For Immediate Release
March 26, 2008
Contact:  Lisa Landis
Legislative Director
717-787-6709
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Senator Brubaker Speaks to Local, Regional Organizations

Addresses energy, agriculture issue

LITITZ – State Senator Mike Brubaker (R-36) addressed energy initiatives and agriculture policy in two separate events today.

This morning, Brubaker spoke at a Conestoga Valley/Garden Spot Consortium event he cosponsored with Representatives Scott Boyd (R-43) and Gordon Denlinger (R-99).

"Pennsylvania needs to encourage sustainable and cost-competitive alternative energy policies," Brubaker told approximately 50 members of the business community who attended the Consortium event, one of many regionalized meetings organized through the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"The General Assembly has been working to address alternative energy and renewable fuel development through the Special Session on Energy Policies since last fall," Brubaker continued. "The passage of both Senate and House bills indicates that while we still have work to do to reach a consensus on these matters, we absolutely recognize the importance of this issue."

Brubaker also spoke about his work as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, especially agriculture's priorities during the 2008-2009 budget process.

"Outside of the budget, the Committee is working on a number of initiatives," Brubaker said, including a review of the state's various food safety laws. "The Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy is also an issue on which we are focusing."

The legislators responded to questions following their presentations.

In the afternoon, Brubaker participated in a Senior Hunger roundtable discussion at the Central PA Food Bank in Harrisburg. Also involved in the roundtable were state Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff; Nancy Montanez Johner, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services in the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and representatives of the offices of Congressman Tim Holden and U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter.

"Access to healthy food is certainly a serious issue for many Pennsylvanians, as the Agriculture Committee heard during the statewide listening sessions," Brubaker said. "It was an honor to be part of this discussion so that we can work cooperatively at all levels of government toward finding solutions."