Posted: | January 22, 2019 04:33 PM |
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From: | Senator Mike Regan |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Civil Air Patrol Codification |
In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation enhancing the standing of the Civil Air Patrol within the Commonwealth. The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and has three core missions - Aerospace Education, Cadet Programs, and Emergency Services (Search & Rescue, Disaster Relief, and Counter-Drug Support). In Pennsylvania, it is comprised of 55 units whose volunteers work alongside state police, fire, and other emergency service professionals to help or save the lives of others. In addition, the Civil Air Patrol offers Cadet Training School, a PA Wing STEM Academy, and Hawk Mountain Ranger School for ages 12 to 20. Members of the organization contributed over $5.3 million in man-hours in 2017, but their contributions to youth development and life-risking valor through emergency services are incalculable. This legislation would amend Title 51 (Military Affairs) by codifying the Civil Air Patrol under the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. DMVA would operate as liaison for the Civil Air Patrol and supervise the expenditures of state funding as well as the maintenance and their use of Commonwealth facilities. Each fiscal year, the $100,000 in state funding for this program needs to be restored by the General Assembly. By codifying the Civil Air Patrol’s state operations under the Department, it is my hope that this measure would allow the Civil Air Patrol to continue their exemplary work under more secure footing. Last session, SB 137 was introduced by Senator McGarrigle and sponsored by Senators Baker, Brooks, Costa, Greenleaf, Rafferty, Schwank, Vulakovich and Yudichak. This legislation was unanimously passed by the Senate and reported by the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee but was not taken up by the full House. If you have any questions, please contact Nate Silcox of my staff at 717-787-8524. |
Introduced as SB128