News Center

Burns announces nearly $322,000 in state grants to 28 fire companies, EMS providers

(Apr 21, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 21 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, announced that 28 fire and ambulance companies in the 72nd Legislative District are receiving nearly $322,000 in state grants to aid their operations. “As someone who suited up to personally sample first responder training at the Cambria County Fire School, I can attest to the hard, dangerous and precise work our firefighters and EMS providers engage in every day,” Burns said. “These state grants will help them to continue to provide the high-level services that benefit our communities.” The grants are made possible by the Fire Company and Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program, which is funded by gaming revenue. With the grant program set to expire on June 30, the House recently voted unanimously for H.B. 1877, which would extend the program for four years. The bill passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate. Grants can be used toward repairing, building or renovating facilities. The money also can be applied toward purchasing equipment, training and certification of staff, or it may go to repay debt related to equipment purchases or facility building and maintenance. Organizations in the 72nd Legislative District receiving grants are: Portage Area Ambulance Association, $4,097; Ebensburg Area Ambulance Association, $7,201; Forest Hills Area Ambulance Association Inc., $7,201; Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Co., $7,201; John Carroll Area Ambulance Service, Read more

 

Burns announces $3.5 million Pennvest loan for water plant upgrade

(Apr 20, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 20 – An Ebensburg water treatment plant operated by the Nanty Glo Water Authority is receiving a $3.5 million, low-interest state loan for significant upgrades, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, announced today. Burns said the plant is at the end of its useful life and the 20-year loan, awarded by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, will help lower maintenance costs and improve water quality. “This Pennvest project will bring the plant into compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations, which is of utmost importance to the health and safety of residents, as well as create 10 construction-related jobs,” Burns said. “As the national controversy over lead in the water of Flint, Michigan demonstrates, we can never take safe drinking water for granted.” Technically speaking, Burns said the plant will benefit from a new, dual-unit, 800-gallons-per-minute upflow clarifier/filtration system; a backwash water supply pump station, waste equalization tank and plate settler; a reclaim water meter and pit; an on-site shallow injection well/absorption bed; a plate settler overflow; and minor repairs and maintenance to Williams Run Dam. The water system serves 1,604 medium- and low-income households, and is the bulk water supplier for Jackson Township. The interest rate on the loan is 1 percent for the first five years, rising to 1.72 percent for the remaining 15. Read more

 

Pet Food Drive underway through May 15

(Apr 15, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

My annual Pet Food Drive kicks off today, running from April 15 to May 15. Please consider making a donation at one of my district offices. Local schools are a big part of this effort, too. Here are the flyers. Read more

 

Burns says vital constituent service conduit restored by governor

(Apr 14, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 14 – Within days of going public with the plight of Lilly resident Chuck Onder, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, said the governor’s office has reversed field and silently restored a group of House Democrats’ ability to use legislative liaisons to tackle constituent service issues. Onder had gone 10 days without hearing from the Department of Environmental Protection on a creek flooding issue after Burns’ office forwarded Onder’s request for help March 28. Burns felt the delay proved the group’s contention that instructions to route such requests through the governor’s office was punitive, as all 11 affected legislators voted last month for a Republican bill to end the months-long 2015-16 budget impasse. "We found out Tuesday that DEP is interested in holding a conference call with Mr. Onder, which my office is in the process of arranging," Burns said. "While I do not like what happened and firmly believe we deserve an explanation and apology – our assertions were not ‘ridiculous’ as repeatedly claimed by the governor’s press secretary – it does not look like anyone in the administration is willing to ‘man up’ and admit making a mistake. "However, I think anyone who reads between the lines will be able to figure out who was telling the truth and who wasn’t. The governor’s office mysteriously instituted a change – then, after it Read more

 

Editorial: Talk of party retaliation over budget troubling

(Apr 14, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

This editorial concludes, "We urge Burns to continue to vote his conscience and to work with those who reside in his district, although we know that pressure from above can be suffocating." Rest assured that I will ALWAYS stand with the constituents. Read more

 

Burns votes to restore full 2015-16 funding to Cambria County schools

(Apr 13, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

HARRISBURG, April 13 – In a vote to ensure that Cambria County school districts get nearly $600,000 due them under budget legislation passed in March , state Rep. Frank Burns sided with the majority in today’s passage of H.B. 1589 by 149-45. Burns said he supported the fiscal code do-over so that schools in his 72 nd Legislative District and across Pennsylvania get the money that was siphoned off from them when Gov. Tom Wolf redirected funds to urban school districts in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chester-Upland. With Wolf’s action, those three school districts received the lion’s share, $101 million, of the extra $200 million included for public education in the 2015-16 state budget. “It’s untenable that public school districts are receiving less than called for in the budget bill that I and a majority of legislators supported,” said Burns, D-Cambria. “I will fight for proper dispersal of these funds, for however long it takes. It’s just not right.” The percentage losses of new money to Cambria County schools mostly fell in the 20- to 30-percent range, but ran as high as 71 percent in Richland School District and 91 percent in Westmont Hilltop School District. “We need to make sure that all school districts in Pennsylvania are treated as called for in duly-approved legislation – not at a level based on one person’s whim,” Burns said. “My vote today was, once again, a vote Read more

 

Burns: We Want Justice

(Apr 13, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns speaks on the House floor about legislation that would dramatically alter Pennsylvania's outdated statute of limitations in cases of child sex abuse. Burns called on his colleagues to give victims the chance at justice and to hold individuals and institutions accountable for these terrible crimes and cover-ups. The bill passed overwhelmingly shortly thereafter. Read more

 

Burns Honors Occupational Therapy Month

(Apr 12, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns thanks the House of Representatives for their unanimous support of his House Resolution designating April 2016 as Occupational Therapy Month in Pennsylvania and honors the healthcare professionals who provide those services across the Commonwealth. Read more

 

Pa. House Dems who signed letter to Gov. Wolf about retaliation note possible reversal

(Apr 12, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

It's good to see the governor's office apparently reversing course, because this change never should have been imposed in the first place. I hope that now, Chuck Onder of Lilly, who's been waiting for state guidance since March 28, will at least get a phone call. You can bet I'll be following up with him. Read more

 

Burns challenges governor’s assertion on constituent service

(Apr 08, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 8 – On the same day the governor’s spokesman was reiterating that "nothing has changed" regarding how he and other Democrats obtain constituent service, state Rep. Frank Burns was surveying the property of Chuck Onder, whose request for help had gone unheeded 10 days after being forwarded to the governor’s office. Unsurprising to Burns, he discovered that Ondery had a separate state-related problem resolved in just two days a year ago, when Burns and 10 other Democrats who voted with Republicans to end the 2015-16 budget impasse were permitted to deal directly with state agencies. Burns visited Ondery’s property Thursday, largely because his March 28 request for direction from the Department of Environmental Protection regarding his options to remedy a creek that floods his property was among the first impacted by the selective change imposed by Gov. Tom Wolf. "The governor and his press secretary keep saying ‘nothing has changed,’ but I’d like them to explain that to Mr. Ondery," Burns said. "He’s the guy being hurt by this childish political gamesmanship. It’s been 10 days and he hasn’t even received a courtesy call acknowledging receipt of his request." Burns said that since the Wolf administration changed the system after the budget vote – mandating that Burns’ constituent inquiries of this nature go through the governor’s office, Read more

 

Burns calls on governor to fund Cambria schools

(Apr 07, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 7 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today called on Gov. Tom Wolf to fund all school districts at levels called for in 2015-16 state budget legislation, instead of shepherding the lion’s share of $200 million in new funds to Philadelphia. Burns said Wolf, in doling out state basic education subsidy and Ready to Learn Block grant money, shortchanged 11 Cambria County school districts by nearly $600,000, ignoring levels called for by the legislation. The average cut among the county’s 12 school districts is over 30 percent. It’s a pattern that played out and has angered lawmakers in other parts of Pennsylvania as well, Burns said, as Wolf directed $76.8 million – a full 38 percent of the new funds – to Philadelphia. The governor is sending another $16.3 million to the Chester-Upland School District and $7.5 million to Pittsburgh. “The governor has unilaterally decided to send a little more than half of that $200 million in new education funding to those three urban school districts,” Burns said. “They’re getting that money at the expense of school districts like those in Cambria County and elsewhere, which the governor has decided will get less than spelled out in House Bills 1801 and 1327.” Only the Penn Cambria School District, which is getting 2 percent more money under the governor’s distribution plan, escaped the new-money decreases dictated by Wolf that range from a Read more

 

Pa. Democrats: Governor punishing us for supporting GOP budget

(Apr 07, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

I was one of 13 House Democrats who voted to end the 2015-16 budget impasse so our schools wouldn't close and human service providers would get paid. Apparently, the governor didn't like what we did. Read more

 

As Pennsylvania confronts clergy sex abuse, victims and lawmakers act

(Apr 04, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

Rep. Burns was interviewed at length by a reporter from the New York Times, which produced this story about clergy sex abuse and the quest to change Pennsylvania's statute of limitations law regarding those crimes. Read more

 

Burns hosts annual Pet Food Drive in conjunction with ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month’

(Apr 04, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 4 – Seizing the opportunity to remind folks that he favors stiffer animal abuse penalties, state Rep. Frank Burns will host his annual Pet Food Drive from April 15 to May 15 at his four offices and in participating 72 nd Legislative District schools. Burns, D-Cambria, noted that April is an opportune time to start the drive, as it is “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” month. He is asking residents to donate non-perishable pet food items, either in the classrooms of participating schools or at one of these constituent service offices: 535 Fairfield Ave., Lower Yoder Township, 15906; 119 S. Center St., Ebensburg, 15931; 112-A Munster Road, Portage, 15946; or Patton Senior Center, 405 Park Ave., 16668 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays). In addition to schools, Burns is coordinating this drive with a local animal protection organization. “Unfortunately, many animals in Pennsylvania wind up in shelters because of abuse or neglect, or because they simply don’t have a home,” Burns said. “In turn, these shelters can become cash-strapped when tasked with feeding and caring for such animals. In the past, citizens of the 72 nd Legislative District have shown their generosity for this cause – and we’re counting on them to show it again.” Burns also noted he remains strongly in favor of toughening the commonwealth’s animal abuse penalties, which currently stand at up to two Read more

 

Burns reveals release of $250,000 to Cambria County Solid Waste Authority

(Apr 01, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, April 1 – As the final portion of a state grant, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, said the Cambria County Solid Waste Authority will receive $250,000 toward purchase of two CNG recycling trucks in the next four to six weeks. Burns said the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has notified the authority that the final invoice is being processed for the $750,000 project, two-thirds of which is DEP-financed. "These new trucks will replace seven old trucks that had gone beyond their useful lives," Burns said. "The reason that two trucks can replace seven is that they are larger and have compacting capabilities. They are also less expensive to operate, and they run on a fuel that’s produced and in abundant supply in Pennsylvania." Earlier this week, Burns attended the unveiling of the locations of two CNG fueling stations announced by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. One will be in Ebensburg and the other at the CamTran main building in Johnstown. Read more

 

Burns continues support of special needs children

(Mar 30, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, March 30 – As special needs children were presented adaptive bikes, strollers and communications devices during a Monday event at St. Francis University in Loretto, state Rep. Frank Burns spoke of his role in securing $245,762 for the Ebensburg Regional Inclusive Playground. Opened in 2015 at Cambria Elementary School, the regional playground features special equipment designed to give children with physical and cognitive disabilities the chance to play alongside other children. It was built with a Burns-secured grant from the Commonwealth Financing Agency to the Central Cambria Education Foundation. “Just as I said then that all children should be included on the playground and be able to play together, today I say that all children should be able to enjoy riding a bike, participating in daily activities and using their voice,” Burns said, assessing the purpose of “ An Event to Change Kids’ Lives.” Burns said the purpose of both initiatives is to enable special needs children to fully participate in all the daily activities available to their peers without special needs. He commended the effort, noting, “Many of these adaptive devices are quite expensive, but their value goes beyond a dollar sign. They are helping kids lead more normal lives, and it’s hard to put a price tag on that.” In addition to St. Francis University, the Mainline Area Special Needs Advocacy Group, AFSCME District Council 83 Read more

 

Burns touts region’s public-private partnership status as PennDOT names two Cambria County compressed natural gas fueling stations

(Mar 29, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, March 29 – State Rep. Frank Burns lauded the positive impact of public-private partnerships like the one responsible for bringing two compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations to Cambria County, including one in Ebensburg for the CamTran fleet. Burns joined PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards and CamTran President Ed Cernic Jr. in making the announcement Monday in Johnstown, where the other CNG fueling station at the main CamTran building will be accessible to the public. "This $84.5 million project will construct and improve 29 public transit agency sites across Pennsylvania over the next five years," Burns said. "The state, our transit agencies and the public are the big winners." Burns said the Trillium CNG team – which will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the fueling stations – will also pay a 15 percent royalty to PennDOT, excluding taxes, for each gallon of fuel sold to the public. The team has guaranteed at least $2.1 million in royalties, which will be used to support the project. Burns said PennDOT expects the project to greatly reduce transit agencies’ dependence on state subsidy, and will help them achieve at least $10 million per year in savings. Read more

 

Burns relieved that governor will let 2015-16 state budget become law

(Mar 23, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

EBENSBURG, March 23 – Gov. Tom Wolf’s announcement today that he will let the final piece of 2015-16 state budget legislation become law prompted the following response from state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria: “It’s a relief to us all that instead of closing their doors, our public schools will get a total $200 million more in state subsidy – and that they, our human service providers and county governments won’t have to continue borrowing money to perform core functions. “While this spending plan might not be perfect, it delivers 5 percent more for state-subsidized universities and increases spending 3 percent overall, while not raising taxes. Now we can put this protracted impasse behind us, focusing our full energies on developing the consensus needed to pass the 2016-17 state budget by the June 30 deadline.” Burns was one of 13 House Democrats who voted March 16 in favor of this latest attempt to wrap up the 2015-16 budget, which was nine months overdue. Read more

 

First Responders Newsletter

(Mar 22, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

My work on behalf of our very valuable fire and EMS workers is highlighted in this newsletter dedicated to first responders. Please take a look for updates on issues that affect them. Read more

 

Winter Newsletter 2016

(Mar 22, 2016) Rep. Frank Burns

My latest newsletter is now available online. Please take a look to learn more about my positions, including my vote against raising state taxes. Read more

 

Burns announces nearly $322,000 in state grants to 28 fire companies, EMS providers
Apr 21, 2016

Burns announces $3.5 million Pennvest loan for water plant upgrade
Apr 20, 2016

Pet Food Drive underway through May 15
Apr 15, 2016

Burns says vital constituent service conduit restored by governor
Apr 14, 2016

Editorial: Talk of party retaliation over budget troubling
Apr 14, 2016

Burns votes to restore full 2015-16 funding to Cambria County schools
Apr 13, 2016

Burns: We Want Justice
Apr 13, 2016

Burns Honors Occupational Therapy Month
Apr 12, 2016

Pa. House Dems who signed letter to Gov. Wolf about retaliation note possible reversal
Apr 12, 2016

Burns challenges governor’s assertion on constituent service
Apr 08, 2016

Burns calls on governor to fund Cambria schools
Apr 07, 2016

Pa. Democrats: Governor punishing us for supporting GOP budget
Apr 07, 2016

As Pennsylvania confronts clergy sex abuse, victims and lawmakers act
Apr 04, 2016

Burns hosts annual Pet Food Drive in conjunction with ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month’
Apr 04, 2016

Burns reveals release of $250,000 to Cambria County Solid Waste Authority
Apr 01, 2016

Burns continues support of special needs children
Mar 30, 2016

Burns touts region’s public-private partnership status as PennDOT names two Cambria County compressed natural gas fueling stations
Mar 29, 2016

Burns relieved that governor will let 2015-16 state budget become law
Mar 23, 2016

First Responders Newsletter
Mar 22, 2016

Winter Newsletter 2016
Mar 22, 2016