October 19, 2026 · TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT · 2,084 words · 22 speakers · 61 segments
Thank you. Thank you. Good morning.
Oh, my God, that hurt my ear.
Good morning, everyone. I'd like to call up House Resolution 654, printers number 4034.
Oh. Missed? Okay.
I'm sorry. We have to start with taking who is here and who is not and who is voting by designation.
So, Josh, please call the roll. All right.
Chairwoman Daly. Here.
Representative Bellman. Designation.
Representative Boyd. Designation.
Representative Brennan.
Representative Zapita Freitas. Designation.
Representative Serrato. Here.
Representative Powell. Designation.
Representative Probst. Designation.
Representative Prokopiak.
Representative Rivera.
Representative Rusnok. Designation.
Oh, no. Actually, she is on the teams, so she is present. But she's still on designation.
Yes.
Representative Steele. Designation.
Representative Takak. Designation.
Representative Young. designation.
Representative Cepeda-Frentz is here.
Please update the roll call.
Chairman Warner. Designation.
Representative Armanini.
Representative Banta. Designation. Representative Barger.
Designation. Representative Cook.
Representative Cooper. Designation. Representative
Flick. Representative
Jones. Designation. Representative Pickett.
Designation. Representative Smith. Designation.
Acting Chairman Tordzik. Present.
And Representative Wentling. Designation.
Madam Chairwoman, you have a quorum.
Thank you, Josh. Now I would like to call up House Resolution 654, printer's number 4034. Josh, would you please explain the resolution?
Thank you. House Resolution 645, introduced by Representative Tim Brennan, recognizes October 21, 2026 as Bill White Day in Pennsylvania.
Thank you, Josh. The question is, will the committee report the bill? And on that question, Representative Brennan will be offering an amendment, A04634. Representative Brennan, would you like to explain your amendment?
Sure. Thank you. Thank you, Chairwoman. The amendment simply changes the date of Bill White Day. I had reached out to the family and there is a chance that they might be able to attend on November 10th. So it simply changes the date.
Thank you Did you have any other comments for your resolution Oh I sorry I am having trouble following the script I apologize. Thank you, Representative Brennan. Will the committee agree to the amendment? And on that question, is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing no more discussion, any discussion, I'm going to call the roll. Are there any negative votes on the amendment?
Nope. No negative votes.
Hearing none, Amendment A04634 is adopted. And the question remains, will the committee report the resolution as amended now? Representative Brennan, would you like to speak on your resolution?
Thank you, Chairwoman. Baseball is America's Game, and Bill White, my constituent in Bucks County, He spent 41 years in the game as a player, a broadcaster, and an executive. He was a high school class president, a salutatorian, and an aspiring doctor. He faced racism at every level and constantly overcame with class and character. He started his career in the segregated South facing segregation and insults. It continued during his MLB career, but his life work chipped away at the injustices and carved a better path for everyone who loves the game. He did nearly everything you could do in baseball, homering in his first at-bat, becoming an all-star several times, a gold-globe winner several times, a World Series champion. He then left the dugout for the booth and became the first African-American play-by-play announcer for an MLB team. He finished his career serving as the first African-American National League president. He was also the first player president in 70 years, the former being John Tenor, who has the unique distinction of also being a Pennsylvania governor who was served as an NL president. He served two years of his playing time prime in the military and put together an exceptional career on the field and off. His life work was recognized this summer at the MLB Hall of Fame induction when he was awarded the Buck O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award for a person who creates a positive impact on society, expands the game, and shows character, integrity, and dignity. I was attending the ceremonies this year with my son, and I didn't even realize this was my constituent receiving the honor. When I got home and read about it, I introduced this resolution, honor a man who has for so often not been given the honors he deserves. So I think this is a great opportunity to show our respect for someone who is a trailblazer and change the world around them.
Thank you, Representative. I appreciate the information you just shared with us. Representative Flick.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to thank the sponsor of the bill. And we certainly are, in a couple days, entering into the World Series, so I still consider it baseball season. And he was a trailblazer. And I just want to take this opportunity to say today we're starting a baseball caucus. So anybody that has any interest whatsoever, if you contact me or Tim, that would be great.
Thank you. Thank you, Representative Flick. Would anyone else like to comment? No? With no further discussion, I'm going to call the roll. Are there any negative votes on the resolution as amended? Hearing none, the resolution will be reported as amended. And that's it. So we have a second resolution, which may not be on your agendas, but in fact, I need to find. So now, thank you, Josh, and I'd finally like to call up House Resolution 662. Josh, would you please explain Resolution 662?
Thank you. So House Resolution 662, introduced by Representative Haddock, designates October 27, 2026, as Fraternal Benefit Societies Day in Pennsylvania.
Thank you, Josh. The question is, will the committee report the resolution? And on that question, does anyone wish to speak? And I believe that Representative Haddock is here with us. So Representative, you have the floor.
Good morning And thank you Chair Daley and thank you Chair Tordzik for the indulgence of getting this on the agenda for the last minute It wasn't another committee, and unfortunately that committee chair had a severe health issue and the meeting was canceled, so we quickly pulled the original resolution down and put it back in, and it was assigned to your committee. So I thank you for this courtesy. I would also like, I would be very remissed if I did not take this opportunity to say it's the first time that I'm testifying or presenting in front of the committee. And I certainly wish your chairman, Mary Jo Daly, very well on her future retirement. And I'm glad with the mishap that I did have a chance to present in front of you. We've become good friends in our short time working together.
That's very kind of you, and I appreciate your words. So is there anyone else that has a comment?
I've got to do the resolution part.
Oh, you want to.
Thank you for the polite part. Now segment two. House Resolution 662 is recognizing October 27, 2026 as Fraternal Benefit Society Day. paternal benefits societies in Pennsylvania are long-standing mutual aid organizations created to serve the needs of the communities by providing resources to help pay for life, health, an accident, and other benefits to their membership. Their statewide chapter infrastructure positions them efficiently to address the needs of the community in ways that the government cannot. In Pennsylvania, more than 500,000 members have volunteered into the local fraternal benefit society chapters across the state, and the value of their volunteer hours among these organizations is estimated to be over $60 million through charitable giving. Education programs and volunteer activities also. Additionally, they provide over $17 billion in life insurance protection to their members and their families from unexpected tragedies and providing financial peace of mind. Furthermore, the Ancient Order of the United Mine Workers was the very first paternal benefit society and was founded in Meadville, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1868. And I'm proud to honor the history of Pennsylvania and these many hardworking organizations and their members that have helped countless individuals, families, communities for more than a century by introducing this resolution recognizing October 27, 2026 as Fraternal Benefits Society Day in Pennsylvania. Please join me in continuing to promote this fine organizations, and I would like to thank my co-prime, Representative Brennan, for his help in sponsoring this resolution. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Representative. And does anyone else?
No.
Okay. So with no further discussion, we'll call the roll call for House Resolution 662. Are there any negative votes? Okay. Seeing no negative votes, Resolution 662 passes unanimously. and will be reported as committed. Thank you. Thank you, Representative, for introducing the resolution.
Representative Serrato. Thank you, Chairwoman Daley. Being that this is our last official meeting, I wrote a few farewell remarks that I would like to share. Today we say slong go foil, or until we meet again to our incredible chairwoman Mary Jo Daly. Mary Jo, when I first came to Harrisburg, I had a lot to learn, and having strong, experienced women like you to look up to made all of the difference. You've been more than a colleague or a chairwoman. You've been a mentor, a role model, and most importantly, a friend. For generations women fought for a seat at this table and you didn just take your seat You made room for the rest of us to join you and I hope that you know how much that means to me Through our tourism meetings, long days in Harrisburg, Monco, and everything in between, you've led with strength, compassion, and a whole lot of heart. And now, after years of promoting all of the wonderful places Pennsylvania has to offer, you're taking your talents to Ireland. Although moving across the ocean seems a little extreme just to get out of a committee meeting, but I wish you the very best. Mary Jo, your advocacy for women's health, your dedication to our communities, and your leadership have made a real difference. But I think your greatest legacy is the people you've encouraged, supported, and lifted up through your work. And I feel incredibly lucky to be one of those. thank you for your leadership your friendship and for showing us what it means to be a strong woman who makes other women stronger i wish you and your husband a wonderful new chapter filled with love laughter and incredible adventures and as the irish say may the road rise up to meet you and may the wind always be at your back mary joe you spent your career lifting up others and i hope the road ahead brings you every bit of happiness and love that you've given to all of us thank you
I thought I was going to start crying. But I really appreciate your words. And it has been a pleasure. I mean, I can't tell you, I never served on the tourism committee before I was made, you know, offered the opportunity to be the minority chair. and it has been one of the most wonderful experiences that I have had. And so many of you have been on the committee for a couple of terms, and I really appreciate how, you know, we work together. For me, it's been a really great experience, and I know that some people think that, you know, it used to be called like the Fund Committee. Well, we got economic development added to the name of the committee so that people would really understand the impact of tourism and recreation on the states. And it's a real driver, and so you are all just thank you. I just have to say thank you to all of you. And we do have another tour that we're going on Thursday, which actually we're leaving tonight. and then we have another local thing that we're going to be doing so it has been it really has been it is fun but there's nothing wrong with having a serious and it's important to take time to get the really amazing things that Thank you.
And you are absolutely correct that it's a big driver of business in the state. It's the number two industry right behind agriculture. But it's been a pleasure to serve with you. And we look forward to having you on one of our last trips to beautiful Schuylkill County. We'll be doing that Wednesday and Thursday. So make sure you all pack your bags and come along. Thank you.
Thank you. All right. I think I can now bang the gavel for the last time so thank you all, have a good day
Thank you.