Biography

03/19/1936 -

Patricia H. "Pat" Vance (R31) Cumberland and York (Part) Counties 2004-2014 (R31) Cumberland (Part) and York (Part) Counties 2015-2016

Early Life: 

Patricia H. "Pat" Vance, born March 19, 1936, Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; Frederick B. and Mary Huston; William Penn High School, York, Pennsylvania, 1954; Harrisburg Hospital School of Nursing, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1957; nurse; elected, Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds, 1978-1990; member, executive committee, Cumberland County Republican Committee; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1990-2004; not a candidate for reelection, 2004; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2004-2016; married, Charles D. "Chuck" Vance; two sons, one deceased.

Early Career: 

Charge Nurse, long-term assisted living facility, surgical pediatric nurse, Harrisburg Hospital.

Awards: 

Legislator Award, Cumberland County Conservation District, 2009; Advocate for Child Health Legislative Award, Pennsylvania State Education Association, 2008; Carlisle Area Citizen of the Year, Exchange Club of Carlisle, 2008; Distinguished Service to Families Award, Mid-Atlantic Council on Family Relations; Friend of Public Education Award, Council on Public Education; Outstanding Community Service Award, Asian Indian Americans of Central Pennsylvania; Public Policy and Advocacy Achievement Award, Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation (Sen. Vance to deliver commencement keynote, 2009.

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Republican, Cumberland County Recorder of Deeds, 1978-1990; first woman elected to that office. (Thompson, 2015).

Member, executive committee, Cumberland County Republican Committee.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 87th house district, 1990-2004; appointed, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Authority, 1991-1996; appointed, Select Committee on Rules Review, 1999; appointed, co-chair, Select Committee on Pharmaceuticals, 2000; not a candidate for reelection, 2004.  

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 31st district, Cumberland and York (Part) Counties, 2004-2014, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 31st district, Cumberland and York (Part) Counties, 2015-2016; authored 25 laws, including: expanding the state’s prescription drug benefit program, preventing insurance companies from discriminating against domestic violence victims and establishing a “bill of rights” for HMO health care customers. Notable laws Vance supported include: Domestic Violence legislation [Act 24-1996], Tobacco Settlement [Act 55-2004] and PACE [Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly].  Retired from Senate November 30, 2016 (Vance Will Not Seek Re-election, 2015).  

Committee assignments over her tenure: Advisory Committee, Cumberland and Perry Counties Domestic Violence Services; Keystones of Public Health Steering Committee; appointed, Capitol Preservation Committee, 2009-2016; Senate committee assignments, Appropriations, Communications and Technology (Vice Chairwoman), Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Finance, Public Health and Welfare (Chairwoman).  

Authored Senate Bill 379, Friday October 25, 2013, P.L. 665, No. 79, providing for benevolent gestures relating to medical professional liability insurance. 2013 Act 79 (state.pa.us) 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography: 

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

"SESSION OF 1991 - 175TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1991-01-01.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2015-2016). Bogden, S. (Editor). (Volume 122). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; pages 3-34, 3-40. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-23.

(2015, November 19). Vance Will Not Seek Re-Election. Senator Vance. 

Sen. Pat Vance will not seek re-election - Central Penn Business Journal (cpbj.com)

Thompson, Charles. (2015, Nov. 19) Sen. Patricia Vance, a West Shore political mainstay, calls this her last term. PennLive. 

Sen. Patricia Vance, a West Shore political mainstay, calls this her last term - pennlive.com

Former Senator and House Member, Pat Vance completed an interview for the House Archives Oral History project at the time of her retirement, 2016. 

Access it here: Sen. Pat Vance oral history - YouTube

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg. Papers of Patricia H, Vance, 1991-2004