The state House of Representatives this week unanimously passed legislation that would provide up to $25 million in state grants to volunteer fire departments and ambulance providers throughout the commonwealth, announced Rep.

Brian Ellis, R-11th.The Pennsylvania Volunteer Fire Company and Ambulance Service Grant program would distribute the grants, which are administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.Ellis said that, since grants have yet to be awarded for this fiscal year, there will be $50 million available this year only."This one-time, double grant will provide much-needed funding for emergency service departments," he said. "The equipment and training required of these men and women are a substantial cost within their operational budgets and this is the least we could do for them."Ellis noted that this year only fire departments would be eligible to receive up to $30,000 and ambulance providers could receive up to $20,000.The bill now moves to the state Senate for concurrence.———U.S. Sen.

Bob Casey, D-Pa, joined Tuesday with Sens.

Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and

John Thune, R-S.D., to introduce legislation aimed to protect America's bee and native pollinator population and ensure the viability of crops that rely on them for pollinationCasey noted that in recent months, there has been an estimated loss of more than 25 percent of the nation's honeybee population — a decrease that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has termed 'Colony Collapse Disorder.'The Pollinator Protection Act would authorize $89 million in federal funding for research and grant programs at the USDA over five years for work related to maintaining and protecting our bee and native pollinator populations.Experts estimate crops nationwide that depend on a healthy honey and native bee population to be valued near $18 billion."Pennsylvania's apple growers are particularly concerned about the effects of this disorder — 90 percent of apple pollination comes from honeybees," Casey said."This bill is critically important to the future of Pennsylvania's apple growers as well as the entire agriculture industry."In May, Casey, Boxer and Thune, along with 37 other senators, sent a letter along to the USDA encouraging the agency to take steps to increase Colony Collapse Disorder research.The proposed legislation, Casey noted, would provide the USDA with the support and resources to do so on a sustained basis.The bill is similar to legislation first introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep.

Alcee Hastings, D-Fla.———U.S. Reps.

Phil English. R-3rd, and

Jason Altmire, D-4th, on Wednesday voted against the procedural measure that would advance an automatic annual pay raise for members of Congress. The measure passed 244 to 181."I think Congress has embarrassed itself by doing so little to deal with important issues like jobs, gas prices, improving health care and securing our borders,"English said, "but still finds a back door to raise members' pay."The congressman noted that since taking office, he has opposed every congressional pay raise and has donated nearly $30,000 to local charities in lieu of accepting annual pay raises.In addition, he said he has introduced legislation to force Congress to vote directly on pay raises.The pay increase is automatic under the annual adjustment procedure established in 1989, which uses a formula to determine member pay based on a measure of changes in private sector pay.Altmire, meanwhile, said this was the second time he has voted against a congressional pay hike since taking office six months ago. In January, he voted to block a scheduled 2 percent pay raise, included in the fiscal year 2007 Continuing Resolution, from going into effect."With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and an annual federal deficit at over $200 billion,"Altmire said, "there are better ways for the federal government to spend taxpayers' money than giving ourselves a raise."