KITCHEN INVITES PUBLIC TO ‘BUILDING A VISION FOR RURAL PA’ SESSION

          PHILADELPHIA, February 12: The Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee is hosting a series of listening sessions across Pennsylvania — including Philadelphia — to help identify priorities for the committee during the 2007-08 session, according to state Sen. Shirley Kitchen.

          The public is invited to attend a “Building a Vision for Rural Pennsylvania” session from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, located at 16^th Street and Girard Avenue.

          “I encourage folks to attend this free event to express their views or ask any questions they have for the Agricultural Committee,” said Kitchen, who is a member of the committee. “Even though we live in a city, we are all affected by the state’s agricultural industry and what it produces. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our agriculturally rich Commonwealth and ask questions of state senators.”

          The committee will discuss farmland preservation, health care accessibility and affordability, property taxes and sprawl issues.

           The goal of “Building a Vision for Rural Pennsylvania” is to gather input from agriculture communities, rural communities and anyone affected directly or indirectly by the committee’s actions.

          “As a committee made up of senators from across Pennsylvania, we want to hear from a variety of people so that we can shape an agenda that will meet everyone’s needs,” Kitchen said.