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For Immediate Release A Conversation with Senator Brubaker Senate recognizes Beef Month in PA Recently, I introduced a resolution in the state Senate recognizing May as Beef Month in Pennsylvania to honor the important contributions of our beef industry. The state's beef industry not only provides high-quality and nutritious food, but acts as good stewards of Commonwealth land and has a strong economic impact as well. For instance, there are about 1.6 million beef cattle in Pennsylvania, which contribute $2 billion to the economy and provide more than one million jobs from farm and ranch all the way through production and sale of beef products. In addition, the newly formed Pennsylvania Beef Task Force held an informational discussion with members of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, which I chair. That discussion included topics such as beef quality and safety assurance, to which the cattle industry is absolutely committed. Pennsylvania implements beef, dairy and veal quality assurance programs to train and certify cattle producers, and certifies all beef produced under the PA Preferred Program through the Beef Quality Assurance Program. I commend our beef industry for its efforts and contributions, and look forward to enjoying beef and the many other Pennsylvania products throughout the year. State program provides transportation project loans The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Bank (PIB), operated by the state Department of Transportation, provides the state's municipalities with low-interest loans to help fund transportation projects. Through these loans, the goal of the bank is to leverage state and federal funds, accelerate priority road and bridge projects, spur economic development and assist local governments with other needed transportation projects. The loans can also be acquired for aviation, rail freight and transit projects. Interest rates on PIB loans are fixed at one-half the prime lending rate with terms up to 10 years. In the case of natural disasters, such as flooding, the program offers no-interest loans to help municipalities make critical infrastructure repairs. Applications can be submitted at any time and are considered on an ongoing basis. Projects implemented by local governments, transportation authorities, economic development agencies, airports, railroads or private corporations can apply as long as the projects are eligible for PennDOT funding, federal aid or liquid fuel expenditures. More information is available by contacting PIB Manager Jim Smedley at 717-772-1772 or jsmedley@state.pa.us. Memorial Day resolution The Senate has approved my resolution asking the U.S. Congress to approve federal legislation which would restore the traditional day of observance of Memorial Day to May 30, regardless of the day on which it falls. Although Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, Congress established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in 1971 to ensure a three-day weekend. While the holiday is designed to be a day to honor and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have died in our nation's service, it has instead become a weekend to celebrate the beginning of summer rather than to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. To fully return the solemn spirit to Memorial Day, my resolution encourages the enactment of S. 70 to designate the legal federal holiday on May 30 and continue to call for the flying of the flag at half-staff until noon that day. I have the greatest respect for our veterans, who deserve nothing but the highest honors for their sacrifices in preserving this country's freedoms, and I am very pleased the Senate was supportive of this measure.
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