Biography

03/19/1936 -

Patricia H. "Pat" Vance (R31) Cumberland and York (Part) Counties 2004-2014 (R31) Cumberland (Part) and York (Part) Counties 2015-2016

Early Life: 

Patricia H. "Pat" Vance, born March 19, 1936, Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; Frederick B. and Mary Huston; William Penn High School, York, Pennsylvania, 1954; Harrisburg Hospital School of Nursing, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1957; nurse; elected, Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds, 1978-1990; member, executive committee, Cumberland County Republican Committee; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1990-2004; not a candidate for reelection, 2004; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2004-2016; married, Charles D. "Chuck" Vance; two sons, one deceased.

Early Career: 

Charge Nurse, long-term assisted living facility, surgical pediatric nurse, Harrisburg Hospital.

Awards: 

Legislator Award, Cumberland County Conservation District, 2009; Advocate for Child Health Legislative Award, Pennsylvania State Education Association, 2008; Carlisle Area Citizen of the Year, Exchange Club of Carlisle, 2008; Distinguished Service to Families Award, Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations; Friend of Public Education Award, Council on Public Education; Outstanding Community Service Award, Asian Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania; Public Policy and Advocacy Achievement Award, Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation (Sen. Vance to deliver commencement keynote, 2009.

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Republican, Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds, 1978-1990; first woman elected to that office. (Thompson, 2015).

Member, executive committee, Cumberland County Republican Committee.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 87th house district, 1990-2004; appointed, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Authority, 1991-1996; appointed, Select Committee on Rules Review, 1999; appointed, co-chair, Select Committee on Pharmaceuticals, 2000; not a candidate for reelection, 2004.  

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 31st district, Cumberland and York (Part) Counties, 2004-2014, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 31st district, Cumberland and York (Part) Counties, 2015-2016; authored 25 laws, including: expanding the state’s prescription drug benefit program, preventing insurance companies from discriminating against domestic violence victims and establishing a “bill of rights” for HMO health care customers. Notable laws Vance supported include: Domestic Violence legislation [Act 24-1996], Tobacco Settlement [Act 55-2004] and PACE [Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly].  Retired from Senate November 30, 2016 (Vance Will Not Seek Re-election, 2015).  

Committee assignments over her tenure: Advisory Committee, Cumberland and Perry Counties Domestic Violence Services; Keystones of Public Health Steering Committee; appointed, Capitol Preservation Committee, 2009-2016; Senate committee assignments, Appropriations, Communications and Technology (Vice Chairwoman), Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Finance, Public Health and Welfare (Chairwoman).  

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography: 

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

"SESSION OF 1991 - 175TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1991-01-01.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2015-2016). Bogden, S. (Editor). (Volume 122). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; pages 3-34, 3-40. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-23.

(2015, November 19). Vance Will Not Seek Re-Election. Senator Vance. wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015111998.HTM

Thompson, Charles. (2015, Nov. 19) Sen. Patricia Vance, a West Shore political mainstay, calls this her last term. PennLive. 

Sen. Patricia Vance, a West Shore political mainstay, calls this her last term - pennlive.com

Former Senator and House Member, Pat Vance completed an interview for the House Archives Oral History project at the time of her retirement, 2016. 

Access it here: Sen. Pat Vance oral history - YouTube

Papers of Patricia H, Vance, 1991-2004, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg.