News Releases

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November 18, 2025

Employers, Trade Unions and Legislative Leaders: New Permitting Reforms, Stopping RGGI Will Boost PA’s Economy

Senate and House Republican leaders, along with energy industry stakeholders including trade unions and business organizations, today highlighted many positive impacts the significant new reforms to Pennsylvania’s permitting process and getting Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) will have on our state’s economy in the months and years ahead.  [Read More]

Senate Republican Leaders Highlight Pro-Growth Budget Passed by Senate
November 12, 2025

Senate Republican Leaders Highlight Pro-Growth Budget Passed by Senate

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) said the bipartisan state budget plan passed today will help grow Pennsylvania’s economy and makes key improvements to the spending plan proposed earlier this year by Gov. Josh Shapiro.  [Read More]

Senate Approves State Budget that Funds Essential Services Without Raising Taxes
October 21, 2025

Senate Approves State Budget that Funds Essential Services Without Raising Taxes

For the second time this year, Senate Republicans approved a state budget that respects taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that counties, school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding, said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13).  [Read More]

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October 8, 2025

Senate Passes Bill to Waive Interest on Short-Term Budget Impasse Loans

Pennsylvania counties, early education programs, rape prevention and domestic violence prevention centers could pay no interest on loans from the Pennsylvania Treasury under legislation approved by the Senate today, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13).  [Read More]

Senate Republicans to Introduce Legislation Providing Loan Interest Forgiveness to Counties and Head Start
September 30, 2025

Senate Republicans to Introduce Legislation Providing Loan Interest Forgiveness to Counties and Head Start

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13) announced their intention to introduce legislation forgiving the interest on loans following the announcement by State Treasurer Stacy Garrity to help Head Start providers and counties during the state budget impasse.  [Read More]

Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Office Makes Staff Announcements
September 12, 2025

Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Office Makes Staff Announcements

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) made the following staff announcements as Chief of Staff Rob Ritson recently accepted a position with UPMC.   [Read More]

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward on the 24th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States of America
September 11, 2025

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward on the 24th Anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States of America

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) issued the following statement on the 24th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States of America:  [Read More]

Senate Republican Leaders: Senate Advances Responsible Budget Bill, Transportation Funding Legislation
August 12, 2025

Senate Republican Leaders: Senate Advances Responsible Budget Bill, Transportation Funding Legislation

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) announced today that counties, school districts, hospitals and others would receive critical funding from the commonwealth immediately under a budget bill approved by the Senate.  [Read More]

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward Statement Regarding the U.S. Steel Plant Explosion
August 11, 2025

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward Statement Regarding the U.S. Steel Plant Explosion

Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works explosion:  [Read More]

PA Senate Leaders Issue Statement on State Budget Progress
June 30, 2025

PA Senate Leaders Issue Statement on State Budget Progress

Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) issued the following statement today on the current status of the 2025-26 state budget.  [Read More]

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