State Senator Elder Vogel was sworn into office today (January 5) during a ceremony in the Senate Chamber of the State Capitol to represent the people of the 47th Senatorial District during the 2021-22 Legislative Session. Video of the ceremony.
“We will face many changes during this Session, and many of those issues are a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic” Senator Vogel said. “The pandemic and the mitigation efforts have had a devastating impact on our economy, locally and statewide. This is especially true among Pennsylvania’s farming families. The closure of restaurants and schools has rocked those families. Crops have spoiled and fresh milk has been dumped, as the marketplace for those products was substantially reduced. We need to focus our recovery efforts on programs and initiatives that benefit all businesses – including and especially – our farmers.”
In response to the COVID pandemic, the traditional Swearing-In Day festivities were substantially scaled back this year. Only a minimal number of guests were permitted on the Senate Floor and in the Senate Gallery for the ceremony and the usual television viewing areas in the Capitol Complex were closed.
Senator Vogel serves on the Board of Directors for the Lawrence County Community Action Partnership; and is a member of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association, the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Big Knob Antique Tractor and Equipment Association.
He has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, the Future Farmers of America Honorary Degree, the Distinguished Service Award by Penn AG Industries and named a Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business for his work in the legislature. For many years, Senator Vogel served as president of the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau, and served as a New Sewickley Township Supervisor until his election to the Senate in 2008.
Senator Vogel and his wife Sue operate a family farm in New Sewickley Township which was established in the late 1800s.
CONTACT: Jennifer Goehring jgoehring@pasen.gov