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The Weekly Roundup
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Prescription Drug Take Back Set for Saturday
State and local law enforcement agencies will accept unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs on Saturday, April 29, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., unwanted prescription medications may be dropped off at select locations. No personal information is required to participate in a drop-off.
Stop by any police station in the 122nd District to safely drop off expired or unwanted prescription drugs.
If you miss this event, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA), works with local communities to provide grants that facilitate the installation of hundreds of secure and permanent prescription drug drop-off boxes installed throughout Pennsylvania.
Click here to find a nearby location.
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Protecting the Second Amendment
To prevent local governments from enacting their own laws seeking to diminish the Second Amendment, the House gave its approval to House Bill 671 this week.
Although Commonwealth law already stipulates that local governments cannot pass their own firearms laws, some communities have done so anyway. As a result, citizens with no criminal intent are placed in danger of breaking rules they don’t know exist.
House Bill 671 would deter local jurisdictions from imposing illegal ordinances by requiring them to reimburse reasonable attorneys fees and costs to bring a lawsuit challenging the illegal ordinance.
The measure, which was originally enacted in 2014, directly responds to a state court decision which ruled the law unconstitutional. That ruling was based on technical grounds, and the substance of the legislation was never called into question.
Additionally, the annual Second Amendment Rally will be held Monday, May 22, at 10 a.m. in the Main Rotunda of the State Capitol.
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Celebrating Pennsylvania’s Small Businesses
More than 99 percent of businesses in Pennsylvania are small businesses, and April 30-May 6 has been designated Pennsylvania Small Business Week to celebrate these entrepreneurs and their impact on our economy.
In recognizing the valuable role these businesses play in our Commonwealth, the House continuously works to enact pro-small business policies, including tax fairness and regulatory reforms.
Pennsylvania’s more than 1 million small businesses employ 2.5 million workers, with small businesses, having created nearly 24,000 new jobs in the second half of 2015.
For more information, click here.
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PA Wants More Choices, Convenience
Building on the success of recent reforms that have opened the private marketplace to sell wine in Pennsylvania, the House approved a four-bill package this week to expand those opportunities.
The bills would establish licenses for retail stores to sell wine and spirits; authorize licensees with seating capacities to sell spirits in addition to wine; and allow private wine retailers and importers to have more control over the supply, delivery and pricing of wine.
The reforms are designed to gradually dismantle the archaic system of the state selling alcohol and provide more opportunities for the private sector, along with raising hundreds of millions in much-needed state revenue.
The bills go to the Senate for review.
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Around the Capitol
Pictured with me are Bill Hornberger, president of the PA State Ranger Association (PSRA) FOP Lodge 103 and David Roberts, director PSRA FOP Lodge 103. They visited the Capitol for FOP Advocacy Day.
Fourth-grade students from Towamensing Elementary School visited the Capitol last Friday. Thanks for coming down!
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Working to Reduce Blight
I joined Sen. Argall, along with several members of the Blight Task Force, at an event on Monday morning in the Capitol to share the group’s priorities for the upcoming session and to recognize the anti-blight bills that have been recently signed into law to help revitalize our state’s communities.
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Thanks for Participating in our Telephone Town Hall!
On Wednesday evening, I hosted a telephone town hall where local residents asked questions about legislative issues, the state budget, property taxes and much more. I sincerely appreciate all those who listened in and shared their time with me as we enjoyed a productive dialogue about problems facing our state and our community. Thank you!
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| Office Locations |
| 110 North Third Street, 2nd Floor, Lehighton, PA 18235 | (610) 377-6363 |
| 2681 State Route 903, Unit 3, Albrightsville, PA 18210 | (570) 722-8700 |
| Room 403 Irvis Office Building, PO Box 202122, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2122 | (717) 260-6139 |
| Email: dheffley@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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