News Releases Archives - Page 3 of 58

October 21, 2025

Senate Approves State Budget that Funds Essential Services Without Raising Taxes

For the second time this year, Senate Republicans approved a state budget that respects taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that counties, school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding, said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13). [Read More]

October 17, 2025

Op-Ed: Pennsylvania’s Clean Water Comeback

In the face of recent headlines about the Chesapeake Bay’s lagging progress, Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River stands out as proof that strategic, local-first investments can yield measurable results. [Read More]

October 16, 2025

Senators Introduce Legislation to Address Rise of AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material

Senators Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Scott Martin (R-13) and Lisa Baker (R-20) have introduced a bill to better protect young people against the serious threats posed by child abuse materials generated using artificial intelligence (AI). [Read More]

October 8, 2025

Senate Passes Bill to Waive Interest on Short-Term Budget Impasse Loans

Pennsylvania counties, early education programs, rape prevention and domestic violence prevention centers could pay no interest on loans from the Pennsylvania Treasury under legislation approved by the Senate today, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13). [Read More]

September 30, 2025

Senate Republicans to Introduce Legislation Providing Loan Interest Forgiveness to Counties and Head Start

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13) announced their intention to introduce legislation forgiving the interest on loans following the announcement by State Treasurer Stacy Garrity to help Head Start providers and counties during the state budget impasse. [Read More]

September 23, 2025

Senator Martin Calls for Accountability from Governor Shapiro on Energy Policy

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) issued the following statement today in reaction to Governor Shapiro’s comments yesterday on energy policy: [Read More]

September 5, 2025

Senator Martin: SEPTA Funding Request Vindicates Senate Republican Transit Approach

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) said today that SEPTA’s request to use existing funding from the $2.5 billion Public Transportation Trust Fund to avoid service cuts uses key elements of a solution identified last month by Senate Republicans. [Read More]

August 28, 2025

Senator Martin Calls on Governor Shapiro, PA Democrats to Stop Playing Politics on Transit

As lawmakers continue to work to finalize the state budget, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) today called on Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Democrats to stop playing politics on the mass transit issue. [Read More]

August 14, 2025

Pennsylvania Legislators Lead Effort to Protect Kids from Online Exploitation

A group of Pennsylvania legislators is taking action to address the alarming rise in online child exploitation by introducing a resolution that designates the week of August 17 through 23, 2025 as “Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. [Read More]

August 12, 2025

Senate Republican Leaders: Senate Advances Responsible Budget Bill, Transportation Funding Legislation

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) announced today that counties, school districts, hospitals and others would receive critical funding from the commonwealth immediately under a budget bill approved by the Senate. [Read More]