Sen. Patricia H. Vance, a professional nurse, is one of the only members of the General Assembly with a medical background. Her experience as a provider of care to those in need give her a life-long perspective on how real people deal with tough issues and decisions in everyday life. 

Pat is guided by the decency, strength and perseverance of her constituents and she stays informed by her neighbors and friends on the issues that matter most at home and in Harrisburg.

In the Senate, Pat is Chairwoman of the Aging and Youth Committee where she fights for the rights of our most vulnerable citizens. She also is a member of key committees in the Senate including Appropriations, Public Health and Welfare, Finance, Policy, and Law and Justice Committees.   In all of her roles in the Senate, Pat brings a refreshingly candid and tough, common sense approach to the debate.  

Pat has been an effective and well respected member of the Pennsylvania State Senate since 2005.   In fact, six of Pat's bills have become law.   Among these are measures that protect employers and small business owners, help loving parents seeking to adopt children from foreign countries, installing professional safeguards for nurses, making prescription drugs more affordable for low-income seniors, easing the barriers to quality dental care for patients, and implementing tough but fair licensing requirements for operators of assisted living facilities.

While a member of the Pennsylvania's General Assembly, Pat Vance authored numerous laws including ones that prohibited discrimination against victims of domestic violence by insurance companies, expanded parents' ability to protect their children from drug and alcohol abuse, protected elderly patients from physical and sexual abuse from caregivers and created an HMO Bill of Rights.

Pat Vance has received recognition and numerous awards for outstanding legislative service during her tenure. These include the 2007 Government Leader of the Year Award from the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC, Making a Difference Award from the Caring Place and Pennsylvania Health Care Association's Better Life Award .

Pat continues to be active in her community as a member of several charitable, community and religious organizations, including service as a board member of the Health Alliance of Pennsylvania and a trustee of the Harrisburg Area Community College.

She also lends her time and experience in service to the Holy Spirit Hospital Capital Region Maternal Assistance Committee, Keystones of Public Health Steering Committee, United Cerebral Palsy Advisory Committee - and is a member of St. James Presbyterian Church.

Pat maintains a district office at 3806 Market St., Camp Hill, and a satellite office in Carlisle.