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Early on the agenda when the Legislature returns for the June budget session is consideration of legislation to deal with the June 30 sunset of the 911 wireless fee. The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee has scheduled HB 2275, a bill that provides a simple extension of the wireless sunset to June 30, 2015, for consideration on June 4, and quick House action on the bill is expected.

Gov. Corbett signed two additional child protection bills into law on May 14, bringing the total number of bills in the package enacted this session to 18.

Senate Bill 31, introduced by Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), will integrate school employment background checks and reports of suspected child abuse by school employees into the Child Protective Services Law. The bill is now Act 44 of 2014. In addition, Act 45 of 2014, formerly HB 434 by Rep. David Maloney (R-Berks), eliminates the separate standards for school employees for reporting suspected child abuse and provides a procedure for the investigation and disclosure by county agencies of information related to fatalities or near fatalities of a child due to child abuse.

On May 12, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously approved S. 2322, legislation that would provide a six-year reauthorization of MAP-21, the federal surface transportation law. MAP-21 is set to expire Sept. 30, 2014.

U.S. House and Senate negotiators filed their Water Resources Reform and Development Act conference report on May 15, several months after both chambers passed their own versions of the legislation. The report includes major reforms to accelerate project delivery, and increases flexibility and local participation by requiring concurrent environmental reviews and establishing hard deadlines for feasibility studies.

The report creates two pilot programs to expand the local role in project implementation. A new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), modeled after the successful Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program for transportation projects, will establish a five-year pilot program to allow the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to provide direct loans and loan guarantees for water infrastructure projects, including levee, flood control, drinking water and waste water projects. Further, the conference report increases funding for dam inspections and maintenance, provides stronger safety requirements, upgrades emergency preparedness plans in order to prevent dam failures, and improves recovery plans in the event of dam failures. Many of these elements are closely linked to CCAP's waterway infrastructure and maintenance priority.

A number of current and former CCAP members appeared on the May 2014 primary election ballot, seeking state or federal office. Complete election results are on the Department of State web page, www.dos.state.pa.us.

Lieutenant Governor

Former Bucks County commissioner Jim Cawley was unopposed for the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor. Bradford County commissioner Mark Smith was unsuccessful in his bid for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

Congress

Chester County commissioner Ryan Costello was unopposed for the Republican nomination to the open 6th district Congressional seat. Michael Fitzpatrick (R), 8th district Congressman and former Bucks County commissioner, was unopposed for nomination.

PA Senate

Former Montgomery County commissioner Ruth Damsker was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the 12th district. Delaware County councilmember Thomas McGarrigle was unopposed for the Republican nomination to the 26th district seat being vacated by former Delaware county councilmember Edwin Erickson. Incumbent John Eichelberger, former Blair County commissioner and member of the CCAP Board, was unopposed for the Republican nomination to his 30th district seat and is unopposed in the fall.

Former Monroe County commissioner and current 176th House district representative Mario Scavello was uncontested for the Republican nomination for the redistricted 40th district Senate seat. Incumbent and former Allegheny County councilmember Wayne Fontana (D) won an uncontested race for nomination, and is uncontested in the Fall. Chester County commissioner and CCAP Board member Kathi Cozzone was uncontested for the Democratic nomination to the 44th district seat. Current House member and former Mercer County commissioner Michelle Brooks won a contested Republican nomination to the open 50th senatorial district seat.

PA House