On Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) held a press conference about the state’s budget proposal and his commitment to support firefighters.
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00:00Good morning and thank you for joining us here at the Mount Lebanon Public Safety Center.
00:05My name is Kirk Christofel, I'm the Fire Chief here at Mount Lebanon.
00:08In addition to welcoming Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis,
00:12I am thrilled to see Congressman Chris Deluzio, State Senator Wayne Fontana,
00:17State Senator Jay Costa, State Representative Dan Miller,
00:22who is also a former volunteer firefighter here, State Representative Abigail Salisbury,
00:27Representative Venkit, Representative Gogenhauer, Representative Inglis,
00:35County Executive Sarah Annamarado, County Controller Rachel Heisler,
00:40Mount Lebanon Commissioners Jeff Ziegler and Andrew Flynn,
00:44as well as Mount Lebanon's manager Keith McGill.
00:47We're a combination department with 18 career officers,
00:51approximately 50 volunteers and two civilian employees,
00:55serving 34,000 residents over 6.6 square miles.
01:00We operate three engines, a ladder truck, a heavy rescue vehicle,
01:05five squads and two staff vehicles.
01:08We respond to approximately 2200 calls each year and participate in more than a thousand hours of community service each year.
01:17We are one of 498 ISO class one fire departments in the United States and one of 311 accredited agencies in the United States and Canada.
01:29We are also one of the 42 departments in the Commonwealth to be certified to the gold level in the office of the state fire commissioners participating department recognition program.
01:39Our department has long been long recognized as a leader in forward thinking education, training and excellent service delivery.
01:48But above all of this, we love what we do and we are proud to serve the Mount Lebanon residents, business owners and visitors.
01:56One of the hallmarks of our department is our participation with our neighborhood, neighboring fire departments.
02:03Over the last few decades, we have increased the ways that we work together, including providing joint training opportunities for firefighters across the region.
02:11We are at our best whenever we cooperate to save lives.
02:17We are surrounded by our members of our mutual aid fire departments, the South Hills area council of government fire chiefs and members of the Western Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association,
02:28who share our enthusiasm for support from the Commonwealth.
02:32We are beyond grateful for the support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, both financially and operationally.
02:38Just one example of your financial support is our new fire training facility completed last year, thanks to several grants.
02:46The training center allows our firefighters to study fire behavior, to practice real world training scenarios, including fire operations, firefighter survival techniques,
02:56and a plethora of other training that makes Mount Lebanon Fire Department and our mutual aid partners more efficient in our delivery of services.
03:04To further our goal of being a leader in area wide training, we use this center as a regional asset to ensure that local firefighters are prepared for any situation we might encounter together.
03:15As the demand for fire and emergency services increase, the number of firefighters in the Commonwealth has decreased.
03:22This transition has required the Pennsylvania Fire Service to rethink how we operate.
03:27Sharing of resources and collaboration between fire departments is becoming more prevalent.
03:32Inflation has driven up the costs of what we need, whether it's a fire engine, firefighter protective clothing, or fire hose.
03:40This is where Governor Shapiro's proposed grants will be most useful.
03:44Another area of need is the health and wellness of firefighters.
03:49Post-traumatic stress disorder is increasing among first responders as firefighters are exposed to severely distressing scenes.
03:59The byproducts of today's modern fires are causing cancer in firefighters at alarming rates.
04:05Increased resources for mental health support and cancer screening are welcome.
04:11Once again, we are glad to host you here today at our Public Safety Center, and now I would like to introduce Governor Josh Shapiro.
04:18Thanks, Chief.
04:28Thank you, everybody.
04:29Chief, let me begin by saying thank you for welcoming me back here to the Mount Lebanon Fire Department.
04:36Thank you for your leadership here.
04:38To each and every woman and man who makes up this incredible firefighting force, I want to say thank you for your service here at Mount Lebanon.
04:47We appreciate you every single day.
04:50To all of the neighboring chiefs who join us here today, I want to say we salute you.
04:55We thank you.
04:56We're grateful not just that you're here today, but we're grateful for your willingness to collaborate with Mount Lebanon and all of the other departments in this area.
05:06We truly thank you every single day for the work you do to run toward danger in order to keep everyone safe.
05:15This past weekend, my family and I experienced what it's like to be rushed away from a fire while you see heroes rushing in in order to put out a fire and save lives.
05:30At the governor's residence, an arsonist broke in and tried to claim my life and the life of my family and others who were there.
05:39But for the incredible work of the firefighters in the Harrisburg area, but for the incredible work of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Capitol Police.
05:49I don't know that we'd be here today.
05:52That serves as a reminder that firefighters go out every single day to put out fires, not just for governors, first ladies and first families.
06:02For every Pennsylvania here in Mount Lebanon and all across this great Commonwealth, we're profoundly grateful to you.
06:11We thank you and we salute you for your service.
06:16Every single elected leader who is here today shares that commitment and support for our firefighters, beginning with, of course, my partner and your neighbor here in the Pittsburgh area, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis.
06:31The LG oversees the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency does a lot of work with law enforcement, our first responders every single day, a tremendous leader and a great friend and a great partner.
06:44We're also really grateful to have leaders from both the federal, state and local level here from our congressman to leader of our state Senate or county executive members of the legislature.
06:56I am profoundly grateful to each of you for being here today, and I'm profoundly grateful to you for all the support that you've shown firefighters along the way.
07:05You know, throughout my career as your governor and before that, I've always tried to stand with our firefighters and with our first responders.
07:14Our administration has been proud to partner with you every step of the way, including the construction of a new fire training facility and upgrades to fire station one.
07:24And I think we've got to do more of that across Pennsylvania.
07:28We've got to do more of that across Pennsylvania.
07:29Last year, we came together on a bipartisan basis to invest thirty seven and a half million dollars for grants for new equipment and training and facility upgrades and operational costs over twenty five hundred local fire and EMS across Pennsylvania.
07:48In our first budget that we passed together on a bipartisan basis, we increased the nine one one surcharge from a buck sixty five to a buck ninety five in order to fund those people who are quite literally on the front lines answering those calls from people who are distressed, whether it's getting a call from the governor's residence or getting a call from an apartment down the street.
08:12Those nine one one one operators are on the front lines of this, and we're going to continue to invest in them.
08:18Last October, we came together on a bipartisan basis, and I signed expanded workers compensation to include PTSI for Pennsylvania's first responders.
08:31Firefighters had been asking for that for years and years and years.
08:35We came together and we got it done.
08:37And that's the least of what they deserve.
08:40So our work together to stand up for firefighters is nothing new.
08:45And I'm going to continue to have your backs.
08:48I want to say a special thanks to all of the lawmakers who are here who worked hard to get those bills to my desk to work out the deals necessary to make sure that our firefighters were no longer ignored but got what they were owed.
09:03You're obviously on the front lines every day and you deserve to have a government that works with you and for you every day.
09:11You have that here in Pennsylvania.
09:13So whether you're here in Mount Lebanon or in any fire department across Pennsylvania, know that we appreciate you and we've got your backs.
09:22You, of course, are always first on the scene and we, of course, are always going to make sure to have your backs.
09:30Last February or in February, I announced my budget for the upcoming year, a budget that now sits with lawmakers for their consideration.
09:39Contained in that budget were three important additions to the investments we've already made for firefighters across Pennsylvania.
09:48Each one of these three steps is common sense.
09:52Each one of these is the right thing to do.
09:55And each one of them complement the local investments that are coming from your local city councils, your county, and others who seek to make investments in first responders.
10:06Those three new investments are as follows.
10:09First, we want to create a new competitive $30 million funding stream for fire companies on top of the $30 million that's already available.
10:18But here's the difference.
10:20The 30 that's already available gets divvied up and sent out to fire departments across Pennsylvania, generally based upon their size.
10:28This new $30 million is going to be a competitive grant.
10:32So when the chief here says we need something unique for Mount Lebanon, there is now a fund available for competitive grants for them to go and chase and bring back to this local community.
10:43We've got to pass that $30 million competitive grant program for our firefighters.
10:47And I'm confident based on the reaction that we've gotten, particularly over the last week from people all across Pennsylvania, Republican and Democrat alike, they're going to match their words with actions and pass that competitive grant program.
11:01Second, my budget creates a pilot program to help fire companies that want to collaborate more and share their services more, the resources they need to work together.
11:12This is a great example of that.
11:14You've got departments all across this region who work together, who collaborate.
11:19The Commonwealth should invest in that.
11:22The Commonwealth should make sure that that is something that we show we value by putting more dollars into that.
11:29That's the second key component.
11:32And the third builds on the progress the chief was talking about before.
11:35We want to ensure the health and welfare of all of our firefighters.
11:40That's why we added PTSI last year to something that is part of our workers' comp laws.
11:47This year, I want to come back and add fully covered cancer screenings each and every year for our firefighters.
11:54I've talked to so many firefighters who will go out there knowing the risk of the chemicals they're breathing in, knowing the risk sometimes of the uniforms that they wear and wondering whether or not it's impacting their health in the long run.
12:21You shouldn't have to wonder.
12:22You shouldn't have to worry.
12:24We want to make sure that those screenings are done.
12:27We want to make sure that, God forbid, if any cancer is detected, it's detected early and you can get the treatments you need to be able to live out your full life with your family and with your loved ones.
12:40We need to get these three things done on top of the work that's already been done that we're going to build on for our firefighters.
12:46We want to continue to make these critical investments and we want to continue to show you how much we respect and appreciate your work.
12:55Throughout my time in public office, I have truly benefited from the conversations I've had with firefighters along the way.
13:03I've truly benefited from the conversations I've had with your union leaders.
13:08I've truly benefited from watching you in moments where you display unparalleled bravery.
13:15One of those people that I've had the opportunity to talk to over the years is Ralph Securo.
13:20Ralph has been a wonderful source of knowledge for me as we've put our plans together to try and fund and support our firefighters every step of the way.
13:30Ralph and his colleagues have welcomed me over many, many years to their hall.
13:34They've educated me.
13:35They've talked to me and they've had my back.
13:38And I'm very grateful for Ralph and his colleagues.
13:40And with that, I'd like to invite him up to say a few words.
13:43Ralph.
13:44Thank you, sir.
13:49Thank you very much.
13:50Good afternoon, everyone.
13:55First, I want to thank the governor for coming here today.
13:57But more importantly, I want to thank the governor for his commitment, along with our legislature, to the fire service in Pennsylvania.
14:05You have shown you're there to support us in our needs, whether it's equipment or taking care of our health and safety.
14:13Now, the governor's proposed budget has three key initiatives in it.
14:18The $30 million grant program that will provide lifesaving equipment and firefighter needs.
14:24A pilot program that will help fire companies be able to collaborate and share resources to be more effective in the fire service.
14:32And, of course, last but not least, funding for annual cancer screenings for firefighters.
14:38As the fire service demand continues to rise, so does the operating cost.
14:44While municipalities face their own financial challenges, Governor Shapiro's proposed grant program and pilot initiative will help ensure fire departments have the equipment, training, and personnel they need to meet that growing demand.
14:58But the greatest resource the fire service has, without a doubt, is the firefighters themselves.
15:04Governor Shapiro's proposed cancer screenings will save lives.
15:08Through early detection and treatment, you will not only improve the survival rate, but you will also be able to return many of these firefighters back to serving the communities they love.
15:19We know that Governor Shapiro stands firm with his commitment to ensure that firefighters have the tools, the training, and support they need to protect our communities that we all love and so dear to our heart.
15:33But last week, as the governor mentioned, him and his family were victims of a horrible arson attack in their home in Harrisburg.
15:41We were relieved to learn that him and his family were safe, but as firefighters, we know too well the devastation that fire has caused.
15:50And we hold you and your family in our thoughts and prayers as you get through this time.
15:54Thank you very much.
15:55Today we have...
16:03Now, it's my honor to introduce our Lieutenant Governor, Austin Davis.
16:07Thanks, sir.
16:08Thanks, sir.
16:11Well, good morning or afternoon, everyone.
16:17First, I want to thank the Mount Lebanon chief for welcoming us here today.
16:21To President Socorro, thank you for that warm introduction.
16:25And to all the elected leaders gathered today, thank you for not only being here, but for your partnership for the governor and I.
16:32You know, when I got the news last Sunday about what happened at the governor's residence,
16:37it made me hold my wife and daughter a little closer.
16:41And I've been so impressed by the dignity and grace shown by the governor and the first lady and their family during this incredibly challenging time.
16:52And I've never been more proud to be a part of this administration, but I'm damn proud to be your governing partner.
16:59You know, firefighters are facing challenging times and we're facing changing demands, which require new strategies.
17:09Fire companies are facing new realities.
17:13Decades ago, we could have multiple volunteer fire companies made up of guys who work different shifts at a local plant.
17:21They could raise funds for a new rig doing a raffle or bingo nights.
17:25But unfortunately, those times have changed.
17:28Nearly every fire company is facing issues with recruiting new members and purchasing new equipment.
17:35So we need to give local companies new tools to deal with these issues that they face every day in their communities.
17:42That's why our new competitive grant program is so important.
17:45And I'm especially excited about the new incentives for collaboration.
17:50We have so many municipalities right here in Allegheny County, but we understand that we need to work together more and stop competing against one another for our resources.
18:01Changing times demand new strategies, and that's what our budget offers this year.
18:07Pennsylvanians are demanding that we take off our red jerseys and our blue jerseys and to put on our Pennsylvania jerseys.
18:15It's almost May, and soon it'll be June, and that means it's budget season back at the Capitol.
18:20We've got a divided legislature, so we need to work together to get stuff done.
18:25I've been encouraged by the outpouring of support from leaders on both sides of the aisle over the past week.
18:32The statement from all of Pennsylvania's former governors was powerful.
18:36Let's keep that spirit of bipartisanship going through the coming months.
18:41And let's make sure that we get stuff done for the good people here in Pennsylvania.
18:46The work that the Governor and I do every day would not be possible without partners.
18:50And we have one of the best partners in Washington in Congressman Chris Deluzio,
18:55who always stands up for Western Pennsylvania values and always stands up for our firefighters.
19:00And it's my privilege to welcome him to the podium. Congressman.
19:04Well, Lieutenant Governor, I appreciate the kind remarks.
19:13And, of course, Governor, welcome back to the best congressional district in the country.
19:16You found it. It's good to have you here.
19:18We're, of course, and I'll add my voice, to be so glad and relieved that you and your family are okay after what happened.
19:24And as you said, though, also reminded of what it is for the first responders and the firefighters to run in toward danger as you and your family are being taken to safety.
19:32Folks who do that every day. And I think about my district and people all over this commonwealth of ours.
19:38So many homes you walk into, there's a picture of somebody who's worn a uniform.
19:41There is a source of great pride in public service around here.
19:44We should never lose that or forget that.
19:46One of the great honors I've ever had in my life was as a young naval officer leading firefighters at sea.
19:51I will tell you those are some of the best people we have in this country.
19:54The folks around us here today who understand what it is to put service above themselves.
20:00I see leaders here from every level of government.
20:03And this is a team sport for all of us from the governor on down.
20:06And it really takes all of us.
20:08And I think every single one of us has to have public safety as a priority in our jobs.
20:12That means prioritizing our first responders and getting them the resources that they need.
20:17And here in my district of western Pennsylvania, we've got a lot of fire departments with varying resources from their communities, varying tax bases, varying people they can rely on for money.
20:29It is tough. I work as best I can to support them from Washington.
20:33But the governor's budget request responds directly to that challenging budget situation for these departments, offering $30 million in new grant opportunities for fire departments to purchase new equipment.
20:46A new pilot program you've heard about to encourage collaboration across fire departments who want to work together and share services.
20:52And, of course, the really important funding for firefighter cancer screening.
20:57We need state leadership like you're seeing from the governor right now in this moment given what's happening in Washington.
21:02I could spend hours talking about what's going on down there.
21:05Whatever your political stripes, I don't think many people around here want to see police and fire defunded from Washington.
21:13I don't think it's something people want.
21:14And yet we've seen the Trump administration focused on pushing spending bills that do exactly that, cut funding to our police departments, put at risk funding for fire.
21:24We've seen firings of staff here in Allegheny County at NIOSH that do important work around mine safety, respirator certifications, and more.
21:31We've seen those firings affect the federal firefighter cancer registry.
21:36I don't know who wants to see that happen.
21:38I certainly don't.
21:39I think it's outrageous.
21:40We've seen money taken away from approved FEMA projects for flood mitigation in Bridgeville.
21:45Ross and Westview EMS losing out on a new ambulance.
21:50That's all happening against the backdrop of trying to fund a massive tax giveaway to the richest, most powerful people and corporations to ever walk the planet.
21:58I think it's outrageous.
21:59And it's so important to have leadership from Harrisburg like you're seeing from the governor.
22:02I think of our Pennsylvania firefighters.
22:05More than two years ago, career and volunteer ran in to the fiery derailment in East Palestine.
22:11What they went through.
22:12And we still haven't seen federal action to pass rail safety.
22:15I think it's outrageous.
22:16We have to pass my bipartisan bill.
22:18We have to pass a bill to reimburse these departments when they clean up our railroads incompetence and greed as they had to after East Palestine.
22:26But again, the importance of the leadership here at the state level, I can't overstate it, given what I am seeing in Washington.
22:32So, Governor, I applaud you.
22:33I'm proud to be in this fight with you, Lieutenant Governor, working every way I can to deliver here for Western Pennsylvania.
22:39And it's my honor now, though, to introduce our county partner, County Executive Sarah Nomorado.
22:54Thank you, Congressman, for that warm introduction.
22:56And it's wonderful to be here with all of my partners in governing at all levels of government, including Mount Lebanon level as well.
23:03Our municipal partners are key to the county's success.
23:07And thank you to all our first responders who are here.
23:10I don't think we've done our due diligence by giving them a round of applause.
23:14Can we please do that?
23:20And, Governor, it's very good to see you today and have you back in the greatest county in Pennsylvania.
23:25And today, more than ever, you know, I'll echo what everyone else said, that you have been in our thoughts and praying.
23:32And we are so glad that your family is safe.
23:35And we are so grateful for the first responders who got you out of there.
23:38So, thank you.
23:40And today, we're here to honor our first responders with not only lip service, but with tangible action.
23:51And that action is coming from the leadership of the governor and the lieutenant governor and our folks in Harrisburg who are here to support this budget.
24:00You know, you hear from first responders all the time, especially in our volunteer fire departments, that they can't find enough people.
24:08That municipalities don't have enough resources.
24:11So, we need to act.
24:12We need to put our money where our mouth is.
24:14We need to actually invest in our public safety infrastructure if we want to ensure we can keep everyone safe.
24:20You know, so you've heard about the additional investments it would have in the healthcare of our first responders.
24:27The additional $30 million in competitive grants.
24:30You know, as well as something that I'm really excited about as leader of this great county is an incentive to help pilot more collaborative efforts.
24:39And we have some great examples here in Allegheny County of fire departments working together collaboratively to achieve efficiencies and more coverage when it comes to offering public safety to everyone.
24:54And, you know, to the governor's point that these investments in Harrisburg, they complement the work that is happening at the local level.
25:02You know, under the leadership of Chief Brown at the county, we are making a historic investment to replace our legacy radio system for our first responders with a new ultra-high frequency band system.
25:13Our new system will address issues and challenges that have been faced that are coverage-related capacity, reliability, resiliency, and security.
25:23And this will be used by our nearly 400 public safety agencies that exist in Allegheny County alone.
25:32It will be adopted by fire, police departments, EMS.
25:35And, you know, this upgrade, it wouldn't happen but for collaboration.
25:40It's something that we can't expect every municipality to adopt and fund on its own.
25:45It does need to be done at a county level.
25:47So our $80 million investment over the next seven years, we think it is money well spent that makes everyone safer
25:54and really shows that when we work together and we collaborate and coordinate, we can save taxpayers money as well as provide necessary public infrastructure for everybody.
26:05So I just want to thank you all for being here and supporting this budget.
26:08You know, we will be up in Harrisburg rooting for these to get across the finish line.
26:13And thank you all for your work and addressing the big challenges that our fire, our public safety, and our municipalities face day in and day out.
26:22So thank you all.
26:23And it's my honor to bring up our next speaker, Senator Wayne Fontana.
26:27Good afternoon, everyone.
26:38Certainly want to thank the governor for being here and for the invitation to join all of you.
26:44Governor, we certainly were horrified to learn about the arson attack and even the reason for it.
26:52So we're certainly glad you and your family are well and physically they were not harmed and that's a big relief.
27:00But we're also grateful for the first responders, how they performed, especially the firefighters.
27:06And as we know, when they're confronted with danger, these heroes always run towards it.
27:15They always run towards it to protect all of us.
27:18And we have to certainly note within our county, there's so many volunteers.
27:25I mean, there are a lot of volunteers and it's difficult to hold them all and keep them all and recruit them all.
27:32So we know that the fire companies throughout the county and in the city, obviously, incredible challenges that they experience every day.
27:47That's why I support, you know, we need to do more.
27:49And that's what the governor's doing.
27:50He's stepping up to do more.
27:52So that's why I support the governor's budget proposal that provides the $30 million more for competitive grants for our fire companies.
28:00This certainly will help fire companies who also struggle to purchase the equipment and struggle to recruit to keep firefighters.
28:07I know that there's firefighters in my district that are in need and are going to benefit greatly from this funding.
28:15But I also support Governor Shapiro's pilot program for those incentives, that cooperation between fire, fire companies.
28:23Fire companies want to collaborate and share services.
28:27So it only makes sense that we make it easier for them to do so.
28:31Firefighters and our first responders aren't bound by municipal lines or boundaries.
28:37They look out for and help one another.
28:40That's the real definition of community.
28:43So the very least we can do is provide the tools and resources they need to keep us all safe.
28:48So I want to thank those firefighters and first responders who are with us today.
28:53Thank you for your courage.
28:55Thank you for your sacrifice.
28:57And thank you for your commitment to make us all safe.
29:00We certainly appreciate it.
29:01I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to help get you the tools and resources you need to best serve your communities.
29:09You know, a lot of things have changed since I've been in the Senate and my years in the Senate.
29:14But one thing that hasn't changed is if you want to get stuff done, people, regardless of party, you need to work with everyone.
29:23Everyone needs to work together.
29:25So I commend Governor Shapiro for working with everyone, regardless of party, to continue getting stuff done for all Pennsylvanians.
29:32And I look forward to continuing to work with him on behalf of the constituents I serve.
29:38And I'm eager to support his effort to better help our firefighters and first responders.
29:43And I want to thank again the Governor for being here today.
29:45And I look forward to getting this stuff done.
29:48Thank you, Governor.
29:53Let me introduce the next section that the Chief mentioned about the fire facility, the training facility.
30:01And again, you can't do that without partners.
30:04I was so honored to partner with the next speaker, my colleague from the House, Dan Miller, to get that done.
30:10And it's so gratifying to see all the firefighters come together.
30:14It's just not a Mount Lebanon thing.
30:16It's for the whole community.
30:17And they share that.
30:18And I think it's so important.
30:20But what else is important?
30:22Governor Shapiro, Representative Miller and I worked together.
30:26We partnered to get that done.
30:27So thank you.
30:28And come on up and have a say a few words.
30:31You know, this past week, I was lucky enough to be in Harrisburg.
30:45And I think a lot of you may know that I spent 14 years here at the department, consider it very much home.
30:52But I got to sit and watch and listen to our governor talk, pause, thank, connect with the firefighters who answered not just any call, but his call, his family's call.
31:18Governor Shapiro gave me the time to talk and shake hands and listen and hug every firefighter that was there.
31:25I've been to a lot of scenes.
31:27I've watched a lot of politicians thank people.
31:30I don't have a memory of a politician making that much time to thank those who answered the call.
31:37Governor Shapiro, thank you for doing that to every one of those firefighters in the room.
31:51Governor Shapiro, thank you.
31:52Governor Shapiro, thank you.
31:56اه.
31:58Look, no firefighter joins a department because they like bingo.
32:03No firefighter joins a department because they want to hang out on an intersection with a boot.
32:09a boot. It's not why they do the job. Now, they don't do it for medals, and they don't
32:18do it for praise. They do it to help. Too many departments in our area, in our state,
32:29are struggling because they are doing too much of the fundraising work. And they're
32:36doing the work because their gear is too old. Because their apparatus is too old. Because
32:46the town structure or the business climate has changed and how they've structured doesn't
32:51work that way anymore. And for too many volunteers, they struggle too because their job has changed.
33:00They're not up here as much as they used to be. The training is more difficult to try and
33:04get done, and you want to be the best firefighter that you can be. Like Lieutenant Governor and
33:11I have often talked about, just because of our regional connection here, there are too
33:15many in a county is blessed and a state is blessed who are struggling for help. The Governor's
33:21budget is not only right, it's the start of where we need to go. The Governor knows it.
33:32We need Harrisburg to take this proposal and get it done. No debate. No debate. Stop coming
33:44to take pictures with firefighters and emergency responders and start supporting them. With
33:49your votes. With your tax dollars. With your recognition of how hard they work. No matter
33:55the place, no matter the time, no matter the call, they come. That's what we need out of
34:01Harrisburg. His proposal for $30 million is prudent. I know in his heart of hearts, he'd triple it
34:09today. I know the plan that he and Austin Davis have worked is bigger and broader because they
34:15know the challenge before us as a state with the largest amount of volunteer firefighters, that's
34:20Pennsylvania. They know the challenge. They see it now. They see what's coming. They're concerned
34:28about where we need to go now. This budget needs to go now. The emergency service aspects of it needs
34:36to be done now. No debate. I'm very excited to have a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor who presents this
34:41type of plan and type of direction for us. I know that every man and woman who's here who's wearing a badge
34:46believes it as well. We have to go forward. More training. More protection. We need that done.
34:53Support for gear. Less demands for the fundraising components of the job you're talking about. Right?
35:01That's what everybody here needs across the board. So I'm very thankful to be here for it. I again
35:06appreciate the Governor and Lieutenant Governor for offering this plan forward and I know the difference
35:10it will make for the County Exec and every one of these towns that are here today and all the districts
35:15that are represented today. We need to go to support the fire service everywhere in this commonwealth
35:21and I know another woman who very much agrees with me and who's made it her point
35:25to support emergency responders and firefighters as well, Representative Salisbury.
35:29Representative Miller had to serve as a firefighter here in putting out real fires because he had to get it on
35:47his resume before he went to Harrisburg to put out virtual political fires. Now I have sat there and I've listened to all of these wonderful elected officials talk about
35:57funding fire companies in Pennsylvania and I just want to say did you hear a single one of them talk
36:07about fish fries in Allegheny County? I didn't hear a word about fish. Now Representative Miller made sure
36:13he talked to us about fill the boot and bingo but we take our fish fries very seriously here in Allegheny County.
36:20I will tell you when I go to Harrisburg and I talk to people you go into all your fish fries when you go back from session
36:25and they just look at me. But here in Allegheny County we take our fish fries seriously.
36:30I don't know a lot about sports so if somebody wants to talk about NCAA basketball brackets
36:35at least I have it to fall back on that I can talk about the fish fry brackets.
36:40And I will say that every Friday in my home borough in Swissvale for lunch you will find me at the Swissvale
36:46fire department getting an amazing fish sandwich made by the firefighters.
36:51But it is ridiculous to imagine that these essential providers of first responder services in Allegheny County
37:05some of their ability to provide us with life-saving services is contingent on how delicious their fried fish is.
37:13It's a shame. And even though people are there to support because we show up and show out for fried fish in Allegheny County,
37:23I would have been there last Friday but they don't bread it with matzah.
37:27So like our governor I am an observant Jew and so I did miss the one fish fry.
37:33But I will say that when I think about what my local fire departments do, when I think that they were first on the scene
37:40at the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge, when I think of my fire chief talking to me about watching a child
37:49bleed to death on the sidewalk in Swissvale because he had been shot, when I think about the river rescue
37:56down in Braddock going out in the Mon Valley to rescue people who have drowned in the river,
38:03their funding and their ability to provide us with essential services should not depend on their ability
38:09to win the fish fry brackets. So I am over the moon that our state is supporting in this amazing way
38:17and in all the amazing ways that it does these essential service providers of firefighters because
38:22as much as I love going to fish fries and filling all the coffers of the fire department's budgets. Thank you.
38:32Representative, thank you for your comments. I want to thank all the elected leaders who are here,
38:43those who spoke and those who haven't. I hope each and every one of the firefighters here
38:48appreciates the incredible support you have at the federal, state and local level. We've got your backs.
38:54We've got a lot of work to do when we get back to session to get this budget passed and make sure that
39:00our firefighters get what is deserved to them. And with that LG and I are happy to take a few
39:06questions from the media if you have any. Talking about just your experience with the arson attack,
39:14how do you feel going into eventually moving back in in terms of safety and security and having
39:21talked to anyone on like the national level including the president about the experience?
39:25First off, I'll be back at the residence tomorrow. We're going to be hosting the Easter egg hunt.
39:32It was very important to me and Lori that that not be delayed and that children be welcomed to the
39:38grounds of the residence. Obviously, the state dining room and, you know, a good bit of the house is
39:44destroyed and they won't be going in there. But I plan to sleep there this week and be back in the
39:50residence using it as it was intended to be the people's house, welcoming people back there.
39:56And I want you to know that I feel safe there. I feel safe in the protection of the Pennsylvania
40:02State Police. I know that they are going to learn from this experience. They brought in a third party
40:07to analyze our infrastructure and our systems. And I'm very confident that whatever steps need to be
40:14taken will be taken. As for the president, I did receive a call from President Trump on Saturday.
40:21We spoke for quite a bit of time. He called to share his warm regards for me and Lori and our family.
40:28I appreciated his call very much and we agreed to stay in touch.
40:34Governor, with all the talk and bipartisanship, why are there no Republican speakers in today?
40:38We're here in the district and we have the the folks who represent this district.
40:43I'm often in districts that are represented by Republicans and they speak at many things that I attend.
40:49Governor, as the Attorney General, you prosecuted the largest wage theft case in the United States.
40:55Why is the company prosecuted still getting millions in state contacts?
41:00When I was Attorney General, we prosecuted Haw Baker for the largest
41:04Davis-Bacon prevailing wage theft case in the history of the United States of America. And we won.
41:09They were held criminally liable. They are now going through a separate process that is required under
41:16state law to debar them, meaning to make them not eligible for state projects. Obviously, my view is
41:23they shouldn't be eligible, but there's a separate process that has to go on that began during the Wolf
41:29administration and is reaching, I think, its conclusion now. I'm certainly not going to prejudge that.
41:35Someone who is reviewing those case that that case right now will make that ultimate decision.
41:40I think if you rip off the people that work for you, you rip off the taxpayers of Pennsylvania,
41:45you shouldn't be rewarded with state business. I've been clear about that for years.
41:49So, has there been any headway made in getting some of the federal food programs that have been
42:00being cut, getting those restored, or do you anticipate having to go to court?
42:04Yeah. There's a really successful program that is administered through the U.S. Department of
42:10Agriculture where they basically fund the work of 189 farms across Pennsylvania that produce dairy and
42:18meat and poultry and so much wonderful produce for our food banks, including the Pittsburgh food
42:24bank where I think the LG was last week, if I'm not mistaken, and other food banks all across
42:29Pennsylvania. The United States Department of Agriculture sent us a letter about a month ago
42:35saying that that program no longer met their objectives and they suspended that. Under federal law,
42:42we have an appeal right to try and get that money back. I filed an appeal through our State Department
42:48of Agriculture and we are waiting on a response from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I know the
42:54congressman's been trying to be helpful to get those federal dollars that are legally owed to us back.
43:00The final thing I'll say on this is this isn't some hope of mine that we would fund our farmers and
43:06our food bank. We had a three-year contract that the federal government broke in month four of that
43:13three-year contract and so I know I'm a former attorney general and a lawyer but you don't need
43:18a law degree to know the ancient legal doctrine of a deal's a deal. They made a deal with Pennsylvania.
43:24They've got to honor that deal and I'm fighting for every dollar that's owed to Pennsylvania.
43:30Anything else? Okay.
43:32Do you have anything to say about the passing of Pope Francis? I know you've gone on social media
43:37this morning. You remember meeting him and really into the 50s.
43:40Yeah. It was incredibly sad to wake up to the news of the passing of Pope Francis. I had the
43:48extraordinary honor of meeting the pope in 2015 when he was in Philadelphia for the World Meeting
43:56of the World Meeting of Families. He stayed at a seminary that was in Montgomery County. At the
44:04time I had the job that your county executive has in Montgomery County and so I was given this honor
44:10of greeting the pope as he arrived at the seminary. We shared a few words and he was very gracious with
44:17his time and then the pope turned and walked up the steps into the seminary.
44:24No one asked me to leave so I followed the pope into the seminary.
44:30And he walked over into a corner of the lobby, this beautiful ornate lobby,
44:36and he started meeting quietly with a group. I didn't know who the people were he was meeting with
44:43and it was hard to hear. So again no one had asked me to leave, I just got closer and closer and closer.
44:48And I realized this is back in 2015 that the pope was meeting with a group of survivors of sexual abuse
44:58at the hands of predator priests. He was expressing sympathy for what they had been through
45:05and he was telling them that he would take steps in order to stop that type of abuse.
45:12That was incredibly powerful to me. Years later when I would be the elected attorney general of Pennsylvania
45:21and leading the grand jury investigation into abuse within the catholic church and prosecuting predator
45:29priests, I recalled that meeting and I actually wrote the pope a letter about that meeting.
45:36While he didn't respond in writing to me the response that he gave internationally
45:46for the first time a pope ever acknowledged the pain of these survivors in the wake of our grand jury report
45:55drawing from clearly the care and concern he had during the meeting that day in 2015 in suburban Philadelphia.
46:02The first time a pope has ever acknowledged the pain and suffering of those brave survivors.
46:09It was extraordinary to me. On so many issues this pope was a voice for the voiceless and I honor
46:17the work that he did. We have a lot more work to do together not just in the arena of government but
46:24in our societies all across this globe and I think the pope laid out a road map for all of us to be able to
46:31follow, to be a voice for the voiceless and to lead with compassion in your heart. Okay? Yes, Chris.
46:39Because you're here in Pittsburgh and there's a constant uncertainty about U.S. Steel,
46:43hearing anything about developments involving U.S. Steel's return show?
46:47With regard to U.S. Steel, look, my goal remains the same, which is to protect the jobs here in the
46:52Mon Valley and to make sure that the investment comes here and the jobs don't get ripped away to another
46:59state as the CEO of U.S. Steel had been doing and had been on a path to do. While I'm not going to get
47:05into the specifics of my conversation with the president, I will tell you that we spent a good
47:10bit of time speaking about U.S. Steel and I reiterated or I said to him very clearly what I've
47:16now reiterated publicly many times, the need to protect the jobs in western Pennsylvania, a goal that
47:22he shares as well. We agreed to stay in touch and continue to work on that and I'm going to continue
47:28to speak to all of the different individuals involved at all the different companies and all
47:33of those who are interested in making investments in western Pennsylvania. We have to protect these
47:38jobs. We've got to protect steel workers way of lives here and I'm going to continue to do everything
47:43in my power as governor to do that. Okay, thank you all very much. Thank you.