Pennsylvania HB 2248: An Act designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 3795, carrying Pennsylvania Route 251 over Interstate 376 in Chippewa Township, Beaver County, as the Private Mahlon R. Evans Memorial Bridge.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2939
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2248
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY STRUZZI, ANDERSON, BANTA, BRENNAN, COOPER,
GALLAGHER, GAYDOS, HADDOCK, JAMES, KHAN, M. MACKENZIE,
NEILSON, PASHINSKI, RAPP, SAMUELSON, SANCHEZ, SMITH, STAATS,
STAMBAUGH AND VITALI, FEBRUARY 25, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, FEBRUARY 25, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for the annual recognition and observance of May 20 as
"Jimmy Stewart Day" in Pennsylvania.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Jimmy Stewart was born May 20, 1908, in Indiana,
Pennsylvania.
(2) Jimmy Stewart attended high school at Mercersburg
Academy, in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, where he played
football and was a member of the glee club and the drama
club.
(3) Jimmy Stewart entered Princeton University in 1928,
graduating with a degree in architecture.
(4) After graduating from Princeton University, Jimmy
Stewart joined the University Players, a theater group in
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

West Falmouth, Massachusetts.
(5) Jimmy Stewart often played a man of modest means,
with moral resolve, striving to overcome his position in life
to reach his dreams.
(6) Jimmy Stewart's slow, halting line delivery and
naive, engaging manner was quickly accepted by the moviegoing
public.
(7) In 1939, Jimmy Stewart's portrayal of a shy,
idealistic young senator fighting corruption in Congress in
"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" won him the New York Film
Critics best actor award and gave him his first Academy Award
nomination.
(8) Jimmy Stewart is best remembered for his role in the
1946 sentimental holiday favorite, "It's a Wonderful Life,"
in which he plays the embittered idealist, George Bailey, a
decent, small-town citizen.
(9) In 1940, Jimmy Stewart won an Academy Award,
performing in "The Philadelphia Story" with Katharine Hepburn
and Cary Grant.
(10) In 1941, Jimmy Stewart enlisted in the United
States Army and was assigned to the United States Army Air
Corps.
(11) In 1943, Jimmy Stewart was sent to Europe as
commander of a bomber squadron and awarded the Air Medal and
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
(12) During the late 1940s, Jimmy Stewart enjoyed
success on Broadway as the ingratiating inebriate Elwood P.
Dowd, whose best friend was an invisible six-foot rabbit in
"Harvey."
(13) The play "Harvey" was adapted for the movie screen
20260HB2248PN2939 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

in 1950, earning another Academy Award nomination for
Stewart.
(14) Jimmy Stewart received an Honorary Academy Award in
1985 for, as the Academy noted, "his 50 years of meaningful
performances, for his high ideals, both on and off the
screen, with the respect and affection of his colleagues."
(15) In 1985, Jimmy Stewart was awarded the Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
(16) In 1995, Jimmy Stewart was honored when The Jimmy
Stewart Museum opened in his hometown of Indiana,
Pennsylvania.
(17) Jimmy Stewart was one of Hollywood's most respected
and admired stars during his nearly 50-year-long movie
career.
(18) Jimmy Stewart died July 2, 1997, at his home in
Beverly Hills, California.
Section 2. Designation.
May 20 of each year shall be recognized as "Jimmy Stewart
Day" in this Commonwealth.
Section 3. Construction.
Nothing in this act shall be construed as requiring an
employer to treat "Jimmy Stewart Day" as a legal or official
holiday or to provide paid leave to an employee on "Jimmy
Stewart Day" solely by virtue of the date being recognized under
this act.
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect immediately.
20260HB2248PN2939 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27