HR 236 — A Resolution directing the Government Oversight Committee to conduct an investigation.

PRINTER'S NO.   1703

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 236
                                                Session of
                                                  2025

     INTRODUCED BY TOPPER AND C. WILLIAMS, MAY 13, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MAY 13, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Government Oversight Committee to conduct an
 2      investigation.
 3      WHEREAS, In the early morning hours of April 13, 2025, an
 4   arson attack occurred at the Governor's Residence located at
 5   2035 North Front Street, Harrisburg; and
 6      WHEREAS, Security cameras surrounding the residence were able
 7   to capture footage of an individual climbing over an exterior
 8   perimeter fence before breaking a window and throwing a Molotov
 9   cocktail, an incendiary device that is composed of a glass
10   bottle containing flammable liquid and a source of ignition,
11   into the piano room of the residence, causing it to catch on
12   fire; and
13      WHEREAS, The individual has been identified by law
14   enforcement as Cody Balmer pursuant to the now-filed criminal
15   complaint; and
16      WHEREAS, According to the affidavit of probable cause
17   attached to the criminal complaint, the information regarding
18   the incident in this resolution is alleged by law enforcement;
 1   and
 2         WHEREAS, Mr. Balmer broke a second window outside the dining
 3   room before entering through it; and
 4         WHEREAS, While inside, Mr. Balmer launched another Molotov
 5   cocktail, causing the dining room to ignite into flames; and
 6         WHEREAS, Mr. Balmer then kicked the dining room door open,
 7   exited the residence and left the property by climbing back over
 8   the perimeter fence; and
 9         WHEREAS, All of this occurred while Governor Josh Shapiro,
10   First Lady Lori Shapiro and their children were inside the
11   Governor's Residence; and
12         WHEREAS, Later, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) were
13   contacted by a former paramour of Mr. Balmer who advised that
14   Mr. Balmer had confessed to her that he was responsible for
15   setting the fire at the Governor's Residence; and
16         WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, Mr. Balmer turned himself in and
17   confessed to PSP to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro
18   and committing the arson; and
19         WHEREAS, Mr. Balmer was charged with attempted homicide,
20   aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, aggravated assault,
21   endangering the welfare of a child and loitering and prowling at
22   night according to the criminal complaint; and
23         WHEREAS, On April 18, 2025, PSP announced through a statement
24   on their public website that former PSP Commissioner Jeffrey
25   Miller and his consulting company had been hired to conduct a
26   third-party security review of the arson attack at the
27   Governor's Residence; and
28         WHEREAS, The statement also made clear that only PSP and the
29   Governor's Office would receive a detailed written report of
30   former PSP Commissioner Miller's findings; and

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 1      WHEREAS, On April 23, 2025, the House of Representatives
 2   Republicans, including House Republican Leader Jesse Topper,
 3   along with Chairmen Craig Williams, Jim Struzzi and Rob
 4   Kauffman, wrote a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and State
 5   Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris requesting former
 6   PSP Commissioner Miller's report and investigation results; and
 7      WHEREAS, Governor Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder stated
 8   the following in response to the letter: "A detailed written
 9   report of the findings will be provided to the PSP and the
10   Governor's Office. PSP will not release information that could
11   compromise the investigation or the safety of the Governor,
12   First Family, or any of its protectees. The Shapiro
13   Administration appreciates the offers of support for this work
14   and we will continue to work collaboratively with the General
15   Assembly to protect public safety across the Commonwealth"; and
16      WHEREAS, On April 28, 2025, former PSP Commissioner Miller
17   and his consulting company delivered the full report to PSP and
18   the Governor's Office; and
19      WHEREAS, In a statement on his consulting company's website,
20   former PSP Commissioner Miller stated that the sensitive nature
21   of the findings he gave to Governor Shapiro and the PSP
22   "precludes their release to the public for obvious reasons"; and
23      WHEREAS, Furthermore, former PSP Commissioner Miller
24   expressed that "I am confident that if fully implemented, the
25   key recommendations that we have made will prevent an attack of
26   this nature from succeeding in the future"; and
27      WHEREAS, To date, legislative leaders and appropriate
28   oversight committees have received no portion of former PSP
29   Commissioner Miller's report; and
30      WHEREAS, On May 6, 2025, PSP Commissioner Christopher Paris

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 1   sent a letter to legislative leaders to provide an update on
 2   former PSP Commissioner Miller's independent security review;
 3   and
 4         WHEREAS, Commissioner Paris stated that as a result of former
 5   PSP Commissioner Miller's review and PSP's own assessment, PSP
 6   had implemented several recommendations laid out in the report,
 7   including requiring regular, more frequent security assessments
 8   at the Governor's Residence, creating a uniformed division
 9   within the Executive Services Office in charge of building
10   security and installing a new anti-climb fence around the
11   residence; and
12         WHEREAS, The letter was clear that former PSP Commissioner
13   Miller's report includes sensitive and detailed information and
14   any release of it would risk jeopardizing the safety of the
15   Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, their families and all PSP
16   protectees; and
17         WHEREAS, There are legitimate security and safety concerns
18   related to a full public review of all of the security records
19   and plans associated with an investigation into the arson of the
20   Governor's Residence; and
21         WHEREAS, The Government Oversight Committee has the ability
22   to conduct an investigation, craft recommendations and produce a
23   final report in conjunction with various safeguards for security
24   and related concerns found in the Sunshine Act, the Right-to-
25   Know Law, other applicable laws and Rules of the House of
26   Representatives; and
27         WHEREAS, Many members of the public feel that this incident
28   has wholly lacked transparency and accountability, which was
29   illustrated by a recent Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
30   entitled: Report about security failings around the arson attack

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 1   on Gov. Shapiro should be made public, which stated
 2   "Pennsylvanians have a right to know what a report they paid for
 3   says about the failure of the law enforcement officers they
 4   employ to protect a mansion they built and the governor they
 5   elected"; and
 6      WHEREAS, Also recently a Trib Live Editorial entitled:
 7   Transparency versus security over arson at governor's residence
 8   stated the author's belief that "while some information has been
 9   disclosed more should be to ensure accountability for those
10   charged with protecting the governor"; and
11      WHEREAS, As elected representatives many of us also have
12   serious and legitimate concerns about how this incident could
13   have occurred at a protected facility such as the Governor's
14   Residence; and
15      WHEREAS, The decision to have a former PSP commissioner and
16   his consulting company complete an independent review of the
17   security failures in question and then only release a written
18   report to PSP and the Governor's Office and no part of the
19   report to the General Assembly provides no transparency and does
20   little to address the concerns of the General Assembly;
21   therefore be it
22      RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee of the
23   House of Representatives be directed to investigate the facts
24   surrounding the security protocols, records, plans and failures
25   that failed to avert the arson attack on the Governor's
26   Residence on April 13, 2025, and to report to the House of
27   Representatives the conclusions of the committee with respect to
28   the investigation along with the committee's appropriate
29   recommendations; and be it further
30      RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee of the

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 1   House of Representatives be authorized and empowered to:
 2          (1)   Send for individuals and papers and subpoena
 3      witnesses, documents, including electronically stored
 4      information, and other materials under the hand and seal of
 5      the chairperson.
 6          (2)   Administer oaths to witnesses.
 7          (3)   Take testimony.
 8          (4)   Prepare and file pleadings and other legal
 9      documents.
10          (5)   Conduct interviews, take statements and any other
11      investigative steps as determined by the chairperson.
12          (6)   Employ counsel and staff for the use of the
13      chairperson and the Government Oversight Committee;
14   and be it further
15      RESOLVED, That, unless in conflict with other provisions of
16   this resolution, House Rule 51 be applicable to hearings of the
17   Government Oversight Committee concerning this investigation;
18   and be it further
19      RESOLVED, That the Sergeant-at-Arms or the Sergeant-at-Arms'
20   deputy serve the process of the Government Oversight Committee
21   of the House of Representatives and execute the committee's
22   orders; and be it further
23      RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee of the
24   House of Representatives be authorized to sit during the
25   sessions of the House of Representatives; and be it further
26      RESOLVED, That the expenses of the investigation be paid by
27   the Chief Clerk from appropriation accounts under the Chief
28   Clerk's exclusive control and jurisdiction upon a written
29   request approved by the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
30   the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives or the

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1   Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it
2   further
3      RESOLVED, That the Government Oversight Committee submit a
4   final report to the House of Representatives with its findings
5   and recommendations.




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