Legislative Update June 2019

Update from Commander, PA Wing dated 27 June 2019

Members of Pennsylvania Wing, Supporters and Friends,

Senate Bill 128 passed the PA House and Senate Wednesday and was presented to Governor Wolf for his signature yesterday! This is very good news for PA Wing CAP and its members.

This legislation codifies (makes into a law) the relationship between the Pennsylvania Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA) of which The Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, Maj Gen Anthony Carrelli is the Cabinet head. The legislation names the DMVA the supervising agency for Pennsylvania Wing's State Appropriation. As you probably know, Gen Carrelli is also the Commander of our Pennsylvania National Guard and often refers to PA Wing CAP as, "Part of Pennsylvania's Air Force." We are fortunate to have such support and recognition!

This is the third legislative session during which bills similar to this have been introduced. All PA Wing members should be delighted and grateful it passed early in this session!

Many dedicated supporters of Pennsylvania Wing helped bring Senate Bill 128 (SB 128), and therefore its predecessors, to passage: Sen Mike Regan and Rep Steven Barrar, Majority Chairs of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness (VA&EP) Committees respectively, and Sen Lindsey Williams and Rep Chris Sainato, Minority Chairs of the Senate and House VA&EP, all worked together in their usual bipartisan spirit to make SB 128 bill passage happen. 

Sen Regan introduced SB 128 in the current legislative session and backed it with his all; Rep Barry Jozwiak introduced similar legislation in the house in this and two prior sessions and that paved the way for eventual passage. Mr. Nathan Silcox and Mr. Rick O'Leary, Executive Directors of the Senate and House VA&EP Committees, both Captains in our PA Wing Legislative Squadron, did lots heavy lifting in support of our legislation and PA Wing across all three sessions.

I'd be remiss if I neglected to express our gratitude to all the members of the Senate and House VA&EP committees, most of whom are PA Legislative Squadron Members, and their very helpful staff members who've been so receptive to our requests for assistance on this legislation and all legislative matters.

Our state appropriation is a tangible proof of the value the members of PA Wing brings to Commonwealth through our Volunteer Service. The passage of SB 128 is the ultimate recognition that our good work in Cadet Programs, Emergency Services and Aerospace Education benefits the Commonwealth and its citizens.

Thank you all for your dedicated Volunteer Service and support! Semper Vigilans!

V/R

 

Col Kevin Berry, CAP

Pennsylvania Wing Commander

UPDATE:  This bill was signed by the Governor on 2 July 2019