The Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese, which a grand jury determined shielded priests who sexually abused children for decades, should make amends by supporting legislation to lengthen the statute of limitations for such crimes, state Rep. Frank Burns said at a news conference today. Burns, D-Cambria, organized the noon event at the Cambria County Courthouse to showcase his and others’ support for changing Pennsylvania laws so adult victims of child sexual abuse, currently time-barred by the statute of limitations, will have a limited, two-year opportunity to bring a civil suit. They also support complete elimination of civil and criminal statutes of limitations for future victims of child sex abuse. Read more
Saying it confirms the suspicions that cemented his support for abolishing the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, state Rep. Frank Burns said criminal charges announced today against three Franciscan friars stemmed from a teacher’s assaults on students reported at his former Johnstown high school. The charges filed by the state attorney general center on the molestation of over 80 children by the late Brother Stephen Baker at Bishop McCort High School and elsewhere between 1992 and 2010. Burns, who graduated from McCort in 1994, was never victimized by Baker, but knew him and is certain his friends and classmates were. Read more
Stressing the need for everyone to come to grips with political and economic reality, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today was one of 13 Democrats who cast a yes vote on a 2015-16 state budget bill put forth by Republicans who dominate both Houses of the legislature. The measure was approved, 128-63. Burns said with last year’s unfinished budget bleeding into preparations for the upcoming 2016-17 budget, and with his constituents adamant about not wanting any new taxes, his vote was about ending the political gamesmanship between House Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Read more
Reiterating a pledge made in the wake of a grand jury report documenting rampant child sexual abuse in the Altoona-Johnstown diocese, state Rep. Frank Burns today joined a cadre of lawmakers who implored their peers to change the state’s outmoded statute of limitations laws for such crimes. On the heels of a similar event he organized at the Cambria County Courthouse, Burns, D-Cambria, participated in a Capitol news conference centered on building support for passage of legislation that would provide a retroactive two-year window for victims to file a civil suit, and would eliminate the criminal and civil statutes of limitations completely for future cases. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns attended a rally and news conference at the state Capitol to demonstrate public support of efforts to get bills that would remove the statute of limitations on sexual abuse cases moved to the full House for a vote. Read more
Saying the move reflects well on the ability and stability of the Cambria County workforce, state Rep. Frank Burns today hailed the state-approved relocation of 50 administrative human services jobs to the Hiram G. Andrews Center from Dauphin County. Burns, who helped lobby to obtain the jobs, said the Dauphin County Assistance Office has had trouble keeping the customer service positions filled, battling a nearly 100-percent annual employee turnover. Even though the 50 employees will still report to the Dauphin County assistance office executive director, Burns said his home county will benefit from the addition of good-paying jobs. Read more
Shaken by a grand jury report that 50 priests molested and raped children in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown over decades, state Rep. Frank Burns today condemned the mass cover-up and vowed to support legislation that would repeal the statute of limitations for such crimes. Burns said it’s unfathomable that despite "staggering" abuse as reported by the state Office of Attorney General, no one can be criminally charged because they are either dead or too much time has passed. Read more
Noting it corrects an oversight that occurred five years ago, state Rep. Frank Burns is pleased to announce that active-duty service members are now exempt from the local Earned Income Tax in Pennsylvania. Burns voted in favor of H.B. 561 when it came before the House last year; it was recently signed into law by the governor as Act 16 of 2016. The new law exempts military personnel from the EIT on military pay, regardless of where it is earned. Read more
Standing with representatives of more than a dozen law enforcement agencies as well as the Cambria County district attorney, state Rep. Frank Burns today helped kick off a ramped-up effort to eradicate illegal drugs. As part of the "Push out the Pusher" campaign involving Cambria County Crime Stoppers, which Burns has helped sponsor since its inception, the renewed effort to combat heroin and other drug use in the area includes a maximum tip line reward increase from $5,000 to $8,000. Read more
Forms for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for the 2015 tax year are available at my district office – and my staff is ready to help you file yours for free ! The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters. Half of Social Security income is excluded and the maximum standard rebate is $650. Claimants must reapply for rebates every year because they are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid each year. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may file rebate claims on behalf of deceased claimants who lived at least one day in 2015 and meet all other eligibility criteria. The oft-extended deadline to apply for a rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2015 is June 30, 2016, and the rebates normally are distributed by the Deparment of Revenue beginning July 1. So, the sooner you file, the sooner you will receive your money. Read more
Demonstrating his willingness to cross party lines, state Rep. Frank Burns was among a handful of House Democrats who voted with the Republican majority this week to restore state funding for child advocacy centers, prisons and burn centers. Burns said the votes, undertaken to counteract line items vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf in the 2015-16 state budget, gained his support because they represented the right moves for Pennsylvania, especially regarding child advocacy centers. Read more
Bills to name separate Cambria County bridges after a World War II soldier killed in action and a state trooper who died in the line of duty unanimously passed the House this week, said state Rep. Frank Burns, their prime sponsor. “It is gratifying to see full support in the House for these bills, which would honor the memories of two brave men – one a soldier, the other a state trooper – who died in the performance of their duties,” said Burns, D-Cambria. Read more
PACE, PACENET and PACE plus Medicare are Pennsylvania's prescription assistance programs for older adults, offering low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older. As of this year, the legislature passed a law excluding Social Security Medicare Part B premiums from being counted towards income levels. Read more
Pennsylvania has a Children's Health Insurance Program that provides free and low-cost health insurance to children. CHIP is not welfare – it covers children of working parents whose employers don't offer coverage and who can't afford private insurance. If you can't afford health insurance for your children, chances are they are eligible for CHIP. Read more
Applications for two scholarships offered through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are now being accepted online, according to state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, who urges interested students to apply before the March 1 deadline. Although it may seem like a long shot, Burns said that Brea Neri, a graduate of Windber Area High School and resident of the 72nd Legislative District, was awarded one of the 2011 scholarships. Read more
Each year, the Pennsylvania Treasury receives millions of dollars of unclaimed property. It is estimated that roughly one in 10 Pennsylvanians has unclaimed property. Read more
In Pennsylvania, you can choose the company that generates your electricity – also known as your electric supplier. This means that you have the power to switch to a competing supplier who can offer the lowest price, or provide a specific service you want, such as “green” or renewable energy. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns hosts his annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon to thank veterans for everything they have done for our country. Read more
The office of Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns can help veterans obtain the services and benefits they've earned through their service to our country. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Frank Burns held a bridge dedication to honor Technical Sergeant Alexander Miller Abercrombie, who died fighting in Germany during World War II. The US Route 219 bridge over US Route 422 will stand as a reminder for generations to come of the sacrifices made by our military to protect freedom here and abroad. Read more
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