HARRISBURG – The state Senate today approved legislation introduced by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) to help the grieving families of deceased U.S. military veterans access their federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) burial benefits.

“The men and women who served our country in the military deserve to be laid to rest with dignity and respect,” Mastriano said. “Many families are unaware of the VA burial benefits for veterans. My goal is to ensure more veterans and their families can access these benefits, which the veterans earned through service to our country.”

Mastriano’s Senate Bill 1139 would require funeral directors, funeral parlors or cemetery companies to notify the director of the county veterans assistance office when a veteran living in the county dies. They also would have to provide the deceased veteran’s family with contact information for the county director.

“This bill would promote communication between funeral parlors and the county veterans affairs offices so the grieving family can access the veteran’s burial benefits,” Mastriano said. “A little bit of communication can make a big difference for these families during a difficult time.”

Senate Bill 1139 now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Constituents of the 33^rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603

HARRISBURG – Korean Americans who served in the Vietnam War with the Korean Armed Forces would receive the same state veterans benefits as their U.S. counterparts under legislation unanimously approved today by the Senate, said sponsor Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24).

The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee approved Senate Bill 973 to grant the same rights, benefits and privileges of United States military veterans to any Pennsylvania resident who is a naturalized U.S. citizen and who served in the Vietnam War with the Korean Armed Forces.
 
There are more than 3,000 naturalized Korean American citizens who served in the Vietnam War as a part of the Korean Armed Forces, Pennycuick said.

“Members of the Korean Armed Forces fought with tremendous valor and honor alongside U.S. forces, and now hundreds of them call Pennsylvania home,” she said. “They have made their lives and homes in this country and are entitled to as much respect as their U.S. military counterparts.”

“On behalf of the Korean Americans who served in the Vietnam War with the Korean Armed Forces, we are grateful to Senator Tracy Pennycuick for her support and legislation that recognizes the sacrifices and service of Korean Americans,” said Sung Kim of Korean American Veterans of America PA.

The bill would apply to any Pennsylvania resident who is an American citizen, was an active-duty member of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in the Vietnam War between Jan. 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, and received an honorable discharge or equivalent.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.  

CONTACT: Lidia DiFiore

HARRISBURG – With pro-Hamas and anti-Israel encampments being set up at higher education institutions in Pennsylvania and across the United States, state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) today introduced legislation to suspend state funding for state-owned or -related colleges and universities in the commonwealth if they support antisemitism.

“Targeting Jewish students because of their religion or perceived ties to the state of Israel is disgusting and cannot be tolerated,” Mastriano said. “Antisemitism should find no safe harbor on any college or university campus funded with Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars.”

Mastriano introduced Senate Bill 1185 as pro-Hamas and anti-Israel protests and encampments recently took root at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania colleges and universities that benefit from state tax dollars. His bill would end taxpayer support for any state-owned or -related universities that authorize, facilitate or otherwise support any event promoting antisemitism on campus. Higher education institutions that support antisemitic events would be disqualified from receiving state funding for the following academic year.

The campus protests come following the Oct. 7, 2023, Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack by Hamas in several Israeli communities, where more than 1,000 Israelis were killed and approximately 250 people were taken hostage.

Israel responded by defending itself through retaliatory air strikes and a large-scale ground invasion in portions of Gaza, with additional operations in the West Bank. The now six-month-long war between Israel and Palestine has resulted in a total of more than 35,000 casualties, with more than 34,000 Palestinian deaths and approximately 1,400 Israeli deaths.

The Anti-Defamation League reported a 400% spike of antisemitic incidents in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack.

“Jewish students deserve to feel the same level of safety and security on campus as students from any other religion or nation,” Mastriano said. “Pennsylvania taxpayer-funded colleges and universities that fail to protect Jewish students and quash antisemitism do not deserve to receive state tax dollars.”

U.S. college and university campuses have become ground zero in the ongoing debate surrounding the war. Public opinion among U.S. college students shifted drastically during the past six months, with only 41% of college students blaming Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack in a recent survey, compared to 52% in a mid-October poll.

Mastriano’s bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee for consideration.

Constituents of the 33^rd District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.

Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-9603