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Philadelphia House Delegation Reacts to I-95 Collapse Emergency

Pennsylvania lawmakers consider data privacy bill

(Sep 18, 2023)

In a March memoranda prior to bill’s introduction, the HB 1201’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Ed Neilson said that consumers have a right to data privacy and to know how their information is being used online.“In the near future, I intend to reintroduce legislation that gives consumers rights when it comes to their personal data and requires certain businesses to protect consumer privacy and limit the collection of consumer data,” Neilson said in March. Read more

 

Pa. House panel examines consumer data privacy bill

(Sep 18, 2023)

The Commerce Committee looked at House Bill 1201 aimed at protecting consumers’ digital privacy, allowing them to access their personal information that’s been collected, giving them legal rights to decline or opt out of the sale of their personal information and banning the sale of all private information for consumers under age 16.HB1201 sponsored by Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, would give the state attorney general authority to enforce a digital privacy law. Read more

 

Neilson: PA Needs New Ideas For Funding Transportation

(Sep 14, 2023)

Throughout the trip, we all agreed that transportation is a nonpartisan issue – a people issue – that must be addressed. The lack of funding to fix our infrastructure in a timely manner before roads and bridges become a safety concern is a real problem from one end of the state to the other. Read more

 

State Grant Programs Open For Application (09/05/2023)

(Sep 05, 2023)

PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Regional Policing Assistance Program Who May Apply: Applicants for the Regional Policing Assistance Program may be any municipality – a city, borough, township, home-rule municipality, or county. Applicants may also be a public or quasi-public body, or its representative, duly authorized to act on behalf of one or more municipalities. All applications must be accompanied by fully executed Articles of Agreement or an Intergovernmental Agreement that establishes a Regional Police Department. Use: Funding will support efforts in establishing or expanding regional police departments that would improve the following: uniformity and consistency of enforcement across municipalities; recruitment; distribution and deployment of police personnel; training and personnel efficiency; career enhancement opportunities; enhanced professionalism; and reduction of costs. Funds: A total of approximately $1,000,000 in federal funds is being announced to support this initiative. Applicants may apply for up to $150,000 for the formation of a new regional police department or up to $50,000 for the expansion of an existing regional police department by adding a chartered municipality(ies). Application Deadline: September 6, 2023 More information: PCCD Website Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Legal Standing Video Read more

 

Neilson rallies successful effort to keep I-95 work on schedule, continues to check on reconstruction progress

(Jul 03, 2023)

HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., led a last-minute effort on Friday to enact legislation allowing Interstate 95 reconstruction work to continue by extending the governor’s emergency proclamation before it expired. After a truck tanker caught fire and the extreme heat caused a portion of I-95 to collapse, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an emergency proclamation on June 12 to acquire federal emergency funds and cut through red tape to expedite the rebuilding of the collapsed road. Due to a 2021 constitutional amendment, the governor’s proclamation would have expired after 21 days, July 3, unless the General Assembly voted to extend it. Neilson said this limitation on proclamations was enacted to stop supposed overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The emergency declaration was due to expire today, July 3, which would have brought the entire project to a halt and could have jeopardized the federal funding needed to complete it in an expedited manner,” Neilson said. The House of Representatives previously adopted Neilson’s H.R. 154 on June 26, which would have extended the governor’s emergency declaration by one year to give the Shapiro administration enough time and resources to complete the permanent reconstruction. However, the Senate never considered it. As time was running out and it appeared that budget negotiations would continue beyond the Read more

 

Neilson moves quickly to continue I-95 reconstruction as budget negotiations break down

(Jun 30, 2023)

State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., moved quickly today to pass legislation to help repair Interstate 95 by extending Gov. Josh Shapiro’s emergency declaration before it expires in the coming days. After a truck tanker caught fire and the extreme heat caused a portion of I-95 to collapse, Shapiro issued an emergency proclamation on June 12 to acquire federal emergency funds and cut through red tape to expedite the rebuilding of the collapsed road. Due to a 2021 constitutional amendment, the governor’s proclamation expires after 21 days (on July 3) unless the General Assembly votes to extend it. Neilson said this limitation was enacted to stop supposed overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It will cause problems for the entire region if we don’t extend the proclamation,” Neilson said. “It will halt the reconstruction efforts and cause unnecessary delays in rebuilding this critical bridge.” The House Transportation Committee, chaired by Neilson, unanimously approved S.R. 136, introduced by state Sen. Jimmy Dillon, whose district includes the collapsed portion of I-95. Dillon’s bill originally extended the governor’s emergency declaration by one year to give the administration enough time and resources to complete the permanent reconstruction. However, it was amended by the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee to only extend it to Nov. 1, 2023. It passed the Senate on June 28. Read more

 

Neilson’s automated speed enforcement legislation passes PA House

(Jun 30, 2023)

Legislation authored by state Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., chair of the House Transportation Committee, that would renew and expand automated enforcement programs throughout Philadelphia, passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today with bipartisan support. House Bill 1284 would eliminate the December 2023 expiration date of the Automated Speed Enforcement Program along Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia. It would also expand the ASE program to all roads in Philadelphia, contingent on PennDOT’s approval and the city’s adoption of a local ordinance and make necessary improvements to the ASE program. The ASE program on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, first implemented in June 2020, uses cameras to detect and record motorists exceeding the posted speed limit by 11 miles per hour or more along the boulevard. Crashes along Roosevelt Boulevard have declined by 36% since speed cameras were deployed, while total crashes in the rest of the city, where there are no speed cameras, have only declined by 6%. According to the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the ASE program has reduced speeding along Roosevelt Boulevard by a staggering 95%. Finally, and most importantly, Neilson said, the bill would protect schoolchildren on their walks through busy school zones by making fixes to the current law that authorizes school districts to use automated school bus stop-arm cameras and establishing a five-year pilot program for speed cameras in active Read more

 

An electric vehicle fee in Pa. touted as ‘best path forward’

(Jun 30, 2023)

“We must recognize the fact that our country is at the beginning stages of changing gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles,” Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, said. “We need to be certain that our roads and bridges can still be maintained, repaired, and replaced … we can no longer depend on gas taxes to be the sole source of funding to maintain our infrastructure and roadways.” Read more

 

Pa. House votes to extend I-95 disaster proclamation until next June

(Jun 28, 2023)

A resolution that would extend to next June Gov. Josh Shapiro’s emergency disaster declaration issued in the response to the collapse of a bridge on I-95 in Philadelphia passed the state House of Representatives. Read more

 

Neilson’s automated speed enforcement legislation passes PA House

(Jun 27, 2023)

Neilson said, the bill would protect schoolchildren on their walks through busy school zones by making fixes to the current law that authorizes school districts to use automated school bus stop-arm cameras and establishing a five-year pilot program for speed cameras in active school zones. Read more

 

Neilson’s I-95 resolution adopted by House

(Jun 26, 2023)

Unless the Senate also acts on Neilson’s resolution, that emergency proclamation will run out in 21 days (July 2) because of a constitutional amendment added to the state constitution in 2021, in which emergency declarations by the governor may only last for 21 days. Neilson said this limitation was enacted to stop supposed overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

 

New bill to expand Philly's speed cam program beyond Roosevelt Boulevard

(Jun 21, 2023)

The program, which is currently in use on Roosevelt Boulevard, is set to expire in December, but Philadelphia Democrat Ed Neilson is looking to change that with a bill that would not only get rid of the expiration date, but allow Philadelphia to expand the use of speed cameras beyond the boulevard. Read more

 

Neilson’s legislation advances out of House Transportation Committee

(Jun 20, 2023)

“I am grateful for my colleagues on the House Transportation Committee who voted to help all of Pennsylvania by ensuring the speedy and safe reconstruction of I-95,” Neilson said. “I-95 is such an important road, not only in Philadelphia, but the entire East Coast, and we need to extend the emergency proclamation for at least a year to ensure the project is fully funded and completed.” Read more

 

Neilson praises workers of I-95 and Gov. Shapiro

(Jun 20, 2023)

“Ninety-five is such an important artery here in the Northeast,” Neilson said. “Everyone came out to help when we needed it and I’m full of gratitude for each and every person who made a difference on this.” Read more

 

Neilson introduces resolution to extend Gov. Shapiro’s emergency declaration

(Jun 16, 2023)

State Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila., chair of the PA House Transportation Committee, has introduced House Resolution 154, which seeks to extend Gov. Josh Shapiro’s emergency proclamation for the safe and prompt rebuilding of Interstate 95, one of the busiest highways in Pennsylvania, carrying an average of 160,000 vehicles daily. Read more

 

Philadelphia wants harsher penalties for illegal dirt bikes than state allows

(Jun 16, 2023)

In Philadelphia, the regulations cause problems for a pre-existing local ordinance. Before the state law passed, Philadelphia’s off-road vehicle law had stronger provisions, but that has now been superseded by the legislature.One way to find a compromise would be to exempt the city and let it reimplement its more-stringent law — a policy advocated by Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia. Read more

 

The Pa. legislature should make speed cameras permanent

(Jun 13, 2023)

Although our speed camera enforcement program is having a dramatic impact on public safety on Roosevelt Boulevard, it is set to legislatively expire in December unless the General Assembly acts to make it permanent. Currently, State Rep. Ed Neilson has sponsored legislation that would do just that, while also permitting the use of automated enforcement cameras to protect children on school buses and in designated school zones. Read more

 

Neilson’s legislation advances out of House Transportation Committee

(Jun 12, 2023)

A bill authored by state Rep. Ed Neilson, advanced out of the House Transportation Committee today that would make Pennsylvania a safer place for drivers and pedestrians alike. Read more

 

Neilson Thanks First Responders at I-95 Disaster

(Jun 12, 2023)

At a Pa. House Transportation Committee meeting one day after the collapse disaster on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, Chairman Rep. Ed Neilson thanks the first responders and officials who came to Northeast Philadelphia to assist in the response and recovery. Read more

 

Philadelphia House Delegation Reacts to I-95 Collapse Emergency

(Jun 11, 2023)

Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Phila. is intricately involved in the response. "I'm on site with city, state and federal officials. We're assessing the situation and working with PEMA and the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management," Neilson said. "We will provide critical updates as soon as we have more details, but for now please stay away from the area." Read more

 

Pennsylvania lawmakers consider data privacy bill
Sep 18, 2023

Pa. House panel examines consumer data privacy bill
Sep 18, 2023

Neilson: PA Needs New Ideas For Funding Transportation
Sep 14, 2023

State Grant Programs Open For Application (09/05/2023)
Sep 05, 2023

Neilson rallies successful effort to keep I-95 work on schedule, continues to check on reconstruction progress
Jul 03, 2023

Neilson moves quickly to continue I-95 reconstruction as budget negotiations break down
Jun 30, 2023

Neilson’s automated speed enforcement legislation passes PA House
Jun 30, 2023

An electric vehicle fee in Pa. touted as ‘best path forward’
Jun 30, 2023

Pa. House votes to extend I-95 disaster proclamation until next June
Jun 28, 2023

Neilson’s automated speed enforcement legislation passes PA House
Jun 27, 2023

Neilson’s I-95 resolution adopted by House
Jun 26, 2023

New bill to expand Philly's speed cam program beyond Roosevelt Boulevard
Jun 21, 2023

Neilson’s legislation advances out of House Transportation Committee
Jun 20, 2023

Neilson praises workers of I-95 and Gov. Shapiro
Jun 20, 2023

Neilson introduces resolution to extend Gov. Shapiro’s emergency declaration
Jun 16, 2023

Philadelphia wants harsher penalties for illegal dirt bikes than state allows
Jun 16, 2023

The Pa. legislature should make speed cameras permanent
Jun 13, 2023

Neilson’s legislation advances out of House Transportation Committee
Jun 12, 2023

Neilson Thanks First Responders at I-95 Disaster
Jun 12, 2023

Philadelphia House Delegation Reacts to I-95 Collapse Emergency
Jun 11, 2023