Following in a listing of executive and legislative action for July 21 and the week of July 24. As of press time, the Pennsylvania Senate was in session, and the state House of Representatives is in recess subject to the call of Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny.

Labor and Industry

Jerry Oleksiak, president of the 180,000-member Pennsylvania State Education Association, was named July 21 as Gov. Tom Wolf's choice to serve as secretary of labor and industry. If confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate, Oleskiak, a special education teacher, would succeed Kathy Manderino in the post.

Wolf, pointing to Oleksiak's experience of more than three decades as a classroom teacher, primarily in the Upper Merion Area School District, said, “I am confident that Jerry can lead the Department of Labor and Industry to build on our improving business climate to encourage companies to locate and expand in Pennsylvania and to provide apprenticeships and other job training programs so workers have the skills to succeed in the 21st century economy.”

The statement from the Wolf administration announcing the appointment stressed Oleksiak's focus on education and training.

Sewage Facilities

Wolf signed into law a measure that would expand choices for homeowners when it comes to choosing septic systems and cuts red tape in the state's Sewage Facilities Act, according to a statement from the state House of Representatives Republican caucus.