Burns: Veteran Community Initiatives awarded $39,750 to bolster services

(Jul 14, 2023)

“This grant will boost VCI’s efforts to serve our local veterans, and it is a privilege to do what I can to help those who have served our country.” Read more

 

Burns calls on Casey, Fetterman, Joyce to investigate lethargic HUD response to Prospect information request

(Jul 13, 2023)

“Three months ago, I asked for documents and communication exchanged between the Johnstown Housing Authority, HUD’s Pittsburgh Field Office and/or HUD’s Region III Office in Philadelphia, concerning the Prospect public housing complex,” Burns said. “What I’ve gotten since then is a runaround that no citizen should have to endure – starting with a request for clarification of what is a pretty clear request. Follies such as this have no place in good government.” Read more

 

Burns votes to save Cambria public school districts $3.7 million annually

(Jul 07, 2023)

Burns, D-Cambria, said the time is right to reign in the unbridled money grab by corporate cyber charter schools, which are bleeding local school district budgets dry by siphoning off millions in local tax dollars. These schools frivolously spend those tax dollars advertising to recruit new students in order to increase their profits. They even sponsor professional sports teams and offer gifts and travel to their students’ parents. Read more

 

Burns introduces legislation to protect Pennsylvania drivers

(Jul 03, 2023)

Intent on protecting the state’s drivers from unnecessary tickets and fines, state Rep. Frank Burns introduced two measures that would do just that. Read more

 

Summer 2023

(Jun 30, 2023)

To read my latest newsletter, click here. Read more

 

Burns: Johnstown should abandon quest for 200 percent tax hike

(Jun 23, 2023)

Johnstown city officials want to keep taxing folks at the higher rate, even though Act 47 no longer applies. They want state elected officials, including Burns, to carve out a special exception in state law so they can keep collecting lots of money – an extra $900,000 a year, to be exact. Read more

 

Burns: $290,000 in state grants coming back to Cambria County

(Jun 09, 2023)

“As I’ve said before, if I don’t advocate for our region, state funding won’t make it back to Cambria County,” he said. “We could miss out on the benefits that these grants can bring, or have to pay for them out of our own pockets. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to fight and make sure our region gets its fair share of state funding.” Read more

 

Seats remaining for Burns’ June 27 Harrisburg bus trip

(Jun 08, 2023)

"Our state Capitol is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country, and there’s so much to learn and see,” Burns said. "If you are interested, please call my office to find out more information and reserve your spot on the bus." Read more

 

Burns seeks answers on Oakhurst and Coopersdale public housing redevelopment plan

(May 31, 2023)

EBENSBURG, May 31 – Clued in by a concerned tenant who shared a notice that Oakhurst and Coopersdale public housing are now in play for a wholesale redevelopment, state Rep. Frank Burns is reiterating his call for the Johnstown Housing Authority to reveal what impact HUD’s required “ equity plan ” could have on the effort. Burns, D-Cambria, said the notice sent his way said public meetings held today in Oakhurst and tomorrow in Coopersdale are to discuss the JHA’s pursuit of a Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant , as part of a “Transformation Plan” for those communities. Burns said the JHA is looking to “explore rehabilitation and redesign potential, and assess the potential of mixed-income redevelopment with a public-private financing model,” according to the notice. According to the facilities listing on the JHA website, Oakhurst has 100 units, Oakhurst Extension has 300 units and Coopersdale has 121 units. Added to the 110 units at the recently vacated Prospect community, that means 631 of the JHA’s 983 family housing units could be impacted by redevelopment. “What’s unclear at this point is whether those communities would be rebuilt at their current locations, which are all in the city of Johnstown, or whether they could be placed elsewhere in Cambria County,” Burns said, noting that the JHA currently operates a 56-unit complex in Nanty Glo Read more

 

Burns: Johnstown abandoned mine reclamation project secures share of $7.8 million in DEP funding

(May 30, 2023)

“Securing this new funding is going to support reclamation work that will expand access to recreational trails, provide access for maintenance of the Inclined Plane and build on other projects underway to expand hillside recreation and tourism for the area," Burns said. Read more

 

Burns: JHA takes 35 days to comply with Prospect RTK request

(May 25, 2023)

“The JHA told me it needed a 30-day extension to determine whether the information I was requesting needed to be released – then basically turned around and released the same information to news outlets 13 days later,” Burns said. “By doing so, the JHA has proven that it likes to play games. It’s no wonder the public gets fed up with how they operate.” Read more

 

House sends Burns bill to Senate; measure would provide in-state tuition for students in deployed military families

(May 24, 2023)

“Military families can’t control the dynamics of their lives when engaged in serving our nation,” Burns said. “Students shouldn’t be penalized for their families having to answer the call of duty. My bill would make sure they aren’t.” Read more

 

Burns calls on JHA to discuss ‘equity plan’ reach in Cambria County

(May 23, 2023)

Burns, D-Cambria, said although the equity plans are a well-publicized requirement for housing authorities – with potential far-reaching implications – he has heard precious little from the JHA about the steps it is taking toward compliance. Read more

 

Burns refuses to dilute Second Amendment rights

(May 22, 2023)

Burns, D-Cambria, specifically balked at criminalizing gun owners who’ve done nothing wrong, instead of going after gun-using criminals, many of whom are already prohibited from owning firearms because of prior convictions. Read more

 

House committee reports out Burns bill to ensure children of deployed military members retain in-state tuition

(May 22, 2023)

“The nature of military service requires them to go where and when they’re needed, so miltary parents can’t control where they’re sent,” Burns said. “That unpredictability shouldn’t penalize them or their children when it comes to their child’s higher education. My bill would make sure they aren’t.” Read more

 

PA House Steel Caucus meets to discuss importance of state’s steel industry

(May 12, 2023)

“Manufacturing steel domestically guarantees not only that steel is produced with ample regulatory oversight, but also produces an incredible economic multiplier in the process, and helps improve our safety and security,” Burns said. “It was great to meet with both labor and management from the steel industry today to learn more about the positive impact the industry is having in the Commonwealth.” Read more

 

Burns: Grant opportunities for digital literacy, job training programs now available to communities

(May 11, 2023)

As part of the fourth round of the Digital Literacy and Workforce Development Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, there is approximately $900,000 available in grant funding. The funds will support digital literacy and job training programs in communities that lack access to broadband infrastructure and high-speed internet. Read more

 

Burns: JHA not sure Prospect ceiling work is public information?

(May 02, 2023)

“It’s incredible the JHA isn’t sure that taxpayer money spent on public housing should be public information,” Burns said. “I think what they really want is 30 days to come up with some creative excuse for not complying with my request.” Read more

 

Burns: $63,600 state grant to offer high school students more opportunities for college

(May 02, 2023)

“I’ve always made economic development a priority, and supported programs and grants to make education, training and jobs more accessible to improve the region’s economy,” Burns said. “This grant will give more students more opportunities to work toward higher education and a successful future.” Read more

 

Revisionist history swirls around Vision 2025’s ‘Human Capital Plan’

(Apr 21, 2023)

In the interest of truth and accuracy let’s dissect what was – and wasn’t -- said by Vision Together 2025 chairman Bill Polacek and the Tribune-Democrat in the recent news story, “Many businesses dealing with staff shortages, exploring immigrant employment.” Read more

 

Burns: Veteran Community Initiatives awarded $39,750 to bolster services
Jul 14, 2023

Burns calls on Casey, Fetterman, Joyce to investigate lethargic HUD response to Prospect information request
Jul 13, 2023

Burns votes to save Cambria public school districts $3.7 million annually
Jul 07, 2023

Burns introduces legislation to protect Pennsylvania drivers
Jul 03, 2023

Summer 2023
Jun 30, 2023

Burns: Johnstown should abandon quest for 200 percent tax hike
Jun 23, 2023

Burns: $290,000 in state grants coming back to Cambria County
Jun 09, 2023

Seats remaining for Burns’ June 27 Harrisburg bus trip
Jun 08, 2023

Burns seeks answers on Oakhurst and Coopersdale public housing redevelopment plan
May 31, 2023

Burns: Johnstown abandoned mine reclamation project secures share of $7.8 million in DEP funding
May 30, 2023

Burns: JHA takes 35 days to comply with Prospect RTK request
May 25, 2023

House sends Burns bill to Senate; measure would provide in-state tuition for students in deployed military families
May 24, 2023

Burns calls on JHA to discuss ‘equity plan’ reach in Cambria County
May 23, 2023

Burns refuses to dilute Second Amendment rights
May 22, 2023

House committee reports out Burns bill to ensure children of deployed military members retain in-state tuition
May 22, 2023

PA House Steel Caucus meets to discuss importance of state’s steel industry
May 12, 2023

Burns: Grant opportunities for digital literacy, job training programs now available to communities
May 11, 2023

Burns: JHA not sure Prospect ceiling work is public information?
May 02, 2023

Burns: $63,600 state grant to offer high school students more opportunities for college
May 02, 2023

Revisionist history swirls around Vision 2025’s ‘Human Capital Plan’
Apr 21, 2023