EBENSBURG, Aug. 31 – Overwhelming majorities of respondents to polling conducted during state Rep. Frank Burns’ Telephone Town Hall meeting Tuesday night supported positions he’s staked out representing the 72 nd Legislative District. Burns said he was not surprised by results, gleaned from 2,691 who participated in at least part of the meeting, which showed: A whopping 98 percent believe welfare recipients should be required to take drug tests and prove U.S. citizenship. 95 percent think schools should be allowed to post the national motto “In God We Trust.” 85 percent support Burns’ proposal to make assaults on law enforcement officers a hate crime. 57 percent say Pennsylvania should not accept Syrian refugees, with another 38 percent saying they should be accepted only after rigorous vetting. “These responses fall in line with the values and positions of the majority of those I represent in Harrisburg,” Burns said. “It also was a pleasure – and democracy in action – to field questions from constituents during the Telephone Town Hall.” During the hour-long meeting, where people participated by staying on their phone line when the 7 p.m. call came through, Burns answered inquiries on property taxes, the drug problem, the state pension crisis, welfare fraud, job creation, the minimum wage, natural gas, buying American goods and helping seniors in need. Burns said the Read more
EBENSBURG, Aug. 29 – More than 150 people attended state Rep. Frank Burns’ complimentary lunch for veterans Sunday at Cresson Volunteer Fire Co., which attracted exhibitors including the Cambria County Veterans Administration, Senior Life, James E. Van Zandt Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown MountainCar Veterans Program. Participants also were able to obtain information from Burns and his staff about state programs for veterans, and to have one-on-one conversations with Burns to ask questions and provide feedback. "Once again, this event provided a wonderful opportunity for veterans to learn what is available to them, and for me as the 72nd Legislative District representative to learn more about their chief complaints and concerns," said Burns, D-Cambria. The spaghetti meal was again prepared by Burns’ mother, Aggie Burns, who operates the family’s Johnstown restaurant. Volunteers of all ages also helped at the event. Read more
EBENSBURG, Aug. 25 – Bringing democracy to the comfort of his constituents’ living rooms, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, will host his first-ever Telephone Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. Residents can expect their phones to ring at that time, and if they want to ask a question, participate in issues-based polls, or just listen in, all they have to do is stay on the line. "While we constantly field and answer constituent questions and requests for help, and get their feedback on all manner of state-related topics, I realize that many living in the 72nd Legislative District are too busy to take the initiative to contact us," Burns said. "This will give everyone the opportunity to weigh in on issues they think are important – and to hear where I stand on the critical matters of the day. I urge everyone to pick up the phone if they have a question to ask, or just want to listen in." Burns said anyone who wants to ensure that their phone number is in the database used to make the call should contact his office at (814) 472-8021, which is the same number they can use to obtain more information. Those who want to send Burns a question in advance to answer during the telephone town hall can do so by emailing it to townhall@pahouse.net . As a state legislator, Burns’ signature issues have been holding the line on taxes, welfare reform including drug testing and proof of citizenship for recipients, standing Read more
My Sept. 8 Senior Fair at Ebensburg Young Peoples Community Center highlights this Senior Newsletter, which contains useful information for our seniors. Read more
Here's my most recent Veterans Newsletter, which contains information on the new state registry for veterans, the hike in National Guard pay that I supported and my Blue Lives Matter legislation. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns brought together family and friends to the Cresson American Legion? to remember PFC Thomas A. Cooney, a Silver Star recipient who was killed in action during World War II. Burns arranged to have the Cooney Road bridge over Route 22 named in his honor as a small tribute to his sacrifice and as a reminder to everyone else of the high price of freedom. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns hosted a "Heroes" Kids Fair at Patton Park where children and their families got to meet local police officers, fire fighters and emergency responders. Read more
EBENSBURG, Aug. 16 – In a ceremony organized by state Rep. Frank Burns, the family of a World War II Silver Star winner who died while serving with the U.S. Army in France will help dedicate the PFC Thomas A. Cooney Memorial Bridge at 11 a.m. Friday at Cresson American Legion Post 238. Burns sponsored H.B. 1260 to rename a bridge on a portion of Cooney Road spanning Route 22 in Munster Township in honor of Cooney, who was born April 28, 1917 and raised on a farm outside Lilly with his three brothers. While serving in the European Theater of Operation on Oct. 20, 1944, Cooney volunteered for a mine removal mission and continued in the face of enemy observation and direct hostile fire. He and his fellow Army engineers encountered heavy sniper and machine gun fire as they cleared mines along a strategically important road in France. Cooney was later killed in action along with three other engineers when a delayed-action mine detonated. Burns said his House bill to name the Cooney bridge was amended into a Senate bill (S.B. 1153) – a relatively common procedural occurrence – and was signed into law as Act 46 of 2016. The Cooney family includes his siblings Margaret, Charles, Edna, Thomas, James and Paul (and his wife Marcelle); nieces Joi, Patty, Cindy (deceased) and Joan Barret Garahan; nephew Tom Barret; and close family friend Carol Noon. Earlier this summer, Burns dedicated a bridge spanning U.S. 219 on Tower Road in Croyle Township as the Read more
EBENSBURG, Aug. 15 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, is hosting a complimentary spaghetti lunch for veterans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Cresson Volunteer Fire Co., 223 Ashcroft Ave., Cresson 16630. Guests are welcome, but only veterans with a military ID qualify for the free lunch. Guests can eat for $5. To RSVP by Monday, Aug. 22, please call Burns’ Portage office at 814-736-7339. Burns has hosted the free meal for veterans in the past, as a way of showing appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made in service to the country. “Once again, my staff and I have organized this event, and we’re encouraging all veterans who can make it to show up for food, camaraderie and recognition,” Burns said. “We’ll also be available to answer any questions veterans or their family members may have about state programs and services.” Read more
The 40,000-strong Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police has thrown its support behind state Rep. Frank Burns’ bill that would make assaulting law enforcement officers a hate crime, an endorsement Burns hopes will help propel the legislation to swift passage. Read more
EBENSBURG, Aug. 11 – State Rep. Frank Burns is hosting a “Heroes” Kids Fair from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 at the Patton Park, Beech and 1 st avenues, Patton 16668. Police officers, firefighters and EMTs will be on hand to be recognized for their service, and event highlights will include a landing by the MedStar emergency medical helicopter from Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. The free event will also feature games, activities, prizes and healthy snacks for children – and valuable information for adults from state, county and private agencies. Burns and his staff will also be on hand to answer questions and provide help concerning any state-related program. “We encourage everyone with children to come out and enjoy the festivities, and to bring along any inquiries and feedback they may have,” Burns said. “It’s a fun and action-packed time for all.” Call Burns’ Ebensburg office at 814-472-8021 for more information. Read more
EBENSBURG, July 27 – The 40,000-strong Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police has thrown its support behind state Rep. Frank Burns’ bill that would make assaulting law enforcement officers a hate crime, an endorsement Burns hopes will help propel the legislation to swift passage. In a letter to Burns, Joseph Regan, legislative committee chairman of the FOP’s Pennsylvania State Lodge, wrote, “Law enforcement officers risk their lives daily so the people of this commonwealth can enjoy peace and security. They deserve the highest level of protection from targeted acts of violence the law can provide.” In addition to voicing appreciation for Burns’ H.B. 2261, Regan noted, “The legislation will give law enforcement officers, as well as corrections officers at state or county institutions, additional protections under the state’s ‘hate crimes’ statute by raising the penalties for such heinous crimes.” Burns said he welcomes the unequivocal backing of the state FOP, a respected and bipartisan organization whose members deserve to have their employment status treated the same as ethnic intimidation. “This FOP support is a major boost for my bill, which is currently before the House Judiciary Committee,” Burns said. “We need to send a clear signal that assaults or attacks on law enforcement officers will draw the highest of penalties in Pennsylvania, and I’m Read more
The 40,000-strong Pennsylvania State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police has authored this letter of support for my Blue Lives Matter bill (H.B. 2261), which would make assault on a police officer a hate crime. Read more
EBENSBURG, July 20 – Approximately 1,000 customers of the Glendale Valley Municipal Authority will receive new water meters thanks to a $2.75 million Pennvest loan announced today by state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria. Burns said the low-interest, 20-year loan will enable the authority to install the meters at the 1,000-acre Glendale Yearound resort community. The project will also entail splitting shared connections into discreet services, each with a shut-off, service connection and backflow preventer. “In addition to enabling the authority to ensure customer billing equity, this will also promote water conservation at the community, which adjoins Prince Gallitzin State Park,” Burns said. “The work is expected to begin late this year and end in December 2017.” Burns said the multi-million-dollar state investment will benefit a water customer service population area of 1,500, which is great news for the 72 nd Legislative District. “I’d like to thank the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority board for choosing to fund this project, which will have long-term benefits to the Glendale Yearound area,” Burns said. Read more
EBENSBURG, July 18 – After another mass shooting of police officers – this time Sunday’s attack in Baton Rouge, La., that killed three and wounded three more – Rep. Frank Burns has renewed his call for swift passage of H.B. 2261, his bill to add assaults to law enforcement officers to Pennsylvania’s list of hate crimes. Burns said the spate of police officer shootings in other states reinforce the need to send a strong signal that the commonwealth will deal harshly with anyone who carries out any type of assault on police, corrections, probation or parole officers. "Like all Americans, I am again horrified and heartbroken at the news of yet another targeted attack on our police officers – this time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – and I ask everyone to join me in holding the fallen officers, the wounded and their families in our thoughts and prayers,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “But, thoughts and prayers alone are not enough. I'm urging everyone to contact their local lawmakers and ask for immediate consideration and passage of my Blue Lives Matter law, House Bill 2261, and start treating these attacks as the hate crimes they are." Burns added that despite some pressure from outside his 72 nd Legislative District to stop referring to his legislation as a Blue Lives Matter bill, he will not drop that nomenclature. “The people who want me do to that should stop wasting their breath. This Read more
Thanks to the Altoona Mirror for this editorial voicing support for my Blue Lived Matter bill, and for pointing out that, "Burns' proposed legislation shouldn't become tied up in political partisanship, the fate of so many other issues in Harrisburg." Read more
HARRISBURG, July 13 – Faulting its heavy use of back-door tax hikes on the likes of tobacco products, income tax on lottery winnings and downloaded internet data including apps to raise more than $1 billion, state Rep. Frank Burns voted "no" on today’s revenue bill. Burns, D-Cambria, issued the following statement explaining his position: "As a fiscally conservative Democrat, I cannot in good conscience vote ‘yes’ on a bill that amounts to a billion-dollar tax hike on certain groups like roll-your-own smokers, users of smokeless tobacco and those who download books, apps, music or movies from the internet. "Likewise, I have strong reservations about borrowing $200 million from other state funds in order to help balance the 2016-17 state budget. That’s a smoke-and-mirrors tactic, because sooner or later, the state’s going to have to repay that money. And it’s very likely another tax or taxes will be raised in order to do that. "Finally, imposing the state’s personal income tax on lottery winnings over $600 was something that never came up in any big way prior to approval of the new spending plan June 30. It’s just further proof that Pennsylvania has become a ‘spend first, tax later’ state, which is not sound budgeting and does a huge disservice to our residents. "We’ve got to stop playing ‘spin the wheel and see where it lands’ to come up with revenue Read more
Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns says he was putting Cambria County working families first by opposing a $1.3 billion tax increase that passed the House today to fund the state’s annual budget. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 12 – Buoyed by its swift netting of 11 co-sponsors in one day, state Rep. Frank Burns has introduced his Blue Lives Matter legislation to elevate assault on police, corrections, probation and parole officers to hate-crime status. In the works weeks before the tragic Dallas sniper attack that killed five police officers and wounded seven others, H.B. 2261 would fulfill Burns’ vision of creating added deterrence. It would put employment as a law enforcement officer on par with race, color, religion and national origin as covered classes under Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law. The legislation would make an attack against one of the listed law enforcement officers an offense one degree higher than it currently is; for example, a second-degree misdemeanor would become a first-degree misdemeanor. “I’ve already heard from a few outside of my district who aren’t happy with this legislation, but I believe it’s necessary to send a clear, unwavering signal of support for those who risk their lives to protect us,” Burns said. “Their job is dangerous enough as it is. If we expect police to go to work every day with an intentional target on their back, then it won’t be long before no one will want to be a police officer.” As there is nothing partisan about the goal of H.B. 2261, Burns said the bill has strong bipartisan support and deserves to move swiftly through the legislative committee approval Read more
After the tragic attacks on police in Texas, Pennsylvania state Rep. Frank Burns is introducing legislation to sharply increase penalties on anyone willfully choosing to commit a crime against a Law Enforcement Officer, treating such crimes as a Hate Crime under state law. Burns also plans to include Correctional Officers under his legislation. Burns says that we cannot have a civilized society without the “thin blue line” of law enforcement protecting citizens, and those officers deserve extra protection. Read more
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