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Senator Lisa Baker

Senator Lisa Baker is serving her second term representing the 20th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Luzerne, Monroe and Susquehanna counties and all of Pike, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

Numerous community organizations and projects have benefitted from her involvement, including business development and job creation efforts, library expansions, senior housing initiatives and recreation programs.  Working along with county and municipal officials, she has helped to secure essential funding for sewer and water system upgrades, transportation priorities and intergovernmental cooperation efforts.

In Harrisburg, Senator Baker chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and is a member of the following committees: Aging and Youth, Appropriations, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Game and Fisheries, and Public Health and Welfare.

Her dedication to Pennsylvania's veterans is evidenced by her work to secure funding for veterans' outreach and support programs and her efforts to establish the Pennsylvania Veterans Trust Fund to help needy veterans and their families.

Her commitment to emergency services personnel produced an expanded grant program for fire and ambulance departments and added protections for emergency medical workers through the Good Samaritan Act.

Senator Baker also led the push for changes to the laws and procedures governing the juvenile justice system, in the wake of widespread corruption in Luzerne County. 

Her focus on increased natural gas drilling standards and safeguards to protect public health and the environment has resulted in greater water protection measures and improved wellsite safety.  

Senator Baker is currently working to create a state disaster assistance program to extend grants to those hardest-hit by flooding and other natural disasters, and is promoting legislation to improve pipeline safety through increased inspections, investigations and enforcement.

Honors and awards include the Legislator of the Year Award from the American Heart Association, the Jesse S. Heiges Distinguished Alumnus Award from Shippensburg University, the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business, the Patrick Henry Award from the National Guard Association of the United States, the James Baird Legislative Award from the Firemen’s Legislative Federation and the Outstanding Service Award from the Pennsylvania War Veterans Council.

She is a graduate of Dallas High School and Shippensburg University where she received a B.A. in Government Administration. She resides in Lehman Township, Luzerne County, with her husband Gary, and their son, Carson.