W. Pa. lawmakers back bill to honor family members of vets
WASHINGTON —When Mon Valley native Dennis Krisfalusy and hiswife, Lois, were killed in an earthquake in Mexico in 1985, the name of theVietnam War veteran was placed on a memorial marker at his grave. Hiswife’s name was not.
That’s because federal law prevented her name from being included at their gravesite at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County.
U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, RPeters, is trying to change that. He and several other Western Pennsylvania lawmakers have introduced legislation named for the Krisfalusys to make spouses or dependent children of veterans eligible for a memorial marker in a national or state veterans cemetery.
“Our veterans and their families dedicate their lives to our country,” Mr. Reschenthaler said. “As a veteran myself, I understand the important role our loved ones play in the lives of our nation’s heroes.”
Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Aspinwall, called the legislation “a powerful way to honor how important family is to our nation’s veterans, and to offer comfort to the family members they leave behind.”
Pat Maxon, Dennis Krisfalusy’s sister, said, “Not only will Lois’s name be engraved on the memorial stone with Denny, but spouses and children of veterans will be entitled to the military rights they justly deserve. ... Our brother, who served over 20 years in the military, and his wife, who was by his side, should both be recognized for their patriotic duty.”
In other Washington news:
Fetterman trying to make it easier to take the bus
Legislation designed to make it easier for public transportation agencies to buy buses from U.S. manufacturers has been introduced by a bipartisan group of senators, including John Fetterman, D-Pa.
The bill would make it easier for transit agencies using federal funds to buy buses to pay some of the cost inadvance, allowing bus companies to get the equipment and hire the workers they need to fulfill the order. Current regulations make it difficult for the manufacturers to do that,Mr. Fetterman said.
The bill’s other sponsors are Republicans Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Katie Britt of Alabama, and Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota.
“My office has heard from countless transit agencies across Pennsylvania
— both the largest ones in our cities to smaller ones that serve our rural communities — about how hard it is to acquire new buses,” Mr. Fetterman said. “This bill will help change that by giving agencies more flexibility when purchasing buses. Strong transit agencies are critical to making sure our communitiesare strong.”
Casey pushes to limit steel imports from Mexico
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is pushing to reinstate tariffs on Mexican steel imports to bring Mexico in line with a 2019 trade agreement in an effort he says will protect Pennsylvania steelworkers’ jobs.
Mr. Casey, D-Pa., joined Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in proposing legislation to curb what they call an unsustainable level of Mexican steel imports. The proposal calls for a 25% tariff for at least a year and gives the president the power to impose more quotas or tariffs on other goods that have seen major surges in imports.
The tariffs could only be lifted after regulators certify that Mexico’s policies are in full compliance with the 2019 trade pact involving the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Mr. Casey and a bipartisan group of senators in December pushed the Biden administration to set a deadline to enforce the agreement, which went into effect in 2020. The senator also urged the Trump administration to protect the U.S. steel industry from what he called trade cheats.
“When foreign governments cheat on trade, Pennsylvanians lose their jobs,” Mr. Casey said. “It’s past time to make Mexico play by the rules. Just as I pushed the previous administration, I am going to keep pushing the Biden administration to hold trade cheats accountable and level the playing field for American workers.”