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PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1817, 1842, 2091, 2156
PRINTER'S NO. 2411
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1431
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MASSER, GOODMAN, SCHLEGEL CULVER, HENNESSEY,
TOOHIL, YOUNGBLOOD, SAMUELSON, DERMODY, PETRARCA,
CALTAGIRONE, THOMAS, HELM, MALONEY, READSHAW, DiGIROLAMO,
MILLARD, SAINATO, O'BRIEN, CAUSER, WHEELAND, WARD, MARSICO,
FREEMAN, A. HARRIS, D. COSTA, SAYLOR, PETRI, DeLUCA, KORTZ,
BARBIN, MICCARELLI AND MARSHALL, MAY 23, 2017
AMENDMENTS TO SENATE AMENDMENTS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SEPTEMBER 13, 2017
AN ACT
Designating that portion of State Routes 54, 901 and 2023 in
Northumberland County and Schuylkill County as the Honorable
Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., Memorial Highway; designating Exit
18 of State Route 43, known as the Searights Road
interchange, in Fayette County as the Staff Sgt. John P.
Wanto Vietnam Veteran Exit; designating Exit 15 of State
Route 43, known as the Old Pittsburgh Road interchange, in
Fayette County as the Lance Corporal Russell W. Naugle
Vietnam Veteran Exit; designating a bridge on that portion of
State Route 2003 over the Yellow Breeches Creek, South
Middleton Township, Cumberland County, as the Sgt. Adam C.
Schoeller Memorial Bridge; designating a portion of State
Route 18 in West Fallowfield Township, Crawford County, as
the Staff Sergeant James Douglas Mowris Memorial Highway;
designating a portion of State Route 100 from the
intersection of Main Street and Tilghman Street in Upper
Macungie Township, Lehigh County, to the intersection of
Claussville Road and Kernsville Road in Lowhill Township,
Lehigh County, as the Captain Mark T. Resh Memorial Highway;
designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 18
(College Avenue) over the Little Shenango River, Greenville
Borough, Mercer County, as the Greenville Veterans Memorial
Bridge; designating that portion of State Route 3078 and
State Route 3090 in York County from the intersection with
State Route 116 to the intersection with State Route 3042 as
the Private First Class Donald R. Gise Memorial Road;
designating a bridge on that portion of State Route 1005,
known as Church View Road, Segment 0180, Offset 0000, over
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Beaver Creek, South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, as the
PFC/POW William G. Koontz Memorial Bridge; AND designating a
bridge on that portion of State Route 588 over Interstate
376, Chippewa Township, Beaver County, as the TFC Blake T.
Coble Memorial Bridge; and designating the bridge carrying
State Route 3012 over the Susquehanna River between City
Island and the intersection with State Route 1010 and State
Route 1027, commonly referred to as the Market Street Bridge,
as the Senator Harold Mowery Market Street Bridge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Honorable Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) The Honorable Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., represented
the 107th Legislative District, covering portions of
Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties
from 1981 to 2010.
(2) During his 30 years in the House of Representatives,
Representative Belfanti served on numerous committees and was
chairperson of the Labor Relations Committee from 1993 to
2010.
(3) Representative Belfanti was active on numerous State
boards and commissions and championed workers, small
businesses, veterans and improved accessibility for the
disabled.
(4) Representative Belfanti attended Mount Carmel area
schools and was a lifelong scout, earning the rank of Eagle
Scout in 1962 and returning to scouting as an adult as a
charter member of Cub Scout Pack 3178.
(5) Representative Belfanti and his wife, Cecilia, were
instrumental in bringing scouting back to the Mount Carmel
area following a long dormancy, and Representative Belfanti
received numerous awards during his 25 years of service.
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(6) Before becoming a State Representative,
Representative Belfanti enlisted in the United States Marine
Corps in 1967 and served a 13-month tour of duty in the
Vietnam War with helicopter units that supplied troops,
ammunition and medical supplies to Marines. His CH-46
helicopters, known as Sea Knights, were also the major means
for rescuing and providing medivacs for the wounded.
(7) Representative Belfanti rose to the rank of sergeant
before being honorably discharged in 1971. Among his
decorations were two Bronze Stars with Valor, the Combat
Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam
Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the
Vietnam Service Medal.
(8) Representative Belfanti was active in numerous
veteran organizations and cofounded the Black Diamond
Detachment of the Marine Corps League, as well as a life
member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), AMVETS and
Veterans of the Vietnam War. Representative Belfanti was
named Veteran of the Year by the National War Veterans
Council and also received the Patriot of the Year award.
(9) Representative Belfanti's legacy includes saving the
former Shamokin State General Hospital from divestiture, the
opening of State Correctional Institution Coal Township,
resolving issues related to the Centralia mine fire, the
Shamokin Creek project, championing numerous abandoned mine
reclamation projects and helping with many rail improvement
and economic development projects in the district.
(10) Representative Belfanti was also instrumental in
securing funding for the State Route 901 widening project
from Locust Summit to Interstate 81, as well as the Strong
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Connector improvement project.
(b) Designation.--The portion of State Routes 54 and 901 in
Northumberland County and Schuylkill County from the
intersection of State Route 54, State Route 901 and State Route
2023, also known as the Mount Carmel Merriam Highway, in Mount
Carmel Township, Northumberland County, to the intersection of
State Route 901, also known as Fairgrounds Road, and High Road
in Butler Township, Schuylkill County, is hereby designated as
the Honorable Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., Memorial Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to
traffic in both directions on the highway.
Section 2. Staff Sgt. John P. Wanto Vietnam Veteran Exit.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Staff Sergeant John P. Wanto served with the United
States Army, A Company, First Battalion, 506th Infantry,
101st Airborne Division.
(2) On March 21, 1970, Staff Sergeant Wanto was killed
in action in Thua Thien Province, Vietnam.
(b) Designation.--Exit 18 of State Route 43, known as the
Searights Road interchange, in Fayette County is hereby
designated the Staff Sgt. John P. Wanto Vietnam Veteran Exit.
(c) Signs.--The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission shall erect
and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the exit
to traffic on the highway near the exit.
Section 3. Lance Corporal Russell W. Naugle Vietnam Veteran
Exit.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows:
(1) Lance Corporal Russell W. Naugle served with the
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United States Marine Corps, C Company, First Battalion, First
Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force.
(2) On February 15, 1968, Lance Corporal Naugle was
killed in action in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam.
(b) Designation.--Exit 15 of State Route 43, known as the
Old Pittsburgh Road interchange, in Fayette County is hereby
designated the Lance Corporal Russell W. Naugle Vietnam Veteran
Exit.
(c) Signs.--The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission shall erect
and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the exit
to traffic in both directions on the highway.
Section 4. Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Adam C. Schoeller was raised in South Middleton
Township and graduated from Boiling Springs High School in
2008.
(2) Sgt. Schoeller served his country honorably as a
United States Marine and was deployed during Operation
Enduring Freedom.
(3) On January 14, 2016, Sgt. Schoeller gave his life in
service to his country when his helicopter collided with
another helicopter off the coast of Oahu's Waimea Bay.
(4) Sgt. Schoeller's leadership, dedication and bravery
distinguish his outstanding service to his country, evidenced
by the numerous honors he received during his enlistment in
the United States Marine Corp, including the Navy and Marine
Corps Achievement Medal, Individual Air Medal, Strike/Fight
Air Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea
Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal,
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Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation
and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 2003
over the Yellow Breeches Creek, South Middleton Township,
Cumberland County, is hereby designated the Sgt. Adam C.
Schoeller Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 5. Staff Sergeant James Douglas Mowris Memorial
Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Staff Sergeant James Douglas Mowris, a native of
Adamsville, Crawford County, enlisted in the United States
Army in 1984 after graduation from Conneaut Lake High School.
(2) Over a period of nearly 20 years, Staff Sergeant
Mowris honorably served his country on active duty with the
United States Army and with the Army Reserve.
(3) Staff Sergeant Mowris served in operations in
locations across the globe, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, Honduras, El Salvador, Kosovo, Cuba and Afghanistan.
(4) The distinguished military career of Staff Sergeant
Mowris ended on January 29, 2004, when he was killed along
with seven other soldiers in an explosion during the clearing
of an enemy weapons and ammunition cache in Ghazni,
Afghanistan.
(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 18 in West
Fallowfield Township, Crawford County, from the intersection
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with State Route 322 to the Crawford/Mercer County Line is
designated as the Staff Sergeant James Douglas Mowris Memorial
Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to
traffic in both directions on the highway.
Section 6. Captain Mark T. Resh Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Captain Mark T. Resh, of Killen, Texas, was a native
of Fogelsville, Lehigh County, and a 1996 graduate of
Northwestern Lehigh High School, where he was a member of the
National Honor Society, math club and student council and was
captain of the varsity soccer team in his senior year.
(2) In 2001, Captain Resh graduated from the University
of Pittsburgh with a degree in engineering.
(3) Captain Resh served as an Apache helicopter pilot
with the United States Army, 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation
Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(4) On January 28, 2007, near An Najaf, Iraq, Captain
Resh placed the helicopter he was piloting in the direct line
of enemy fire so that another air crew that was under attack
could maneuver out of danger. Over the next 15 minutes, he
bravely flew in the face of intense enemy fire to support the
coalition ground forces until his aircraft was struck by
enemy fire and crashed, killing Captain Resh.
(5) Captain Resh was awarded the Purple Heart and the
Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action.
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(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 100 from the
intersection of Main Street and Tilghman Street in Upper
Macungie Township, Lehigh County, to the intersection of
Claussville Road and Kernsville Road in Lowhill Township, Lehigh
County, is hereby designated as the Captain Mark T. Resh
Memorial Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to
traffic in both directions on the highway.
Section 7. Greenville Veterans Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Greenville Borough, Mercer County, has been home to
many courageous military veterans who have fought for our
freedom.
(2) Every Memorial Day a ceremony is held at the bridge
on State Route 18 (College Avenue) over the Little Shenango
River during which the Greenville VFW drops a wreath into the
river in honor of those who have served in defense of the
United States.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 18
(College Avenue) in Greenville Borough, Mercer County, over the
Little Shenango River is hereby designated the Greenville
Veterans Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 8. Private First Class Donald R. Gise Memorial Road.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
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(1) Private First Class Donald R. Gise, age 25, formerly
of Spring Grove Borough, York County, was killed in action on
October 4, 1968, while stationed in Mekong Delta, Vietnam,
while serving as an infantryman with the United States Army.
(2) Pfc. Gise was born on December 20, 1942, and
graduated from Spring Grove Area High School in 1960.
(3) Pfc. Gise was drafted into the Army in January 1968.
(4) Pfc. Gise was awarded the Bronze Star for his
service and his bravery.
(5) Pfc. Gise was survived by his wife, Linda Louis
Gise, whom he had married in 1963, and his son, Donald
Richard Gise, who was born 22 days after Pfc. Gise was killed
in action.
(b) Designation.--That portion of State Route 3078 and State
Route 3090 in York County from the intersection with State Route
116 to the intersection with State Route 3042 is hereby
designated the Private First Class Donald R. Gise Memorial Road.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the road to
traffic in both directions on the road.
Section 9. PFC/POW William G. Koontz Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) PFC William G. Koontz of New Enterprise, was drafted
into the United States Army during the Korean War.
(2) PFC Koontz arrived in South Korea on March 25, 1951,
and along with other new arrivals was given only five days of
basic combat training before being sent to the front lines.
(3) Less than a month later on April 22, 1951, the
Soviet-backed Chinese Red Army launched a massive assault
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against the United Nations and American forces. PFC Koontz
was on the front lines that day with Company E, 24th
Division, Eighth Army.
(4) Company E's location was soon overtaken by the
Chinese and PFC Koontz along with 13 other men hid in a cave
to avoid capture. After four days without food or water, the
men were forced to surrender.
(5) PFC Koontz and his fellow soldiers were taken to a
temporary prison camp, from which they started a month-long
march north to a permanent camp in North Korea. Many of PFC
Koontz's companions did not survive the journey.
(6) For 888 days, PFC Koontz endured the brutal
conditions at the Chong-song prison camp, living in mud-
walled huts without sanitation and surviving on a diet
consisting mostly of infested grain while forced into hard
labor.
(7) On August 11, 1953, PFC Koontz was released by the
Chinese and eventually returned home to Pennsylvania, where
he reunited with his family and lived a full life with his
wife, to whom he was married for over 50 years, two sons,
grandchildren and many other relatives.
(8) For his heroism and sacrifice, PFC Koontz was
awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Theater
Ribbon, the World War II Victory Ribbon and the Army
Occupation Medal (Japan).
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 1005,
known as Church View Road, Segment 0180, Offset 0000, over
Beaver Creek, in South Woodbury Township, Bedford County, is
hereby designated the PFC/POW William G. Koontz Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
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maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 10. TFC Blake T. Coble Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings and declarations.--The General Assembly finds
and declares:
(1) Trooper First Class Blake T. Coble, a member of the
Pennsylvania State Police, passed away in the line of duty at
the age of 47, on October 4, 2012.
(2) Born in Pittsburgh on November 15, 1964, Trooper
First Class Coble was the son of Tom and Judy Clegg Coble.
(3) Trooper First Class Coble was a member of the
Pennsylvania State Police for more than 24 years, and he had
been attached to the Brighton Township Barracks for nearly 20
years.
(4) A beloved family member, dedicated police officer
and avowed community steward, Trooper First Class Coble
exemplified the best qualities of the human experience. He
generously gave of his heart and time to enhance the quality
of life of his family and community.
(b) Designation.--The bridge located on State Route 588 over
Interstate 376 in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, is hereby
designated the TFC Blake T. Coble Memorial Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 11. Senator Harold Mowery Market Street Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Harold F. Mowery, Jr., was born January 4, 1930, in
Chambersburg and was raised in Mechanicsburg.
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(2) As a graduate of Mechanicsburg High School and
Dickinson College, Mr. Mowery was a product of the
Pennsylvania education system.
(3) Mr. Mowery entered the insurance business in 1954
and earned a chartered life underwriter degree. Over several
decades, Mr. Mowery founded several highly successful
insurance businesses which employed hundreds of
Pennsylvanians.
(4) Mr. Mowery was elected to the House of
Representatives of Pennsylvania in 1976 and went on to serve
seven terms. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Mowery
achieved a reputation for expertise on fiscal and pension
issues and advocated for the adoption of private-sector
business principles to the operation of public programs and
State spending. He was also instrumental in establishing the
Public Employee Retirement Commission.
(5) In 1990, Mr. Mowery became part of State political
history as the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor
on the ticket headed by Barbara Hafer.
(6) In 1992, Mr. Mowery was elected to represent the
31st District in the Senate of Pennsylvania. He served with
distinction until his retirement in 2004.
(7) During his time in the Senate, Senator Mowery
enriched the lives of thousands as Chairperson of the Public
Health and Welfare Committee and Vice Chairperson of the
Education Committee. He also served as Vice Chairperson of
the Legislative Data Processing Committee and as a rank-and-
file member of numerous standing committees, including
Banking and Insurance, Law and Justice and Labor and
Industry.
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(8) During and after his public service career, Senator
Mowery was a prominent community leader. He supported the
establishment of the Camp Hill Lion Foundation to enhance
academic, athletic and cultural resources. He was also a
supporter of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts,
the construction of the Grace Milliman Pollock Performing
Arts Center and the performing arts, including the Harrisburg
Symphony Orchestra. Senator Mowery aided many charities by
sponsoring and supporting benefits, galas and community
fundraisers.
(9) Senator Mowery's professional achievements,
extensive community involvement and the myriad of awards and
accolades he received stand as strong testimony to his
genuine concern for the well-being of the Commonwealth and
the people of the 31st Senatorial District.
(10) By all accounts, Senator Mowery was a loving family
man, a respected businessperson and a dedicated and
accomplished public servant worthy of emulation for
generations to come.
(b) Designation.--The bridge carrying State Route 3012 over
the Susquehanna River between City Island and the intersection
with State Route 1010 and State Route 1027, commonly referred to
as the Market Street Bridge, is hereby designated as the Senator
Harold Mowery Market Street Bridge.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain architecturally appropriate signs displaying the name
of the bridge to traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 12 11. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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