Audio/Video

Joint Hearing of the Senate Aging and Youth, Health and Human Services, Intergovernmental Operations Committees and Senate Health and Human Services Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee – March 29, 2017 – 1 pm

Senator Baker questions existing department heads during the Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing for the Governor’s newly proposed Pennsylvania Department of Health & Human Services.  

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20th, offered the following floor remarks on SB 3: Listen  

Senator Baker offers a resolution recognizing Friday, February 3, 2017, as “National Wear Red Day” in Pennsylvania to raise awareness about heart disease and strokes for women. Listen  

Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20th) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Wolf’s proposal to consolidate the Departments of Aging, Drug and Alcohol Programs, Health, and Human Services into one department: Listen

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20th, issued the following statement on the decision to keep state correctional facilities in Waymart and Retreat open:  

During a Senate hearing on the closures of state prisons proposed by Governor Wolf, Senator Baker questions Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel.  

The Senate Majority Policy Committee, Democratic Policy Committee and Judiciary Committee will hold a joint public hearing on Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building in Harrisburg to review the Wolf administration’s decision to potentially close two state prisons. Listen

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20th, offered the following remarks on the Senate floor to honor Sen. Pat Vance, R-31st,who is retiring after 26 years in the state Legislature   Listen

More than 40,000 seasonal or cyclical workers are once again eligible for unemployment compensation after Gov. Tom Wolf signed a new law today. Listen | Watch

Sen. Lisa Baker offers praise for veterans in advance of Veterans Day and paid tribute to the late Col. Dennis T. Guise, who passed away on October 24. Listen

Sen. Lisa Baker offers comments on the Senate floor in support of her amendment to House Bill 319, which restores unemployment compensation for seasonal workers while putting in safeguards ensuring the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund remains on the path to solvency. Listen

Sen. Lisa Baker’s resolution designating November as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness Month in Pennsylvania passed the Senate unanimously today. Listen

Members of the Salt and Light Homeschool Support Group visited the Capitol to observe session, take a guided tour and meet with legislators. Listen

During a Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee hearing, Sen. Baker offered her support and spoke about the importance of legislation authorizing municipalities to enact a tax credit against the earned income and property tax liability of active volunteers of a fire company or EMS company. Listen

Sen. Lisa Baker joined with Sen. John Blake in recognizing the AAA baseball national champion Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and welcoming team officials and players to the Senate floor. Among the team members on hand was pitcher Matt Wotherspoon, a Mountain Top resident and a constituent of the 20th Senate District. Listen

Nearly 20,000 households took part across 14 northeastern Pennsylvania counties yesterday for a Telephone Town Hall meeting hosted by area legislators to discuss the heroin and opioid epidemic in the region. Listen

Combatting Pennsylvania’s heroin and opioid crisis will be the focus of a special Telephone Town Hall, to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21. Listen

Senate Labor & Industry Committee – August 30, 2016   Listen – Part 1 Listen – Part 2

The Senate has adopted a resolution sponsored by five senators from Northeastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal country officially designating July 16 as Anthracite Heritage Day in the state. Listen

The Arc of PA honors Senator Lisa Baker as “Legislator of the Year.” The Arc is the largest advocacy organization in the United States for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.  

Joint Hearing – Senate Appropriations and Labor and Industry Committees – June 21, 2016 Listen  

  Listen Sen. Lisa Baker spoke on the Senate floor urging her colleagues to support HB 400, legislation that would increase vocational rehabilitation collaboration with schools and private and public employers and encourage additional job training resources for young people with disabilities

In every way, policies and programs designed for individuals who have a disability should aim at helping them achieve the greatest level of independence their capabilities and spirit allow. Listen