SB 173 is sponsored by Sharif Street (Democratic), Judy Ward (Republican), Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Jay Costa (Democratic), John I. Kane (Democratic), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Lisa Baker (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Doug Mastriano (Republican), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Cris Dush (Republican), Frank A. Farry (Republican), Maria Collett (Democratic), and Devlin J. Robinson (Republican).

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Pennsylvania 2025_0 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 12 R · 6 D cosponsors

SB 173 — An Act amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for veteran of Korean Armed Forces.

Last action March 19, 2025 — Laid on the table, March 19, 2025

✓
Introduced
✓
In Committee
3
Passed Senate
4
Passed House
5
To Executive
6
Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 23, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Passed Senate

Current position in the legislative process.
18 sponsors

1 primary, 17 co-sponsors signed on.
Bipartisan support

Sponsored across 2 parties (12 R · 6 D) — cross-party backing.
Cleared a recorded vote

Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

PA Korean VALOR Act

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

21 added · 26 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised bill now states that an eligible veteran of the Korean Armed Forces, who is also a naturalized U.S. citizen, will receive the same rights and benefits as Pennsylvania military veterans without needing prior recognition from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, the requirements for proving service have been simplified, removing the need for documentation from the Veterans Affairs department. This change is significant because it makes it easier for these veterans to access benefits, ensuring they receive recognition and support for their service.

Latest

~~PRIOR~~ PRINTER'S NO.

PRINTER'S NO.

111 ~~PRINTER'S~~ ~~NO.~~

111 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.

~~181 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.~~

WARD, BAKER, STEFANO, MASTRIANO, ~~VOGEL,~~ ~~DUSH,~~ ~~STREET,~~ ~~FARRY~~ AND ~~COLLETT,~~ JANUARY 23, 2025 AS ~~AMENDED~~ ON ~~THIRD~~ ~~CONSIDERATION,~~ ~~FEBRUARY~~ 3, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for veteran of Korean Armed Forces.

WARD, BAKER, STEFANO, MASTRIANO, VOGEL AND DUSH, JANUARY 23, 2025 REFERRED TO VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 23, 2025 AN ACT Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, providing for veteran of Korean Armed Forces.

(a) Eligibility.--Any resident of this Commonwealth who is an eligible veteran of the Korean Armed Forces ~~and,~~ a duly ~~<--~~ naturalized citizen of the United States ~~AND~~ ~~HAS~~ ~~BEEN~~ ~~RECOGNIZED~~ ~~<--~~ BY ~~THE~~ ~~UNITED~~ ~~STATES~~ ~~DEPARTMENT~~ OF ~~VETERANS~~ ~~AFFAIRS~~ ~~UNDER~~ 38 ~~U.S.C.~~

(a) Eligibility.--Any resident of this Commonwealth who is an eligible veteran of the Korean Armed Forces and a duly naturalized citizen of the United States shall be afforded the same rights, benefits, recognition and privileges as afforded to veterans of the Pennsylvania military forces.

§ 109 (RELATING TO BENEFITS FOR DISCHARGED MEMBERS OF ALLIED FORCES) shall be afforded the same rights, benefits, recognition and privileges as afforded to veterans of the Pennsylvania military forces.

A request may include discharge or separation papers or other documents of proof to establish military ~~service~~ ~~AND~~ ~~DOCUMENTS~~ ~~FROM~~ ~~THE~~ ~~<--~~ ~~UNITED~~ ~~STATES~~ ~~DEPARTMENT~~ OF ~~VETERANS~~ ~~AFFAIRS.~~

A request may include discharge or separation papers or other documents of proof to establish military service.

(c) Definition.--The term "eligible veteran of the Korean Armed Forces" shall mean any member of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces who served on active duty in the Vietnam War between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, and received an ~~<--~~ honorable discharge or equivalent discharge from military service.

(c) Definition.--The term "eligible veteran of the Korean Armed Forces" shall mean any member of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces who served on active duty in the Vietnam War between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, and received an honorable discharge or equivalent discharge from military service.

~~HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF <-- VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER 38 U.S.C.~~

~~§ 109.~~

~~20250SB0173PN0181~~ - 2 -

20250SB0173PN0111 - 2 -

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Printer's No. 0111 View text
Printer's No. 0181 View text
Printer's No. 0432 View text Current

Action History

March 19, 2025
Laid on the table, March 19, 2025
March 19, 2025
First consideration, March 19, 2025
March 19, 2025
Reported as amended, March 19, 2025
February 10, 2025
Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Feb. 10, 2025
February 10, 2025
In the House
May 08, 2025
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 126-127), Feb. 5, 2025
February 05, 2025
Third consideration and final passage, Feb. 5, 2025 (49-0)
April 04, 2025
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 99-100), Feb. 3, 2025
February 03, 2025
Amended on third consideration, Feb. 3, 2025
January 29, 2025
Re-reported as committed, Jan. 29, 2025
January 29, 2025
Re-referred to APPROPRIATIONS, Jan. 29, 2025
January 29, 2025
Second consideration, Jan. 29, 2025
January 28, 2025
First consideration, Jan. 28, 2025
January 28, 2025
Reported as committed, Jan. 28, 2025
January 23, 2025
Referred to VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, Jan. 23, 2025

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 17 co-sponsors · 235 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Tracy Pennycuick Republican

Not signed on (235)

235 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 235 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Passage

February 05, 2025

Passed 49 Yea · 0 Nay

Party	Yea	Nay	Present	Not Voting
Republican	27	0	0	0
Democratic	21	0	0	0
Unaffiliated	1	0	0	0
Total	49	0	0	0
% of votes cast	100%	0%	0%	0%

How each member voted (49)

Member	Party	Vote
Anthony Williams	—	Yea
Amanda M. Cappelletti	Democratic	Yea
Art Haywood	Democratic	Yea
Carolyn T. Comitta	Democratic	Yea
Christine M. Tartaglione	Democratic	Yea
Jay Costa	Democratic	Yea
John I. Kane	Democratic	Yea
Judith L. Schwank	Democratic	Yea
Katie J. Muth	Democratic	Yea
Lindsey M. Williams	Democratic	Yea
Lisa M. Boscola	Democratic	Yea
Maria Collett	Democratic	Yea
Marty Flynn	Democratic	Yea
Nick Miller	Democratic	Yea
Nick Pisciottano	Democratic	Yea
Nikil Saval	Democratic	Yea
Patty Kim	Democratic	Yea
Sharif Street	Democratic	Yea
Steven J. Santarsiero	Democratic	Yea
Timothy P. Kearney	Democratic	Yea
Vincent J. Hughes	Democratic	Yea
Wayne D. Fontana	Democratic	Yea
Camera Bartolotta	Republican	Yea
Chris Gebhard	Republican	Yea
Cris Dush	Republican	Yea
Daniel Laughlin	Republican	Yea
David G. Argall	Republican	Yea
Dawn W. Keefer	Republican	Yea
Devlin J. Robinson	Republican	Yea
Doug Mastriano	Republican	Yea
Elder A. Vogel	Republican	Yea
Frank A. Farry	Republican	Yea
Gene Yaw	Republican	Yea
Greg Rothman	Republican	Yea
Jarrett Coleman	Republican	Yea
Joe Picozzi	Republican	Yea
Joe Pittman	Republican	Yea
Judy Ward	Republican	Yea
Kim L. Ward	Republican	Yea
Kristin Phillips-Hill	Republican	Yea
Lisa Baker	Republican	Yea
Lynda Schlegel Culver	Republican	Yea
Michele Brooks	Republican	Yea
Patrick J. Stefano	Republican	Yea
Rosemary M. Brown	Republican	Yea
Scott E. Hutchinson	Republican	Yea
Scott Martin	Republican	Yea
Tracy Pennycuick	Republican	Yea
Wayne Langerholc	Republican	Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

veterans

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 173 do?: PA Korean VALOR Act
Who sponsors SB 173?: SB 173 is sponsored by Sharif Street (Democratic), Judy Ward (Republican), Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), Wayne D. Fontana (Democratic), Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Jay Costa (Democratic), John I. Kane (Democratic), Lynda Schlegel Culver (Republican), Lisa Baker (Republican), Patrick J. Stefano (Republican), Doug Mastriano (Republican), Elder A. Vogel (Republican), Cris Dush (Republican), Frank A. Farry (Republican), Maria Collett (Democratic), and Devlin J. Robinson (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 173?: This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 23, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 173?: Track SB 173 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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At a glance

Identifier: SB 173
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Session: 2025_0 Regular Session
Type: Bill
Introduced: January 23, 2025
Status: Passed Senate
Prime sponsor: Tracy Pennycuick

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