Senator Pat Browne

As we near the end of one of the most difficult years our commonwealth has ever faced, I hope all of you can take the time to enjoy a safe and healthy Thanksgiving. The holiday may look a bit different for some of us, but we can all share the same spirit of cooperation and the same sense of gratitude for our blessings in spite of the incredible circumstances we have endured in 2020. Happy Thanksgiving.

Today, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a balanced seven-month budget, which will close out the 2020-21 Fiscal Year without needing to increase taxes and fees or take on new debt. By passing an interim five-month budget back in May, we allowed for a clearer picture of the Commonwealth’s financials to develop, so that we could more accurately project revenue estimates and develop a responsible spending plan. Because of these actions, along with improving revenues and u...sage of CARES Act and FMAP funds, we are able to deliver the balanced and fiscally responsible budget of $35.5 billion for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year. This includes maintaining funding levels for basic education, special education, early education and higher education, and vital human services programs our state’s residents are relying upon to get through these hard times. The state has also reduced its spending by 9.8% across operating appropriations from the Governor’s initial request from February 2020. The budget now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Congratulations to the newest officers of the Allentown Police Department, who were sworn into office yesterday! The men and women of our local police departments put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and provide help and assistance to those in need. Here is wishing these new officers nothing but the best as they carry out their duty of protecting the public with honor and integrity. Allentown’s new officers include: ...Continue reading

Glad to see Old Glory, once again, flying high and proud above the Southern Lehigh Public Library in Upper Saucon Township!

Last week, The Salvation Army, Lehigh Valley unveiled its newly renovated gymnasium! The much-needed renovations got underway in January 2020 with demolition of the old flooring that had become unsafe due to buckling from decades of community use by children, youth, and adults. New maple floors and two updated backboards were installed, and the entire space painted for a fresh look. After hearing about the needs of the community center, I was more than happy to secure a $75,...000 grant to make the renovations possible. The Salvation Army has served the residents of Allentown for more than 100 years with youth programs that provide resources for at-risk youth and community groups. The upgraded gym, the heart of the community center, will provide a safe and nurturing space for at-risk youth to thrive and allow The Salvation Army to offer more programs to bring the community together. The Morning Call story on the event: https://www.mcall.com//mc-nws-allentown-salvation-army-ren

It was a humbling experience on Monday to be recognized as a "Legislative Champion" by education advocates for work I was apart of as the chairman and co-founder of the bipartisan Early Childhood Education Caucus. The Early Childhood Education Caucus has been a leading voice for the advancement of high-quality early education for the children of the Commonwealth. We have remained committed to our guiding principle that early childhood education is a worthwhile investment whic...h pays tremendous dividends to Pennsylvania’s communities and our state’s overall economic wellbeing. Resources devoted to this cause gives an extra boost that many children need to help them succeed in school and later in life. I am proud of the progress we have made as we continue to work towards the goal of providing early educational opportunities to every child. Thank you again for this outstanding honor.

Today, I was re-elected by my State Senate colleagues as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. I am honored to continue our work in building fiscally responsible measures that create jobs, promote economic growth and improve the lives of all residents.

This week, the State Senate approved a broad package of Bills designed to help Veterans and their families. Through their honorable service and sacrifice, the brave men and women of our nation's military routinely protect our country and the freedoms we enjoy. These bills help to repay that service through increased family assistance and post-service job opportunities. The package of bills are detailed below: -Senate Bill 1076 makes the Military Family Relief Assistance Pro...gram permanent. The authorizing legislation was due to end this year. The program provides grants of up to $3,500 to eligible service members or their family during a time of hardship arising from active duty. -Senate Bill 976 places Veterans Courts into state law, encourages counties to partner on Regional Veterans Courts, and provides an option for a Veterans Track within a county’s problem-solving court. Veterans Courts are optional for veterans and provide mentorship, specialized probation officers and treatment for underlying problems. These courts produce extremely low recidivism rates in Pennsylvania and across the nation. -Senate Bill 952 updates the state Veterans’ Preference Law, which provides a hiring preference to qualified veterans seeking public employment in line with skills and experience obtained during their military training. The bill makes several changes, such as clarifying the transfer of public employment preference to spouses and allowing those transitioning from military service or in the Reserves or National Guard to receive the law’s preference. -House Bill 375 excludes the value of a veteran’s federal disability payments and the value of all state service-connected payments from income eligibility calculations for the PACE and PACENET programs. The bill would help more veterans qualify for prescription drug assistance. -House Bill 86 and Senate Bill 395 promote the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Flag. House Bill 86 requires the POW/MIA flag to be flown whenever the U.S. flag is displayed on any ground or building owned by the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 395 requires the display of the POW/MIA flag at all roadside rest stops and welcome centers operated by the PA Department of Transportation, as well as at PA Turnpike service plazas. The bills will be sent to the Governor’s Office to be signed into law.

Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. You can find information on registering, along with everything you need to know about mail-in voting, polling locations, key dates and more on this Your Vote Matters resource page: https://resources.pasenategop.com/votes/

Today is national Move Over Day, which reminds motorists about the requirement to move over or steer clear when approaching an emergency response area. The PA Senate recently passed Senate Bill 1281 to better protect police, tow operators, EMS, fire and other responders. https://www.psp.pa.gov/public-safe//Rules-of-the-Road.aspx

Allentown City without limits was just awarded a $500,000 grant for the construction of 1.8 miles of new trails in the Jordan Creek Greenway. When the entire 14-mile Jordan Creek Greenway trail is completed, it will traverse through Allentown, Whitehall Township, South Whitehall Township and North Whitehall Township. The trail will connect several regional parks, including Jordan Park, Jordan Park Greenway, Covered Bridge Park and the Trexler Nature Preserve, creating a tru...ly unique outdoor experience. We are truly fortunate in the Lehigh Valley to have such a robust offering of trails and outdoor recreation. This grant will only serve to expand these opportunities. WFMZ article: https://www.wfmz.com//article_6964bfca-0f24-11eb-9cd6-2bb2

Two college aid webinars are being offered by the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency in October and November for students and families planning for their higher ed budgets. One focuses on understanding financial aid offers, the other is on covering the gap in aid. The webinars are free. You can register here:... https://pheaa-events500.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex/default.do See more

More than 700 temporary PennDOT equipment operator jobs are available statewide for the winter. Other winter jobs include mechanics, tradesmen helpers, welders and dispatchers. The season runs now through April 2021. You can find details and applications here: https://www.governmentjobs.com//penndot-seasonal-winter-jo

Pacific Palm Bistro celebrated their official grand opening today! Congratulations! Here’s wishing you only the best of success as you bring your unique blend of Burmese and Asian fusion dishes to the Eastside of Allentown!

Pennsylvania has extended the deadline to apply for the Assistance for Renters and Homeowners program to November 4th. If you are having trouble paying your rent or mortgage because of the COVID crisis, I encourage you to visit this website and see if you are eligible for the program: https://www.phfa.org/pacares/ Previously, the PA Senate approved legislation directing federal funds to help renters and homeowners struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thus establishing this program.

Congratulations to Michael J. Sitoski on his appointment as Chief of the Upper Macungie Township Police Department! He worked for the Berks-Lehigh Regional Police Department from 2001 until 2012. When the Upper Macungie Police Department was formed, Mike was one of the original officers. Upper Macungie Township's supervisors voted to make him Chief last week during their meeting. All the best, Chief Sitoski as you continue to serve and protect the citizens of Upper Macungi...e Township. The Morning Call story: https://bit.ly/3d1w1Tq

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is a crime, and there are legal and other protections available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). If you or someone you know needs help, you can find information and resources here: https://www.dhs.pa.gov//Assis/Pages/Domestic-Violence.aspx

Proud to work with Senator Scott Martin and Senator Vincent Hughes to bring greater attention to this life saving tool. To learn more about Safe2Say, visit: https://safe2saypa.org