Jumat, 28 Agustus 2020
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| Capitol Update | |||||||||||
| Friday, August 28, 2020 | The latest news from the State Capitol | ||||||||||
| Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account. You are welcome to contact me through this link. | |||||||||||
Majority Policy Committee Hearing Highlights Importance of Law Enforcement in Protecting Communities
State, county and local law enforcement officers appeared before the House Majority Policy Committee, which I chair, to highlight efforts to serve their communities in the face of growing challenges and changing attitudes in some regions of the state. In the wake of protests related to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this year, the topic of police-community relations and the importance of ensuring a relationship of trust was a common theme among many of the testifiers. Les Neri, president of PA State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, highlighted the value of community policing initiatives, especially those that reach the youth population; however, many departments have been forced to drop such outreach efforts due to a lack of funding. Chief Ron Camacho of Chambersburg, Franklin County, highlighted the need for greater transparency as well. Responding to calls by some to �defund� police, York County District Attorney Dave Sunday noted a properly trained and well-funded police force is critical to meaningful criminal justice reform. �The call to simply defund the police, cut police budgets, divert or divest funds, or anything of the like, is a false and dangerous narrative,� Sunday said �In fact, eliminating police funding would disproportionately endanger the very vulnerable populations that advocates of this flawed premise seek to aid. No service given to any member of our community can be effective if it cannot be delivered safely. Only one public entity guarantees this basic need for safety, and that is law enforcement.� Additional testimony was offered by the Defender Association of Philadelphia; Pennsylvania Sheriffs� Association; and Pennsylvania State Troopers Association. To watch the full hearing, click here. | |||||||||||
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To help ensure access to state government information and services, I will host monthly outreach office hours at the following locations on Thursday, Sept. 3:
Services available include assistance with any state-related issues or concerns, driver license and vehicle registration applications, and applications for various state programs, such as the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE/PACENET prescription drug assistance programs. As always, you are welcome to stop by my offices in Bradford (78 Main St., first floor), Coudersport (107 S. Main St., Room 1) or Kane (55 Fraley St.) Monday through Friday, or visit my website at www.RepCauser.com or my Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/RepCauser for the latest news from state government. | |||||||||||
Working to ensure area veterans receive the services and support they need, a representative of the American Legion will be available at my local offices in September to discuss issues such as compensation, education, pension, health care and death benefits. The schedule is as follows:
You need not be a member of the American Legion to participate. | |||||||||||
In case you missed it, last Friday the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) voted to move forward with the fall sports season despite Gov. Tom Wolf�s recommendation all sports be postponed until at least Jan. 1, 2021. I applaud the PIAA for taking a stand and moving forward with the plans they had been working on for months to allow our kids to get back on the playing fields safely. Individual school district officials, student athletes and their families should be the ones making decisions about whether to participate in sports and other activities, based on the conditions in their areas. A statewide, one-size-fits-all order is not in the best interest of our youth or our communities. I wish our student athletes much success and good health throughout the school year. | |||||||||||
With some students returning to school for in-person classes, school buses are back on the roads. Motorists, parents and children are encouraged to refresh their memories about how to share the road safely. Pennsylvania law requires motorists stop at least 10 feet away from school buses when their red lights are flashing and their stop arm is extended. Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing and the stop arm is withdrawn. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety. Penalties for failure to obey school bus safety laws can result in a $250 fine, five points on a driving record and a 60-day license suspension. Parents are reminded to ensure that their children are at the bus stop early to avoid rushing. Students should stay where the bus driver can see them while boarding or exiting the bus. Click here for more information and tips on school bus safety. | |||||||||||
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