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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 6, 2023 02:57 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert Freeman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Establishing the Official Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth |
| In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation creating the official position of Pennsylvania Poet Laureate. Poetry is a literary art form widely celebrated by the United States and forty-six states by designating an official poet laureate. Governor Casey appointed Samuel Hazo as Pennsylvania Poet Laureate in 1993 but the position has since been effectively terminated. Many local governments in the Commonwealth, including Philadelphia, York, and Erie County, to name a few, honor their local poets by designating them poet laureates. Through creating the position of Pennsylvania Poet Laureate, we will recognize important contemporary contributors to the literary arts and promote our Commonwealth’s cultural heritage. My legislation would create the official position of Pennsylvania Poet Laureate, establish a selection process where a committee shall send a list of nominees for the governor to make a final decision. The Pennsylvania Poet Laureate would serve at official functions such as reading a poem at the governor's inauguration. Please join me in co-sponsoring this worthy legislation. |
Introduced as HB2308