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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Chris Sainato
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Sainato bill to extend death benefits to civil air patrol wins committee approval
HARRISBURG, June 6 – State Rep. Chris Sainato's legislation (H.B. 2411), which would extend death benefits to Pennsylvania Civil Air Patrol members who die in the line of duty, was voted out of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Wednesday.
"Members of our Civil Air Patrol conduct search and rescue operations, provide disaster relief and perform homeland security missions," said Sainato, D-Lawrence/Beaver. "They put their lives on the line for us, and certainly they deserve the same benefits as our other emergency responders."
The state's Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act provides $100,000 to families of emergency responders who die while performing their duties. The bill authored by Sainato, who serves as Democratic chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, would amend the act to include the Civil Air Patrol.
The Civil Air Patrol is a federally supported, nonprofit organization that serves as an official civil auxiliary arm of the United States Air Force.
Sainato's bill is now in a position to be considered by the full House of Representatives.
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