Rep. Belfanti, chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee, watches as the governor signs legislation to extend unemployment compensation benefits to out-of-work Pennsylvanians who have exhausted or are expected to exhaust their benefits. The extension is being paid for with $145 million in federal stimulus funding.

Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (center) looks on as Gov. Ed Rendell signs legislation prohibiting hospitals in Pennsylvania from requiring nurses and other patient care workers to work mandatory overtime. The new law, which Belfanti's Labor Relations Committee was instrumental in passing, was sponsored by former state Rep. Dan Surra (left).

Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (center), chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee, is honored by the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police with a lifetime membership in the State FOP Lodge. Presenting the award to Belfanti are (left to right) FOP Legislative Committee Member Leroy Anthony, Legislative Committee Chairman John Ward, state FOP President Mark Koch and state FOP Recording Secretary Daniel Zakraysek.