Burns to appear on PCN to discuss legislative priorities

EBENSBURG, Oct. 2 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, will be interviewed on PCN's "On the Issues" program to discuss legislation related to the statewide grand jury report on the Catholic Church, his legislation to protect child sexual abuse victims, efforts to downsize the legislature and his anti-bullying initiatives.

Burns’ interview will be aired at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, on PCN and on the PCN mobile app.

In September, after hosting a town hall meeting on the topic, Burns introduced legislation calling for a nationwide investigation into the Catholic Church and providing further protections for victims of childhood sexual abuse.

Burns’ legislative package, which has broad bipartisan support, includes a resolution (H.R. 1072) that calls upon the U.S. attorney general to launch a nationwide investigation of the church, similar to the recently completed investigation by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Additionally, Burns introduced two bills, the first of which would make it clear in non-disclosure agreements that the settlement does not prevent victims from sharing the facts of their abuse with police (H.B. 2561). The second would allow victims of child sexual abuse to disclose details of their case in civil proceedings as well as criminal cases (H.B. 2562).

Burns also will host a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing on the problem of bullying and efforts to curb that damaging behavior at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Hiram G. Andrews Center, 727 Goucher St., Johnstown.