HB 2227 — An Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68687, carrying Pennsylvania Route 271 over a tributary of Blacklick Creek in Blacklick Township, Cambria County, as the Martin J. Kupchella Memorial Bridge.

PRINTER'S NO.     2918

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2227
                                                Session of
                                                  2026

     INTRODUCED BY BURNS, FREEMAN, MERSKI, STAATS, KENYATTA, BRENNAN,
        HILL-EVANS AND HADDOCK, FEBRUARY 18, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 19, 2026


                                     AN ACT
 1   Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 68687, carrying
 2      Pennsylvania Route 271 over a tributary of Blacklick Creek in
 3      Blacklick Township, Cambria County, as the Martin J.
 4      Kupchella Memorial Bridge.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7   Section 1.     Martin J. Kupchella Memorial Bridge.
 8      (a)     Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
 9   follows:
10            (1)   Martin J. Kupchella was born April 14, 1920, in
11      Nanty Glo, Cambria County.
12            (2)   Mr. Kupchella was employed as a coal miner before
13      becoming inducted into the United States Army during World
14      War II.
15            (3)   During his time with the Army, Mr. Kupchella saw
16      action in Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes,
17      Northern Apennines and Central Europe.
18            (4)   On December 17, 1944, near Honengen, Belgium, Mr.
19      Kupchella volunteered to act as leader on a towed anti-tank
 1      gun while under enemy fire and, when his platoon leader was
 2      wounded, he ran into an open field to free a bogged-down
 3      vehicle so that he could get the platoon leader to safety.
 4            (5)   Mr. Kupchella's actions, courage, initiative and
 5      devotion to duty during that battle earned him the Silver
 6      Star Medal, which is the United States Armed Forces' third-
 7      highest military decoration for valor in combat.
 8            (6)   Mr. Kupchella was also awarded the Good Conduct
 9      Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and
10      six Bronze Star Medals for his service during World War II.
11            (7)   Upon returning home to Nanty Glo after the war, Mr.
12      Kupchella became active in his community as a member of VFW
13      Post 3489, Holy Name Society, American Legion Post 619 and
14      Coal Country Auto Club and as a member of the Knights of
15      Columbus Council 522 in Ebensburg.
16            (8)   Mr. Kupchella passed away January 5, 2000, at 79
17      years of age.
18      (b)   Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key
19   68687, carrying Pennsylvania Route 271 over a tributary of
20   Blacklick Creek in Blacklick Township, Cambria County, is
21   designated as the Martin J. Kupchella Memorial Bridge.
22      (c)   Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
23   maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
24   traffic in both directions on the bridge.
25      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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