Burns votes to keep murderers off the streets, casts ‘no’ vote on bill to weaken sentencing for 2nd-degree felony convictions
Rep. Frank Burns July 23, 2026
HARRISBURG, July 23 — With a bill before the House that would have eased the sentences of those convicted of second-degree murder and ultimately put murders back on the street, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today voted against the bill citing his tough-on-crime stance.
The bill consideration comes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in March that the state’s mandatory life-without-parole sentence for second-degree murder is unconstitutional. However, Burns was not willing to compromise on the issue of community safety and why he ultimately voted against the bill.
“Today I voted against legislation in the House that would make it easier for murderers to get out of prison. I've always stood up to House leadership to do what's best for the people of Cambria County, and today is another example of that. I believe stronger protections to keep convicted murderers locked up is common sense."
Burns said the he also cast his vote to revert to the prior printer’s number of the bill, which contained the Senate’s proposal to change the penalty to 35 years or 20 years for those who have reached age 70. However, the measure failed.
Burns said he has worked to keep criminals in jail, including introducing a companion bill to S.B. 1400, which was supported by Attorney General David Sunday.
“The Attorney General’s Office even contacted me a few weeks ago about the bill and offered to do what it could to help get it passed.
“I wasn’t invited to today’s press conference on crime in Johnstown where Sunday talked about today’s House action. If I had been invited, I would have agreed with them – this has to get done. Nobody works harder in Harrisburg than me to support our police and prosecutors. Public safety is paramount, and today’s bill just didn’t achieve that. I’ll keep fighting to keep Cambria County communities safe.”
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“Today I voted against legislation in the House that would make it easier for murderers to get out of prison. I've always stood up to House leadership to do what's best for the people of Cambria County, and today is another example of that. I believe stronger protections to keep convicted murders locked up is common sense."
– Rep. Burns
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