State Representative Kathy Rapp (Warren/Forest/McKean)
State Representative Kathy Rapp, who began her second term on Jan. 2, 2007, brings to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives vast experience in both the public and private sectors to represent the people of the 65th Legislative District in Forest County, McKean County and Warren County.
For the 2009-10 legislation session, Kathy has been appointed to serve as a House Republican Deputy Whip and, for the second time, House Republican Chairman of the Subcommittee on Special Education In addition, Rep. Rapp will return for her third consecutive term as a member of the Education, Environmental Resources and Energy, State Government and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.
A consistent advocate for fiscal responsibility and government reform, Rapp was among a select group of eight Pennsylvania lawmakers to earn an “A” grade on the Commonwealth Foundation’s 2006 Liberty Index and tied for the honor of highest-ranking freshman lawmaker with State Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler).
As a proud mother of a daughter who served our country both at home and abroad, Rapp has proven herself to be a strong ally of both our veterans and active military personnel in several tangible ways.
In May 2005, Rapp’s bill to further protect and respect the confidentially of both the military and all Pennsylvania absentee voters by prohibiting the posting of their names at both the county board of election offices and at polling places unanimously passed the State House.
Later that month on Armed Forces Day, she became one of the first Pennsylvania lawmakers to host an official recognition luncheon for World War II veterans and their families. In all, Rapp presented nearly 170 veterans from Warren, Forest and McKean counties with a medal and certificate of appreciation in honor of their dedicated service to our Commonwealth and our nation.
Over the past two years, Rapp has presented local drivers from the Disabled Veterans of America Hospital Transportation Network with a new van she helped to procure at the State Capitol. 2006 marked the fifth consecutive year that Rapp and other members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee have worked to purchase vans and assist the DAV Hospital Transportation Network with budgetary shortfalls.
In March 2007, she announced her negotiations with Pennsylvania House Speaker Denny O’Brien to make Pennsylvania the 12th state in the nation to recognize Order of the Silver Rose recipients, (Vietnam veterans who have become sick or lost their lives due to Agent Orange exposure) with an official House citation had reached a successful conclusion.
Before being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2004, Rapp was heavily involved in the health and human services field, serving as a community relations representative with Beverly Health Care, where she managed admissions and marketing for two health care facilities in Warren.
She was also a VIP coordinator for the Parent Education Network in York and assisted individuals with disabilities and their families receive information and skills to live more productive lives.