This Week in Harrisburg

Legislation to Address Crime and Violence Advances 

Members of the House Judiciary Committee this week approved several proposals aimed at reducing incidents of gun crime and violence in Pennsylvania. The bills now head to the House floor for consideration. 
•House Bill 1091 would make possession of an unlicensed gun on public streets or property in Philadelphia a third-degree felony and impose a mandatory two-year sentence.   
•House Bill 1243 would require the Pennsylvania State Police to send mental health data within 90 days to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is used to check the background of individuals attempting to buy a gun.   
•House Bill 1498 would remove the requirement that a gun be visible during the commission of a crime of violence to impose the mandatory minimum five-year sentence.   
•House Bill 2011 would allow a gun owner to legally challenge a municipal firearms ordinance and be reimbursed for the cost of the civil action.       

Thanks for Talking 

I hosted a telephone town hall meeting on Monday evening and we had more than 3,100 of you on the line during our hour-long discussion. The topics included property tax, pension reform and voter ID. My thanks to everyone who participated. 

If you did not get a call and would like to take part in the next telephone town hall meeting, please call my office at (610) 282-3901 and we’ll be happy to add your phone number to the list. 
     
Mentored Youth Fishing Days Rescheduled 

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has rescheduled its two Mentored Youth Fishing Days because many of the state’s waterways remain ice-covered. The two days have been combined into one statewide date on Saturday, May 10. Under the program, young people under the age of 16 can join a licensed adult angler to fish in designated waters. Learn more here. 
 
We Can Help Obtain Passport Paperwork 

Vacation season is quickly approaching. If you are planning a trip out of the country, my district office in Coopersburg can provide assistance in securing the necessary paperwork for obtaining a passport, including a birth certificate. The U.S. Department of State now requires the full names of a passport applicant’s parents to be listed on his or her birth certificate. Stop by or give us a call at (610) 282-3901.