike Regan (R-31) * Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Judy Schwank Local Government - Senator Cris Dush (R-25) (Chair) * o Amanda Cappelletti, Carolyn Comitta, Rules & Executive Nominations - Senator Kim Sharif Street Ward (R-39) * 2 Appropriations: Vincent Hughes (Chair) o Judy Schwank, Jay Costa (ex officio), Judiciary: Steve Santarsiero (Chair) John Blake, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, o Amanda Cappelletti, Maria Collett, Art Steve Santarsiero, Nikil Saval, Sharif Haywood, John Sabatina Street Labor & Industry: Christine Tartaglione Banking & Insurance: Sharif Street (Chair) (Chair) o Lisa Boscola, Jim Brewster, Amanda o John Kane, Tim Kearney, Lindsey Cappelletti, Tina Tartaglione Williams Communications & Technology: John Kane Law & Justice: James Brewster (Chair) (Chair) o Wayne Fontana, Tina Tartaglione, o John Sabatina, Nikil Saval, Anthony H. Anthony H. Williams Williams Local Government: Tim Kearney (Chair) Community, Economic & Recreational o Maria Collett, Nikil Saval, Sharif Street Development: Amanda Cappelletti (Chair) o Lisa Boscola, Marie Collett, Wayne Rules & Executive Nominations: Jay Costa Fontana, John Sabatina (Chair) o Maria Collett, Wayne Fontana, Vincent Consumer Protection & Professional Hughes, Katie Muth, Anthony H. Licensure: Lisa Boscola (Chair) Williams o Carolyn Comitta, John Kane, Steve Santarsiero, Tina Tartaglione State Government: Sharif Street (Chair) o John Blake, Katie Muth, Anthony H. Education: Lindsey Williams (Chair) Williams o John Blake, Jim Brewster, Tim Kearney Transportation: John Sabatina, Jr. (Chair) Environmental Resources & Energy: Carolyn o John Blake, Jim Brewster, John Kane, Comitta (Chair) Tim Kearney o Lisa Boscola, Katie Muth, Steve Santarsiero Urban Affairs & Housing: Nikil Saval (Chair) o Lisa Boscola, Wayne Fontana, Lindsey Finance: John Blake (Chair) Williams o Art Haywood, Vincent Hughes, Katie Muth Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness: Katie Muth (Chair) Game & Fisheries: James Brewster (Chair) o Carolyn Comitta, John Kane, Lindsey o Wayne Fontana, Judy Schwank, Lindsey Williams Williams For more information on all members of the Health & Human Services: Art Haywood Senate Democratic Caucus and their work in the (Chair) legislature and home districts, please visit o Amanda Cappelletti, Carolyn Comitta, www.pasenate.com. Judy Schwank Source: Senate Democratic Caucus, 1/15/2021 Intergovernmental Operations: Anthony Williams (Chair) o Jay Costa, Art Haywood, Steve Sen. Carolyn Comitta Santarsiero Named Democratic Chair of 3 Senate Environmental Prior to being elected State Senator, Comitta Committee; Priorities: served as State Representative for the 156th Legislative District. Climate Change, Renewable There, she served as Secretary of the Energy Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and in leadership positions on the Pennsylvania n January 15, Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D- Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control Chester) and Conservation Committee and the Climate O https://www.pasenatorcomitta.com/ was Caucus. named Democratic Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, a In the Senate, she continues to support the work leadership position that brings new opportunities to of the Joint Conservation Committee and serves on continue and expand her long-standing record of the Climate Caucus. service as an environmental champion. “Protecting our environment and safeguarding In addition to being named minority chair of the our natural resources is a tremendous responsibility, Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, one that I deeply respect and continue to hold near Sen. Comitta was appointed to serve on the and dear to my heart,” Sen. Comitta said. “Every following committees: Agriculture and Rural day we are reminded that we only get one planet Affairs, Consumer Protection and Professional and that our environment has significant and long- Licensure, Health and Human Services, and standing impacts on our public health, safety, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness. economy, and nearly every aspect of life in our communities. I am honored to be appointed Sen. Comitta said she continues to focus her minority chair of this committee and look forward efforts on combating the significant and extensive to working in a bipartisan manner for a cleaner, public health and economic impacts of the greener, and brighter future for all of coronavirus pandemic by supporting and launching Pennsylvania.” initiatives that will help Pennsylvania defeat the virus and emerge stronger, healthier, and more Sen. Comitta said her top environmental resilient. priorities include addressing the growing climate crisis by supporting Pennsylvania’s participation in “The vaccine is here, but we must redouble our the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and efforts to stop the spread while we work to make it updating the Commonwealth’s Alternative Energy available to everyone,” she said. “The more lives Portfolio Standards Act. we save through prevention now, the more lives we can protect through vaccination later.” She said that taking urgent action