HARRISBURG, Oct. 29 – Believing that the person is more important than the party, state Rep. Frank Burns has voted in support of a measure that would abolish straight-party voting in Pennsylvania. Burns, D-Cambria, said S.B. 421 would allow Pennsylvania voters to cast their ballot for the person who is the best candidate, regardless of party affiliation. “For too long, we’ve been mired in the quicksand of the past, where political party bosses on both sides relied on straight-party voting to obtain and exert control – often for their own benefit,” Burns said. “Passing this legislation lifts us out of that sinking pit and into the modern era, where paying attention to individual candidates instead of pulling a single lever will lead to a more informed and independent-thinking electorate.” Burns said his vote today in favor of S.B. 421 is a reflection not only of his personal belief that the people are more important than the party, but also a result of listening to those he represents. “In Cambria County, taxpayers are fed up with the failure of both political parties to compromise and govern effectively,” Burns said. “People are tired of politicians on both sides of the aisle constantly digging their heels in and refusing to work together – at the direction of party leaders. I believe that ending straight-party voting will loosen the grip party leaders have on many elected officials, Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 29 – In an effort to help families in need during the upcoming holiday season, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, is holding a food drive through the month of November. “Once again, I am working with the Dorothy Day Outreach Center at St. Francis University for this year’s food drive,” said Burns. “This is a great opportunity for residents to help their neighbors who aren’t as fortunate, and all donations received will be used to help families and individuals who are struggling during the holiday season.” Mary Adams, assistant director of the center, said she is expecting to provide 110 families with Thanksgiving dinner this year, up from about 80 last year. With food and gas prices increasing and with recent federal cuts to food stamps, she’s seen an uptick in local residents who are in need. “It’s just gotten to where the only money people can take from is their food money or their hygiene money,” Adams said. “Now we’re going into winter and every extra penny has to go into their (heating) oil. These people are really stuck.” Burns and his staff will be collecting nonperishable food donations at his four district offices: 535 Fairfield Ave., Johnstown (Lower Yoder Township). 119 S. Center St., Ebensburg. 112-A Munster Road, Portage. 405 Park Ave., Patton. While all non-perishable donations are welcome, Adams said Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 25 – A familiar face in state Rep. Frank Burns’ office is taking on additional duties at no cost to taxpayers, as full-time volunteer Charlie Vizzini has agreed to serve as interim grant-writing liaison. Burns, D-Cambria, said Vizzini’s longstanding working relationship with municipal officials and intimate knowledge of their needs make him the logical short-term choice to fill an opening on Burns’ staff until a new employee is situated in the slot. “Charlie is as knowledgeable as they come, and he’s a selfless public servant who’s already saved taxpayers $100,000 by volunteering his time in our office,” Burns said. “He’s been a right-hand man to many people in our district, assisting with thousands of constituent matters. I’m thrilled that he’s agreed to help out in yet another way.” Burns said Vizzini’s knowledge of state government will enable him to quarterback the established grant-writing apparatus in Burns’ office during a transition period, making sure that municipalities and schools in the 72 nd Legislative District can avail themselves of a free service provided through Burns’ office for the past two years. “It will be business as usual, as our doors remain open to help with grant writing and assist with grant-related questions,” Burns said. “We’ve assembled a tremendous team, where multi-tasking is a Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 24 – Residents will have an opportunity to safely shred documents and dispose of unused prescriptions this Saturday, with state Rep. Frank Burns once again partnering with Cambria County Crime Stoppers in offering a “Shred-It Event and Unused Prescription Take Back Day.” Burns, D-Cambria, said the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ebensburg Walmart, located at 300 Walmart Drive. The Shred-It Truck will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Shredding documents you no longer need that contain sensitive information, like credit card statements or old medical records, will make sure criminals don’t get access to your personal information,” Burns said. “It’s a great way to reduce your chances of being a victim of identity theft or fraud. “This event also allows residents to safely dispose of old medications and prevent those drugs from getting into the wrong hands,” he added. Shredding services will be offered at $5 per box of documents. There is no cost to dispose of prescription medicines. For more information, please contact Burns’ office at 814-472-8021. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 23 – Continuing his efforts to inform municipalities, businesses and other of organizations about available state funding, state Rep. Frank Burns today announced new grant opportunities, including programs designed to support seniors, promote energy efficiency and reduce traffic congestion. Burns, D-Cambria, said he has made it a priority for several years to provide information on a variety of state grants programs as a way to have more tax dollars returned to communities. “I encourage anyone and everyone who believes they may be eligible to submit an application or reach out to my office for assistance from my own in-house grant writer, who will be happy to help you get the process moving,” Burns said. Burns said Brittany Blackham, who fills that role, can be reached at (814) 736-7339 in his Portage office to provide information or assistance with the following grant applications: Approximately $2 million in Senior Community Center Grants, through the state Department of Aging, is available to support existing senior community centers with program improvements designed to increase senior participation and encourage a safe and healthy environment for center participants. The Senior Community Center Grant application period ends Nov. 15. More information can be obtained by visiting www.aging.pa.gov/SeniorCommunityCenterGrants , emailing SCCgrants@pa.gov or calling Robert Cherry at (717) 772-1221. Read more
State Rep. Frank Burns said his office will accept applications from Nov 1 through Nov. 22 at his Ebensburg office for the fourth annual Charlie Vizzini Volunteerism Award, which honors an outstanding volunteer in the 72nd Legislative District. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 17 – In an effort to complement existing safety and security resources, the Ferndale Area Hills and the Westmont Hilltop School Districts were each awarded Safe School Targeted Grants funding of approximately $24,000 to use toward the purchase of safety and school-related equipment, state Rep. Frank Burns announced today. Burns, D-Cambria, said the competitive 2019-20 Safe Schools Targeted Grants from the state Department of Education are awarded to schools to prevent and reduce violent incidents, purchase safety and security-related equipment, and provide for the training and compensation of school resource and police officers. Ferndale Area School District received $24,800 and Westmont Hilltop School District received $24,610. “These are wise investments of state dollars to ensure our school students – and teachers – are safe,” Burns said. “It’s no secret that students perform better in school when they feel safe and secure, and these state funds will help our schools meet the goal of providing a safe learning environment.” This funding is part of the $7.3 million in School Safety Grants the Pennsylvania Department of Education is awarding to both public school districts and non-public schools throughout the commonwealth. Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 16 – Approximately $5.5 million in funding to restore reliable sewer service in Jackson Township has pushed state investment in the 72 nd Legislative District to $19 million this year, state Rep. Frank Burns announced today. Burns, D-Cambria, said the Jackson East Taylor Sewer Authority will be able to address a multitude of malfunctioning sewer system issues, including pollution of properties and streams, with the latest round of help from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. “Proper sewage treatment is vital for the 72 nd Legislative District to grow economically and to provide proper quality of life for those who live there,” Burns said. “I’ve made acquisition of state funds a top priority, to the point of adding a grant writer to my staff, and those efforts continue paying off big-time.” Burns said the Pennvest money will allow the authority to extend nearly 22,000 feet of gravity sewers, extend 3,000 feet of force main sewers, build a new pump station, and provide pump replacements in two existing pump stations – all to enhance service to residents and businesses. “While this is great news, rest assured that I’ll continue fighting to make sure Cambria County gets its fair share of state funding, whatever the program,” Burns said. Pennvest funds sewer, storm water and drinking water maintenance and improvement projects throughout Pennsylvania. Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 15 – Over 400 people attended a free informational Concealed Carry seminar on Monday hosted by state Rep. Frank Burns as part of his ongoing efforts to ensure lawful gun owners know their constitutional rights. “As a Cambria County Democrat, I’ve tirelessly fought for gun owners’ rights and I will continue to do so,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “We were successful in fighting efforts for a yearly $10 registration fee for every gun, and I will continue to strongly oppose this and any other backdoor attempts at gun control.” “We had a great turnout and obviously there’s a great deal of interest by the public on concealed carry and other laws related to firearm transport and use, and I applaud Representative Burns for hosting this event,” said Tom Owens, commander of the Cambria County SERT team and presenter at yesterday’s Concealed Carry seminar. Burns thanked the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co. for allowing him and his staff to host the event and added more events like these will be planned in the near future to educate the public on their constitutional rights and firearms laws. “With the strong turnout and demand for such events, it shows people really care about protecting their constitutional rights and knowing firearm laws.” The seminar covered many topics, including gun training options, concealed carry, the Castle Doctrine and the stand your ground law. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 9 – Continuing his strong anti-bullying efforts, state Rep. Frank Burns unveiled legislation today that would hold parents accountable for a child’s repeated bullying and require schools to more effectively track, investigate and report bullying and cyberbullying incidents. Burns, D-Cambria, formally introduced his pair of bills on National Stop Bullying Day, highlighting the need for students, parents and school officials to work together to eliminate bullying. “Schools should be places of learning, not places of fear,” Burns said. “The only way we can put an end to this scourge is to work together. These measures will make our schools safer places for our kids and put the focus where it needs to be – on learning.” Burns said H.B. 1936 would clearly outline the role of parents in preventing and remedying bullying and hold them accountable if their child repeatedly bullies others. The bill establishes a three-step system of parental notification and participation following a bullying event. After the first verified bullying report, parents of all students would be notified of the incident and told what action the school took. After a second incident, parents would be required to take a class on bullying and would be asked to attend a bullying resolution conference to devise a plan to address the bullying behavior. Upon a third or subsequent incident in the same school year, school officials could Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 8 – In his latest effort to bring good-paying jobs and economic development to the region, state Rep. Frank Burns said he met with Amazon’s point person for Pennsylvania about Cambria County’s competitive advantage thanks to its recent Keystone Opportunity Zone designation. Burns, D-Cambria, recently met with Jillian Irvin in his Capitol office as a follow-up to his correspondence with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos inviting him to tour Cambria County in the company’s search for future offices and distribution centers. “Meeting face-to-face with Amazon’s liaison to Pennsylvania was the next step in the process of getting Amazon to Cambria County,” Burns said. “I explained how the KOZ works and how Amazon could take advantage of this incredible economic development tool. Where others have snubbed the retail giant’s proposed investments, I let her know our area would welcome them with open arms.” Burns spearheaded the effort in this year’s state budget to reserve a KOZ of up to 375 acres in Cambria County. A KOZ designation allows for state and local tax benefits within specific underdeveloped and underutilized areas of the state. Land within the zone can be large plots or subdivided into parcels of fewer than 10 acres. Irvin told Burns that Amazon is more interested in working with cities and states that want them rather than those that protest their relocation efforts. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 7 – A bill sponsored by state Rep. Frank Burns became law despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s refusal to sign it. The new law expands the mandatory use of the E-verify program to employers in the construction industry. Burns, D-Cambria, said the bill became law on Sunday after Gov. Wolf chose not to sign or veto it. In Pennsylvania, a bill that has been passed in the state House and Senate automatically becomes law if the governor neither vetoes nor signs it within 10 days of its passage. Burns said he believes this new law will level the playing field for contractors who do the right thing and hire documented workers. “This is about saving Pennsylvania jobs by penalizing unscrupulous contractors who hire illegal workers,” said Burns. “It’s about time we hold corporate American accountable for profiting from illegal immigration.” According to a 2018 article in The New York Times, undocumented immigrant workers account for 15% of those employed in construction – or about 1.35 million workers nationally. “For years, I have demanded we crack down on companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants who are willing to work for less,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “The passage of this law shows Pennsylvania is serious about stopping illegal immigration by preventing companies from hiring and exploiting illegal workers for profit.” Burns added that the state already requires E-verify to Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 5 – Continuing his efforts to stand up for Pennsylvania workers and jobs, state Rep. Frank Burns said that Gov. Tom Wolf should do the same by signing a bill that would expand the mandatory use of E-Verify to employers in the construction industry. Burns, D-Cambria, said H.B. 1170 , which passed in the House and the Senate with bipartisan support, would require construction companies to use the internet-based system to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. “As someone who always fights for workers, this bill is about saving Pennsylvania jobs by penalizing unscrupulous contractors who hire and exploit illegal workers for profit,” Burns said. “If the governor really wants to take a stand and protect jobs and workers from employers who’d rather break the law, he should sign the bill, instead of waiting for it to automatically become law on Sunday, October 6.” In Pennsylvania, a bill that has passed in both chambers of the General Assembly automatically becomes law if a governor neither vetoes nor signs a bill within 10 days of its passage. “We know that E-verify works and has worked successfully for years. When these contractors hire undocumented workers, they are likely skirting payroll and required taxes. Construction companies – just like other employers – must follow the rules, or face the music, which can include the loss of their state-issued Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 4 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, released the following statement regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s executive order, directing the state Department of Environmental Protection to draft regulations to join the nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Doing so means that the state will set a cap on power plant emissions and require plants that exceed that limit to purchase additional allowances. “I clearly oppose the governor’s efforts to implement RGGI. RGGI won’t protect jobs in our area or keep energy rates low. It will actually do the opposite by devastating our state’s already-struggling coal plants and will force them out of business. Taxing coal to pay for subsidies for other forms of energy is not the American way. “Our coal industry accounts for 20 percent of the power in our state and supports more than 17,000 jobs. If those plants close their doors, that would be a proverbial economic punch to the gut, both in lost jobs and higher power bills. “If Pennsylvania officially joins this initiative, areas of the state that have suffered job and industry losses due to RGGI should be the first ones compensated from any savings or revenue that’s gained. “It makes me angry that the governor decided to bypass the legislature on this effort. I’d like to know who gave him the power to do this. It’s un-American and extremely unfair to all hard-working Read more
EBENSBURG, Oct. 3 – In an effort to ensure residents are aware of their Second Amendment rights, state Rep. Frank Burns is hosting a free informational Concealed Carry seminar at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 at the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co., located at 176 Adams Ave. in Mineral Point. Burns, D-Cambria, said local law enforcement representatives will be on-hand to discuss the rules and regulations regarding firearm transport and use in Pennsylvania – including primers on concealed carry, the Castle Doctrine, using firearms for personal protection and related legal liabilities. “I encourage everyone to attend to ensure you know your rights as a law-abiding gun owner,” Burns said. “This valuable seminar will provide attendees with information on concealed carry permits, including state requirements and how to carry, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.” Anyone wishing to attend the Concealed Carry seminar is asked to call Burns’ Portage office at 814-736-7339 no later than Monday, Oct. 7. Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 2 – Local farmers, organizations and entities that support or are connected to the state’s dairy industry are encouraged to apply for the Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program, state Rep. Frank Burns announced today. Burns, D-Cambria, said the program will provide $5 million in grants to support Pennsylvania’s dairy industry in adopting organic processes, research and development initiatives, value-added processing and marketing efforts. Individuals, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and institutions of higher learning are eligible to apply. “This second year of grant funding was made possible by the passage of the PA Farm Bill package earlier this year, which I supported,” Burns said. “These grants are a great way to help our local farmers and companies stay competitive and support innovative processes designed to keep our dairy industry strong and vibrant for generations to come.” For more information on the program, visit: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/pennsylvania-dairy-investment-program-pdip/ The deadline to apply for the grant is Friday, Nov. 15 . To apply, visit the following website: www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/login.aspx Burns added that Brittany Blackham, his own in-house grant writer, can provide information and assistance regarding the grant application. She can be reached at his Portage office at 814-736-7339. Read more
Opinion piece on Rep. Burns' suit against the PLCB regarding the number of restaurant liquor licenses in Pennsylvania. Read more
EBENSBURG, Sept. 26 – Appealing for help from the highest level of state government, state Rep. Frank Burns is asking Gov. Tom Wolf to file a “friend of the court” brief in support of his legal battle to obtain public information from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Burns, D-Cambria, sent official correspondence , highlighting that Wolf took office making “ transparent government that works in Pennsylvania one of his top priorities ,” and urging the governor’s help to put that philosophy into action. Burns noted that he understands this is early in the process, however he wanted to provide the governor with plenty of advanced notice as a courtesy. “I am asking you to file an Amicus Brief with Commonwealth Court in support of my efforts to overcome the PLCB’s refusal to provide me – and thus the public – with a county-by-county breakdown of the number of restaurant liquor licenses this state agency has available for auction,” Burns wrote. Burns continued, “The PLCB has put up stiff resistance to my request, to the point of arguing that such information is a ‘trade secret.’ As someone who shares my belief in transparent government, I hope you also share my belief that an agency that works for, and is paid by, state taxpayers should not be keeping ‘trade secrets.’” Burns noted that although the state Office of Open Records sided with him and Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 25 – Calling it a missed opportunity to help local, small businesses, state Rep. Frank Burns said he is disappointed by the failure of his colleagues to support an amendment to a liquor bill that would have given local taverns and restaurant owners a significant break. Burns, D-Cambria, said his amendment to H.B. 1048 would have eliminated the $700 annual license surcharge imposed by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board not only for fire companies and veterans’ organizations, but for all liquor licensees. The amendment failed by a vote of 185 to 14. “This surcharge is financially burdensome not only to these organizations, but to mom-and-pop restaurants and taverns across Pennsylvania,” said Burns. “It’s not as if the LCB is hurting – they continue to report record profits and sales. In good economic times, it’s only fair that we give these small businesses and nonprofit organizations a financial break. “Despite what happened today on the House floor, I remain undeterred in my efforts to support the hardworking, local business owners in my community and across Pennsylvania.” The bill moves on for a final vote in the House. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 23 – As part of his ongoing efforts to promote Cambria County as a great place for business, state Rep. Frank Burns sent a letter to CEO John Morikis of Sherwin-Williams, inviting him to tour the county as he considers possible locations for a new global headquarters and research and development facility. Burns, D-Cambria, said the paint manufacturing company is considering multiple sites in Ohio and several other states, due to its significant growth and expansion over the last several decades at its current location in Cleveland, Ohio. “I would welcome the opportunity to showcase all that Cambria County has to offer, from its strong workforce and our recent designation of 375 acres as a Keystone Opportunity Zone,” said Burns. “That designation means we can offer substantial state and local tax incentives and offer flexibility to work with companies of any size who are interested in creating jobs in our region. This could be a great opportunity to help Sherwin-Williams in its quest for a new location for its global headquarters, its research and development facility, or both.” Burns also touted the county’s proximity to Ohio as another potential benefit to relocation and has vowed to work with Sherwin-Williams and elected officials from both parties to make a deal that could benefit everyone involved. “Having a company like Sherwin-Williams relocate to Cambria County would be a substantial boon Read more
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