Ag and Environment | Health Care | Business | Energy | Transportation
Commitment – Action – Success
Ag and Environment
- Led lobbying efforts to create the state’s Right to Farm Act and Agriculture Communities and Rural Environment (ACRE) Act.
- Successfully lobbied to increase state funding for the state’ Conservation Districts from $3.75 million to more than $15.5 million annually.
- Drafted and passed legislation (Alternative and Renewable Energy Bond Fund and First Industries Fund) creating programs that finance agriculture-related energy projects.
- Drafted legislation, secured Governor’s approval and coordinated 356 member statewide coalition to create the Keystone Park, Conservation and Recreation Fund, which has delivered early $1 billion for environmental and conservation purposes.
- Drafted and secured passage of the state’s first biosecurity legislation for agricultural and research facilities.
- Secured more than $30 million in funding for projects to clean waste and wastewater, removing nutrients from the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- Drafted and secured passage of legislation permitting continued genomic research in Pennsylvania.
Health Care
- Successfully lobbied for “joint and several liability” and venue reform legislation, reducing liability insurance costs for physicians.
- Secured creation of a loan forgiveness program for primary care physicians practicing in underserved areas of the Commonwealth.
- Led a 60 member coalition to successfully reform prior authorization processes for health insurers.
- Secured passage of several bills designed to protect children from abuse and establish a statewide Task Force on Child Protection. Placed two pediatricians on the statewide Task Force.
- Defeated legislative initiative by insurers to collapse rate categories, saving primary care physicians more than $20 million annually in medical liability premiums.
- Defeated attempts to expand scope of practice by midlevel health care workers that would have jeopardized patient quality of care.
- Coordinated government relations programs for a Primary Care Physicians’ Coalition, uniting more than 13,000 internists, pediatricians and family physicians to support programs that provide access to quality care.
Business
- Secured more than $100 million in state economic development funding for clients.
- Led efforts and passed changes to permit Sunday sales of wine and liquor in the Commonwealth, resulting in increased state revenues of more than $1.5 billion since passage.
- Drafted and successfully passed legislation creating safety groups under the state’s Workers Compensation laws, saving businesses millions of dollars annually.
- Secured legislation to provide significant changes to rules governing retail licensees serving alcoholic beverages including outdoor service, noise regulations and cocktails to go, and brought state liquor laws for bars and taverns into a balance with those of other licensees.
- Coordinated public and community relations efforts to minimize local opposition to businesses in Adams, Bucks, Chester, Crawford, Erie, Fayette and Schuylkill counties.
- Researched and located sites, tax free properties for manufacturing operations, working with local economic development and elected officials.
- Successfully lobbied for amendments to the state’s Unemployment Compensation system to reduce business costs for small businesses.
Energy
- Proposed and led efforts to develop permanent funding program including grants, loans, and tax credits, for alternative and clean energy companies, resulting in $650 million bond program.
- Researched and located sites for multiple energy generating operations, working with local economic development and elected officials.
- Prepared business and financial plans for several start up alternative energy and advanced technology firms resulting in early stage investments.
- Drafted and successfully created a statewide mandate for biodiesel content in diesel for on road use, based on state production of this renewable fuel.
- Secured $20 million in state support for the state’s first energy and nutrient recovery facility, generating 2.2 MW of electricity, while removing 70,000 tons of poultry manure annually from the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
- Convinced the US Senate and Department of Energy to award a $1.4 million grant for R&D in alternative feedstocks and biodegradable automotive lubricants.
- Organized the Pennsylvania Biomass Energy Association, a statewide industry-driven association promoting biomass as a sustainable energy resource.
Transportation
- Secured capital budget funding, and release of more than $100 million in state funds for rail improvements and economic development projects across the state.
- Helped lead statewide coalition to secure sustainable funding for infrastructure improvements for the state’s roads, bridges and freight rail lines.
- Drafted and led effort to increase funding for improvements to the state’s dirt and gravel road system from $4 million to $24 million annually.
- Developed and secured approval of a state plan to identify key agribusiness transportation networks, roads and bridges for use in planning critical infrastructure improvements.
- Drafted and secured passage of amendments to the PennSecurity Fuels Initiative to provide quality standards for biodiesel sought by engine manufacturers, end users and consumers.