Craig Coble (00:00):
Good morning everybody. My name is Craig Coble. I'm the president of Blue Ridge Sportsman's Club. Thank you for being here. It's a beautiful day. Received lots of compliments on the club. Just want you all to know it's a volunteer organization, so we do this for the love of the sport and firearms safety and training.
(00:17)
I have one plug to do. July 24th, we have a blood drive here, so roll up your sleeve and come on out. That's my plug.
Josh Shapiro (00:24):
Good.
Craig Coble (00:24):
Some introductions. Senator James Malone, Senator Greg Rothman. Representatives Joe Kerwin, Joe Hohenstein, Paul Takit, Jim Hiyack, Bob Bursky, and Eddie Day Koshinsky.
(00:51)
And with that, I'll give you Governor Shapiro.
Josh Shapiro (00:56):
Thanks so much, Craig.
Craig Coble (00:57):
Thank you.
Josh Shapiro (00:57):
All right. Good morning everybody.
Group (01:01):
Good morning.
Josh Shapiro (01:01):
It's a good day in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And Craig, thank you for welcoming us here to Blue Ridge Sportsman Club. I want to thank the representatives and senators for exercising their legs there and getting up and down. I'm grateful for their presence here today. And I'm grateful to so many folks who have advocated for this bill that I am about to sign into law, a law that will lift Pennsylvania's centuries old ban on Sunday hunting.
(01:33)
I know this is a day that many people have been working on for many, many years. People like Dan from Hunter Nation, a great advocate, and appreciate your work. And Steve from the Game Commission, a great advocate and expert who have been working on this tirelessly for many years.
(01:52)
This law, of course, is a relic of the earliest days of our great Commonwealth. Look, I love Pennsylvania history and tradition. I know folks probably get tired when I recount the stories I've learned about William Penn and Ben Franklin and so many who came before us and set the foundation upon which we all stand on today. I think it is important that we respect our history and our traditions. I also think it is important that we acknowledge that some things have changed since William Penn arrived in 1681 to what is now the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(02:29)
The ban on Sunday hunting, well, I would say it just doesn't make sense anymore for Pennsylvania's 850,000 hunter and sportsmen. For decades, folks in hunting clubs and sportsman's clubs have advocated for lifting the ban on Sunday hunting. And as long as I can remember, and I know many of these representatives and senators who are here, I served with in the legislature, who I remember debating it in Harrisburg. Debating it in the halls of the legislature. Today we're here because we are finally getting it done after years and years of folks talking about it.
(03:09)
I want to say how grateful I am to representative Mandy Steele for her incredible leadership on this legislation. She sponsored it. She made it her passion and her purpose, and she assembled a bipartisan group to be able to work together to get this done, including the lead sponsor in the Senate, Senator Laughlin. They worked together to be able to get this bill to my desk. I think it's important to note Representative Steele is a relatively new member of the General Assembly, and she made this her purpose. I would also note that when I sign that in a few moments, it will be the first law in Pennsylvania that bears the name of Representative Mandy Steele. Congratulations for your leadership. I want to be honest with everyone here. I am not a hunter myself, but I have so much respect for the Commonwealth's hunters and sportsmen. I listen to them, I learned from them, and now we've acted on their behalf. Hunting takes skill and determination and patience. It helps protect our Commonwealth's natural resources as well as our farmers' crops. And it give folks a chance to connect with friends and family and colleagues on just such a different level.
(04:34)
I love the stories of parents telling me how they hunt with their children. I love the stories about those cabins that get passed down from generation to generation. I love the stories of the uncle that loves to tell about that deer and the deer always gets a little bigger each time they tell the story. I think those stories and those traditions are really important and it's something we need to celebrate.
(04:57)
It's a rich part of our Commonwealth's history and traditions. We are listening now to the communities that so often get ignored and left behind. We're listening to those stories and we are acting on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania who have been determined to see this through. We're ensuring of course, that in this fast-changing world, Pennsylvanians have real freedom and real opportunity to celebrate those traditions and pass them on to future generations on their terms and on their timing.
(05:31)
The bill that I'm about to sign into law will lift the outdated ban that can trace its roots back to 1682. It lifts the outdated ban on Sunday hunting and instead gives the Game Commission the freedom to set hunting seasons that make sense for today's sportsmen. It is a smart change that puts the decision-making about Pennsylvania's hunting squarely in the hands of the experts of the Game Commission and those who know our game populations best. At a time when folks in Pennsylvania and elsewhere are just busier than ever before.
(06:10)
So many hunters are working five, six days a week. This is a common-sense change that gives hunters more freedom to choose when they want to head into the woods. It also opens up more freedom for moms and dads and aunts and uncles, grandmoms and grandpops to introduce younger generations to the tradition of hunting. That is really important to me. That we see these traditions passed down from generation to generation, and we allow families to do this on their terms when it works for them.
(06:41)
As a father of four, I know how many competing demands there are on our kids' time, school and homework, friends and sports. So now opening up some more Sundays for hunting creates more opportunities for families to get kids away from the iPhones and instead outside in the wilderness, in the woods, to help them build the skills and experience they need to be lifelong hunters as well.
(07:07)
And listen, even if you're not a hunter, you should support this new law because it's great for Pennsylvania's economy. Our rural communities are now going to attract more hunters from other parts of the Commonwealth and out-of-state hunters who can now not just show up for a day, but devote a full weekend to hunting here in Pennsylvania. We've already got three Sundays a year where folks can hunt and Steve and his team will tell you that it has been incredibly popular.
(07:38)
Opening up more Sundays for hunting will give us a powerful tool to bring more sportsmen to Pennsylvania, along with the money they're going to spend on food and gear and travel to some of the most beautiful parts of our Commonwealth, that I feel privileged to have visited many times. And while we create opportunity for sportsmen and local communities, we're also going to assure that the rights of private landowners are protected because this bill strengthens protections against trespassing on private property.
(08:09)
So listen, here's what we're about to do. We're about to grow our economy, protect our wildlife and the rights of landowners, and at the same time creating more real freedom here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is a major win for Pennsylvania and it is long overdue. I'm proud of the fact that by working together, we were able to treat people with respect, we're able to honor our heritage, and we're able to look forward to a future with more freedom.
(08:40)
Today is a great celebration of that heritage of hunting in Pennsylvania. It's also a celebration, and I hope this is not lost on anyone, that in these polarized times we can find ways in Pennsylvania to come together to work Republican and Democrat, in order to make sure that we make progress and get stuff done for all of our communities. This is going to make a real difference for hunters across Pennsylvania, and I'm grateful to everyone here for your partnership in helping us get this across the finish line.
(09:12)
So in a moment, I'm going to sign this bill into law, but before that, I want you to hear from some others who helped make this day possible, beginning with Steve Smith, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
(09:24)
Thank you.
(09:27)
Thanks, Steve.
Steve Smith (09:27):
Thank you.
Josh Shapiro (09:29):
Thank you.
Steve Smith (09:32):
Well, good morning. It is truly an honor to be here. And Governor, when I saw that I was going to follow you to the speaker podium, I thought, "This must be what it's like to get a lineup card and see that you're following Bryce Harper to the plate." It's a tough act to follow, but it is truly an honor to be here on this historic day.
(09:52)
Governor, thank you. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your support for Pennsylvania hunters. As you mentioned, the ban on Sunday hunting has been in place for centuries. It's a ban that well outlived its usefulness. It's a ban that was an obstacle to how we could manage wildlife. To put it in perspective, up until today, up until when this bill takes effect, 47 other states had more opportunities to hunt on Sundays than Pennsylvania. And it was incredibly unpopular to enforce.
(10:28)
Time and time again we heard from hunters frustrated with how the ban on Sunday hunting affected their experience. From those young hunters with school obligations, from those hunters who had just entered the workforce, who were working two jobs and didn't have the ability to take time off, to those with young families. And as you mentioned all the time restraints that come inherent with having young families. And really, to countless others who just wanted and needed more time outdoors.
(10:56)
And on a personal note, as a parent, I know what it's like to be on the sidelines of a ball field in the fall Saturday after Saturday after Saturday, watching the fall tick away and wondering how you're going to get out to hunt, let alone how you're going to have your children go out to hunt. But today, we're taking a huge step toward changing that. Today we celebrate making hunting more accessible, more accessible for our young hunters, more accessible for our working hunters, more accessible for anybody who wants to pick up this pastime that is so deeply ingrained and embedded in the fabric of our culture in this Commonwealth.
(11:35)
So this law is a win for hunters. It's a win for conservation as well. In the short term, having more active and participating is going to better help us manage the wildlife in this state. But in the long term, this bill is going to significantly increase our ability to recruit and retain new hunters, which ensures that there will be that next generation that
Steve Smith (12:00):
… that follows in our footsteps and protects and manages the wildlife for tomorrow as well. So, it's a great day. It's a great day for our hunters. And I just want to thank a few of the people who made today possible, starting with Representative Steele. It has been such a pleasure to work with you. I believe our first conversation 18 months ago, 10 seconds into when we met was about Sunday hunting, and that's consistent with your enthusiasm for this. I know. Governor, she's probably mentioned it to you a time or two as well, because every time we talk about it, she says, "And I talked to the governor and he's on board." So, it's been infectious, your enthusiasm for this issue. Thank you so much for what you've done.
(12:39)
I wanted to thank Chairwoman Kulik from the House Game & Fisheries Committee for her leadership moving this bill through the House, not once, but twice, and we picked up votes each time as well. Just tremendous leadership there from Chairwoman Kulik.
(12:53)
On the Senate side, Senator Laughlin has made this his signature issue for years. And I know he couldn't be here, but he put really the first crack into the ceiling with Sunday hunting about four or five years ago by getting the three-day exception into the law. What that showed is that Sunday hunting would work in the Commonwealth and that paved the way for us to be here today.
(13:12)
I also want to recognize the leadership of Chairman Rothman and Chairman Malone. Thank you for the leadership you showed in the Senate Game & Fisheries Committee for moving the bill so quickly and in a bipartisan effort. And really, this entire effort, as you said, Governor, has been bipartisan. It's been bigger than any party divides. It's reached across all four of the caucuses. We've all come together for this moment. So, thank you everyone who's played a role in that.
(13:39)
I also want to acknowledge… As we know, a bill can't reach to this level without partnerships, one of which is our partnership with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Andy, thank you for being here. The Farm Bureau has been at our side every step of the way. This is an exciting day for us, and also, ultimately, the thousands and thousands of hunters that made their voices heard. I'm looking out over so many of the sportsmen organizations that are represented here today. It is because of the work of those hunters, because of the work that you did that were able to be here.
(14:08)
This bill is a long time in coming. And in reality for us hunters, that's okay because we are used to things taking a long time. We are used to being patient. We are used to waiting because we know if we do, there's ultimately going to be something good that happens, and today is something good. So, thank you.
Josh Shapiro (14:24):
That's great.
Steve Smith (14:24):
Thank you.
Josh Shapiro (14:32):
Now, it's my pleasure to invite up Dan Sneath for some comments. Dan's been a great advocate for Sunday hunting and it's our pleasure to hear from you now. Thank you, Dan.
Craig Coble (14:42):
Thank you, sir.
Josh Shapiro (14:48):
Thank you.
Craig Coble (14:49):
When this first started, I had two good hips. Now, I got one. Let me get my glasses out here. Good morning. I guess it's still morning, and thank you. Thank you, Governor Shapiro. Thank you, members of the General Assembly. Thank you, Game Commission and Game Commission staff. And thank you to my fellow hunters. I especially want to thank Representative Mandy Steele, who has been so great to work with, and Senator Dan Laughlin, who unfortunately cannot be here today. Without your commitments, this probably never would've happened and we would not be standing here today moving conservation and hunting forward in Pennsylvania.
(15:36)
For those of you that don't know me, my name is Dan Sneath. I am the hunter nation Pennsylvania director of legislative affairs. Most importantly, I'm a proud Pennsylvanian, who, like many of you, has dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Pennsylvania. When I was asked during the last legislative session to help Representative Steele with a package of bills that would repeal the ban on Sunday hunting, I said, sure, I'll help out. I was primarily giving advice on the trespassing section of those bills. After 27 and a half years with the Pennsylvania State Police, I kind of had a grasp on that subject.
(16:20)
Wow, though. What an experience. I've met so many people now and I went from talking to Mandy and other people about trespassing and how it's enforced and things of that nature, to going to the Capitol and having coffee and talking with people. A few days ago I was scrolling through Facebook, because of my hip, I can't move, and I came across the post on the governor's page and that post was interesting to me and it struck me. There was a picture of the governor sitting at his desk, signing bills. And it indicated the eight bills being signed were bipartisan because here in Pennsylvania, we still believe in coming together to get stuff done. Well, that's been my experience in this journey to get this Sunday hunting done.
(17:05)
So, did what we do? We rolled up our sleeves and we got to work. We found mutually-agreeable solutions to problems that the agricultural community was having and what hunters wanted. The agricultural community is having trouble with crop damage mitigation. Hunters want to help. Hunters like to hunt deer or whatever other animals may be causing those problems. So, we took those combination of opportunities and needs and we put them together and we come up with a bill. Groups like Hunter Nation, who I represent, HUSH the Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists, the Farm Bureau, who has been great to work with, the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
(17:54)
So, once we got that idea together and everyone pulled those resources to come up with that, we then went to the General Assembly to try and make this become a reality. At that point in time, we got with Senator Laughlin who was already on this, and Mandy Steele, who was willing to join in. Through their efforts building a coalition within the legislature, they were able to get this bill, House bill 1431 passed and off to the governor to sign.
(18:24)
There are so many members of the General Assembly that I would like to thank because I've met a lot of friends down there now. A lot of people have met that I had no idea how nice they were and everyone is so nice, but that list would be extremely long. It would be extremely long. But obviously, I'd like to thank those members that voted yes. That's great. But I would also be remiss if I didn't thank the members that voted no. And the reason I say that is they were all respectful to me. They all told me their concerns and I understood their concerns. I took those concerns back to the coalition of people that we were working with and we discussed them and we tried to mitigate those concerns. So, to those people that voted no, I want to say thank you for your commitment to your constituents and making those issues known, so that we could try to address them.
(19:16)
I would personally like now to thank a couple people. First off, I want to thank Jim Haddock. Representative Haddock and I have had several lunches in the Capitol cafeteria, and we'd sit there and talk about everything, everything from hunting to Representative Haddock explaining to me how the legislative procedure actually works because I don't know. I was a trooper. I just went out and did whatever I was told to do whenever the laws were there. So, I really appreciate your help, Jim. I really do.
(19:45)
Next, I'd like to thank Representative Ed Nielsen. And to echo his words on the floor of the House of Representatives during the concurrence vote, a special thank you to the two ladies from Allegheny County, Representative Anita Kulik and Representative Mandy Steele, who finally got this historic piece of legislation passed and off to the governor's desk. I would also like to thank the senators, Senator Greg Rothman, Senator James Malone, Senator Dan Laughlin, for ushering this bill through the Senate and making sure it was taken care of in the Senate.
(20:19)
I'd also now, because I see who's here, I'd like to thank a couple other people, Ben, Morgan, Paul, Stacey, all the executive directors from those offices. They have been so great to work with and kept me so informed with information I needed and if they needed anything from me, I was more than happy to give it to them. In closing, I would like to thank everyone who, through the years, has been involved in moving this legislation forward to get to this point. We are now gathered here to celebrate this moment. So, thank you Governor Shapiro for your leadership and understanding the importance of this moment.
Josh Shapiro (20:53):
Thank you.
Craig Coble (20:54):
Thank you very much.
Josh Shapiro (21:01):
There were a lot of pivotal moments in the legislative process. I think maybe one that was incredibly helpful, if not the most pivotal, was the marriage between our agriculture interests, our farm interests, and the advocates for this legislation. I want to lend my voice to thanking the Farm Bureau for their incredible willingness to engage on this. And of course, the outstanding secretary of agriculture in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, someone who has seen this through over many, many years. A trusted advisor to me and many other farmers across this Commonwealth, and that is Secretary Russell Redding. Mr. Secretary. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Governor, thank you, and good morning, everybody. What a pleasure to be here. As I was walking out the door this morning, I said to my wife, "Hey, we're going to the Sunday hunting bill signing." And she said, "What? You've been talking about that forever." She's right. She's also a hunter. So, this is one of those families where tradition runs deep in a large family and the farm and we love our hunting. We love what we do. We love the relationship that we have with the Game Commission. I just want to say to Director Smith, thank you. This is certainly important conversation that we've had, the engagement that we've had with the Game Commission. There's a changed environment or a recognition of a partnership. Thank you for that.
(22:25)
To our Farm Bureau friends, I say, often, when the standard greeting when you're out somewhere is about deer damage, you got a problem and that's every time I would go somewhere. Every county fair, every legislative breakfast, every time you turn around, there was a deer damage concern in the Farm Bureau. It was constructive in that, but very pointed that we've got to address these issues. And these, of course, are all connected concerns. I see it on our own farm and just the deer-density issue. There is a correlation between the number of hunters, the ability to hunt, access to the season and deer populations, and the Game Commission recognizes that and our Farm Bureau has been a great advocate for that.
(23:13)
But ultimately, you need meaningful solutions too. It's nice to talk about it, it's good to recognize that there are impacts, but you need solutions. And today, we're realizing one of those solutions, right? We're realizing that there's a bundle of things that come together to include Sunday hunting. So, I want to say thank you to the sponsors, the folks who've been on this journey for decades to get to a point of an intelligent conversation and in a really responsive solution. Why? Because for generations farming, as the governor noted, rural life and hunting have been deeply intertwined in Pennsylvania. These aren't separate traditions. They're part of the same fabric that shapes our rural communities. Well, many farms, the same fields that grow food for
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Our tables have also fed the local deer population. And for just as long hunters have played a critical role in keeping that population in balance, providing food for their families, their community, respecting the land, and helping farmers protect their crops. It's a delicate balance, one rooted in mutual respect. Farmers manage the land, hunters steward the wildlife, and the rural communities rely on both to thrive. But as deer populations have grown and farming has become more intensive and vulnerable, that balance started to tip away.
(24:43)
We've reached a point where cooperation isn't just a tradition, it's a necessity. And that has been important. The trespassing provisions are noted here. And again, as a private property owner, we know that the majority of our hunting takes place on private property. So those relationships and the respect that's shown between hunters and landowners is critical. I also want to say thank you to the Game Commission, not part of the legislation, but just their general interest in making sure that we connect hunters and landowners. And the initiatives that have been taken administratively are really important because they recognize that there is a symbiotic relationship between landowners, the farmers, and hunters, and how do you foster that relationship? So thank you for that.
(25:29)
And I'd be remiss if I didn't say to those who are participants in the hunter sharing the harvest is that this is also a really important part of who we are and being able to harvest those deer, to harvest that venison, to harvest the protein. And since 1991, over two million pounds, the venison have gone into the charitable food system, and that's an important relationship. We recognize that both in the sport, in the land, and the community are all connected.
(25:58)
So today is a story of more and less, more days to hunt, more opportunities to bag of deer, more hunters, more effective deer management, more relief from crop damage, more food on the table and in the food bank. And it's less crop damage, less habitat destruction, and less hunger. That's a good solution so thank you Governor for your leadership to legislature and folks who have advocated, to our chief advocate and sponsor Mandy Steele. Thank you. Pleasure to welcome you. Thank you.
Mandy Steele (26:43):
Hello everybody. Good morning.
Josh Shapiro (26:45):
Good morning.
Mandy Steele (26:47):
Talk about getting stuff done. We're getting it done right here today. This is a wildly historic moment in Pennsylvania. Governor Shapiro, I want to sincerely thank you for understanding the magnitude of this, for the necessity, the urgency of this. Governor Shapiro signed this bill fast. Impressive. From the beginning, governor, you just got it. And I continue to personally be really impressed with your understanding of the issues that really matter to Pennsylvanians. It's impressive.
Josh Shapiro (27:22):
Thank you.
Mandy Steele (27:23):
You have been on the side of hunters and conservationists and steward of the land all along. That is a good and admirable place to plant your feet. Thank you for that. I'm glad to count this governor amongst us that fight for wild places. It's special to have a governor like this. It really is. And I hope one day to be out in a spring forest with you.
Josh Shapiro (27:46):
I would love that. Let's do it. Can we bring your kids with us?
Mandy Steele (27:50):
The kids are ready to roll.
Josh Shapiro (27:51):
Good.
Mandy Steele (27:52):
Experiencing the ancient thrill of talking to a wild turkey. It's really something. And the kids, Jack will take the lead. Show you the ropes. William, Catherine, and Flora, glad to as well. They're expert turkey talkers. For 50 years, people have fought to lift this unjust constraint on the freedom of hunters. Many of those fighters are here with us today. Hunter Nation, Dan Sneath, has become a good friend, HUSH, the Federation, Backcountry Hunters, and Hunters Sharing the Harvest, John Plowman leading that charge for so long.
(28:32)
With this bill, we united the clans. All of the enduring advocates, the Astute Minds, and the Farm Bureau and the Game Commission, legislators from both chambers and both parties. And now our good governor is with us. And today because of that consensus that we built, which is becoming a rarity and which we must fight to protect consensus. Because of that consensus, we're getting it done today.
(29:02)
With this signing of the bill, we are restoring freedom to hunters who want to ethically provide food for their families, but desperately need one more day because they're raising kids or they're working. We are supporting our farmers, like the secretary said, who tell us they need one more day to mitigate crop damage. We are breathing new life into Pennsylvania's magnificent woodlands. We are protecting land, a noble pursuit foundational to our history as Americans.
(29:36)
I've come to hunting as my own. I'm not a likely hunter. I didn't raise up. I wasn't raised in a hunting family. My husband doesn't hunt. But I've come to it on my own as an adult woman and mother of four children because I've seen the way that their brains awaken when we're out in the forest studying plants, animals, weather patterns. I've witnessed the deep connection to the land that is fostered.
(30:06)
Governor Shapiro, may be more important than anything else today, today we are empowering untold future generations of stewards of our great wild lands. Today my heart is full with gratitude for this governor, for Senator Rothman, Senator Jim Brewster, all the other legislators that are here. All of the incredible fierce advocates, the Game Commission, the Farm Bureau, so many, and for Pennsylvania's hunting heritage. Thank you. This is an honor.
Josh Shapiro (30:44):
All right, so we have some business to do here. We're going to sign this bill into law and invite those up who are going to join us. Then we'll return and take a few questions from the media. [inaudible 00:31:14] So while everyone's assembling, I just want to note those of you who have not been to a bill signing, this is what a bill looks like when it reaches my desk. And it's important to note that every word in here, every word in this legislation has to match what passes in both the house and the Senate down to every period, every comment, every single word must be the same in order for it to reach my desk.
(31:54)
That's a hard thing to do in this environment. It's a hard thing to do in any environment. I think the framers who establish this wanted the process to be deliberate slow. I think we'd all like it to be a little faster sometimes, but it's hard work getting this to my desk. So I'm going to sign this into law and then we're going to give it to a lawyer who's going to file it. And then this will go into effect and change the game here for hunting in Pennsylvania. So here we go. You guys ready?
Mandy Steele (32:19):
Yeah.
Josh Shapiro (32:19):
All right. We're going to find the page. So can you help me find the page here? Is it that one? Good. All right. What's today's date? [inaudible 00:32:36] know that. [inaudible 00:32:39] representing those deals. Sunday hunting is now [inaudible 00:32:47]. I am going to give your mom this pen. Anything she writes with this pen becomes law from here on out. Congratulations.
Mandy Steele (33:21):
Thank you, Governor.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Speakers from the press conference if you want to join the guy that elevated the case [inaudible 00:33:31].
Josh Shapiro (33:31):
Good job. Good job. [inaudible 00:33:32]. All right. Glad to be here. I'm going to take some questions. I should have acknowledged this at the beginning. We're in Representative Kerwin's district and grateful for his leadership. And by the way, not just grateful for his leadership in the House of Representatives. He's one of the most distinguished members of the Pennsylvania National Guard. I was there with he and his brother and their family when they left us for a year to go to the Horn of Africa to serve our commonwealth in our country. We honor you and we appreciate you very much. Thank you. All right, I'll take a few questions. Any questions?
Speaker 3 (34:13):
Governor Josh, this is an off topic.
Josh Shapiro (34:16):
How about we start with Sunday, right?
Speaker 4 (34:19):
All right, governor on topic. For the Game Commission, so when are they going to make the determination of which Sundays are going to select and do they have an idea of how many roughly X? Again, I know the power there.
Steve Smith (34:31):
Sure, I'll take this one. Best answer I can give you as of today is that it's yet to be determined. The bill fortunately takes effect 60 days from today, which is in early September, right on the brink of our hunting seasons. That gives us a little bit of time. Not a lot, but a little bit of time to figure out a path forward. So internally, we are reviewing it to see what our options are. We're working with our board of commissioners, our legal counsel, our biologists, our law enforcement. Once we've determined a path forward, we'll be sure to communicate that with our hunters. All I can tell them as of today is to stay tuned and buy your hunting license.
Josh Shapiro (35:07):
That was very diplomatic. Let me say this. These guys have been waiting for this and preparing for this for a long time. They're going to get moving quickly and they're going to have a governor bugging them about it all the time to make sure our hunters get out there as quick as they can this fall. So we appreciate how hard the game commission works. Anything else on this?
Speaker 4 (35:28):
Governor? What was the difference this time after all the years, the efforts to change this? Why was now the time for this?
Josh Shapiro (35:33):
I think you're looking at it. I mean, please do not lose sight of this. You've got Republicans and Democrats, senators and representatives. You have an example in the Senate where a senator had been working this for many years and now you have a representative who arrived who took this up as her passion, her calling. They're kind of an unlikely duo on this, but I think it actually speaks to the broad
Josh Shapiro (36:00):
-broad swath of Pennsylvanians who are hunters, who may not all hail from the same community, may not all look alike, may not all come from the same background, but they're all really passionate about hunting in our commonwealth. I think what you saw was a reflection of that in the legislature. I think we also had a few pivotal moments is, as I mentioned before, having the Farm Bureau be a part of this, it was really, really important. That is a big deal. And I think it is important to note that with the Democratic majority in the house, they prioritized this. They said they wanted to get this bill to my desk. They did. And I appreciate that very much. It's another example of where we were able to work together, Leader Bradford, Leader Pittman, President Ward, Speaker McClinton, to be able to find common ground and get bills to my desk that are going to make real difference in people's lives.
Speaker 5 (36:47):
Have you ever hunted? What's your personal background with hunting?
Josh Shapiro (36:49):
Yeah, I spoke to that earlier. I am not a hunter, but I'm someone who respects hunting, respects the culture, and have learned a ton from people in my travels all across Pennsylvania. So, while I'm not personally a hunter, while that's not been something that's been passed down from generation to generation in my family, I was really purposeful in wanting to get this bill signed into law and make this a reality for Pennsylvanians. I'm really proud that we're able to expand this tradition and I think it's one of the richest, most important parts of the heritage of our common law.
Speaker 4 (37:23):
Governor, speaking of bipartisanship, the budget right now-
Josh Shapiro (37:26):
Yes. I want to stay on topic. Is there anything else on this?
Speaker 6 (37:28):
Governor, I just want to ask you, you just signed something that ended a ban that's been in place for a very, very long time. A lot of people look back at Pennsylvania's founding, some of those values. How does it feel having just ended something like that? Especially, it's been there for a long time.
Josh Shapiro (37:46):
I feel honored and privileged to serve as the 48th governor of this great commonwealth, and for those who have had the fortune of being in the governor's office, where I'm privileged to sit each day, when you sit behind my desk, and you look up, you're staring at portraits of those who came before you, starting with William Penn. By the way, over my right shoulder is Ben Franklin. Imagine being judged every day in your work by William Penn and Ben Franklin. And as those portraits go on throughout the office, it leads to my immediate predecessor, Governor Wolf.
(38:20)
I'm mindful that all of us are really only here for a finite period of time and I got a lot I want to do during that finite period of time. This was one example of something I wanted to get done. I'm also mindful, more broadly than any particular bill or law, that I've got a responsibility to the portrait that came before me, and the one before that, and the one before that, to take that baton that started being passed down by William Penn, and work to build a Pennsylvania that's more inclusive, more free, more just. In the keeping of the traditions of William Penn who, quite literally, established this place as a place would be warm and welcoming to people of all faiths, of all backgrounds.
(39:05)
I'm not sure he would've ever imagined all of us assembled here as we are, but he'd probably be pretty proud of that. As I think about each of those who occupied this office, I think they all kind of tried to build on what William Penn started, but also adapt with the times that we are in while staying true to our values. So yes, an idea that William Penn put in place that led to this Sunday hunting ban since 1682, you trace its roots back to that, that is changing today. That is historic, but I think it's still in keeping with the traditions that makes this commonwealth so strong. The tradition of family, the tradition of the great outdoors, the tradition of hunting, and so I feel like what I'm doing now is just taking this to the next level, carrying on the traditions as they were established by William Penn and others, perfecting it in a way that can be more inclusive for all Pennsylvanians and taking our commonwealth forward as is my job as the commonwealth's chief executive.
Speaker 9 (40:10):
Governor, on the state budget is there-
Josh Shapiro (40:12):
Just stay with this and then we will get the budget too. Anything else on this?
Speaker 8 (40:16):
Governor, do you or the Game Commission think that allowing more hunting on Sundays is going to significantly change the trajectory of hunting participation? Should we expect to see actual results in terms of hunting licenses sold, which, it did go down?
Josh Shapiro (40:29):
Yeah, I'll let the Game Commission speak for themselves, but look, we're second in the nation on hunting. I'm competitive as hell. I'd like to be first. I don't want to lose Texas on anything. Right? By the way, I do need to say I'm really going a far field, but I will respond to your question. I've communicated with Governor Abbott, what is happening in Texas is just awful. We sent Pennsylvania Task Force 1 there to assist in the recovery, to assist in the cleanup, and we're just keeping all Texans in our prayers. As much as I'd like us to be number one in everything, in beating Texas, and obviously said that in a way that was playful, now is not a time for joy in that community. Obviously, now it's a time of great sorrow and I just want everybody to know we're praying, and we've sent our great assets, Pennsylvania Task Force 1, there to help them. As to your question, I think it is going to open up the doors for not only more Pennsylvanians but more out-of-staters who used to have to plan their visit to the commonwealth really around one day, and now they have the opportunity to build a whole weekend, to stay in our hotels and our cabins, to eat in our restaurants and go to our bars, to have an opportunity to experience the beauty of Pennsylvania, maybe to hunt one day and do something else on a main street the next day. So I think it's going to open up the opportunity for more hunters to come here, and I think that's good. Not just for hunting, not just for the Game Commission, but I think it's really good for our economy in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Speaker 7 (42:10):
Governor Josh Shapiro, one week ago in Erie, an Erie man was shot and killed by a state parole officer. The community is in a lot of unrest. What can you say? Can we speed up that investigation?
Josh Shapiro (42:20):
Yeah, there's not much I can say right now. It's something I'm aware of, something that we are working through, and I think we'll have more to say on that soon. Is there anything else on this?
Speaker 7 (42:31):
Words of comfort?
Josh Shapiro (42:33):
Okay. I'm sorry?
Speaker 7 (42:34):
Words of comfort for our community?
Josh Shapiro (42:36):
Obviously, the community in Erie is reeling from this, and I want them to know that I hear them, I see them, my heart is with them. You asked me for a comment on the investigation. I don't think it's prudent for me to do that at this time, but I do want the community to know that we hear them, and we see them, and we understand that this is a time of pain. All right, some off topics. I think you.
Speaker 4 (43:01):
Governor, budget, nine days late. You were talking about bipartisanship. You have Democrats and Republicans up there. Is there anything that you're seeing taken off the table to try and get the deal done in these last few days?
Josh Shapiro (43:12):
Well, I'm not going to negotiate the budget in this setting. I can tell you that while a lot of you were at the beach and celebrating July 4th, a lot of us, including a lot of really dedicated staff, were working hard this weekend. I think we made progress. Yesterday the leaders were in my office. We made more progress. We're having really honest and respectful dialogue. We all understand the issues that are on the table. I think we understand where some of the pressure points are for each of the leaders and their caucuses, and we're working through it. I'm confident we're going to get there, and I realize that the good people of Pennsylvania don't get to see some of that work, but you should be proud of your leaders. You should be proud of Leader Pittman and Leader Bradford and the way they represent their constituencies and the way we're all trying to find common ground on the issues that matter most to the people of Pennsylvania.
Speaker 10 (44:05):
Hey, Governor. Congressman Meuser announces today he's not going to run to challenge you. Any reaction?
Josh Shapiro (44:10):
Yeah, I mean there's a bill signing. I'm not getting into politics here. There'll be a time for politics some other time.
Speaker 11 (44:15):
Yeah. Few mentioned some of the places that you've been able to collaborate with, some of the Senate Republican leaders. I guess, what are some of those areas that you have come to agree on?
Josh Shapiro (44:25):
Every single bill that's reached my desk requires collaboration with the Senate Republicans and the House Democrats, including Sunday hunting and including the budget that we'll be getting done.
Speaker 11 (44:34):
But what programs in the budget?
Josh Shapiro (44:37):
I'm not sure I follow your question.
Speaker 11 (44:38):
Look, what sorts of funding in the budget have you and the Senate reached agreement on?
Josh Shapiro (44:43):
I'm not going to get into our internal dialogue here. I can just tell you that we all understand the issues. We understand each other's perspectives. We also understand that our job is to compromise. Our job is to come together. What I can guarantee you about this state budget, what every lawmaker up here can guarantee you, is that it will be a result of compromise. No one will get everything they want. We understand the things that are critically important to each side, and we're working through that right now in a really respectful and diligent way and when we have more to say on that, we will. Thank you all very much. Today's a great day for Pennsylvania.