Section 1. Honorable Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., Memorial Highway.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The Honorable Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., represented the 107th Legislative District, covering portions of Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties from 1981 to 2010.
(2) During his 30 years in the House of Representatives, Representative Belfanti served on numerous committees and was chairperson of the Labor Relations Committee from 1993 to 2010.
(3) Representative Belfanti was active on numerous State boards and commissions and championed workers, small businesses, veterans and improved accessibility for the disabled.
(4) Representative Belfanti attended Mount Carmel area schools and was a lifelong scout, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1962 and returning to scouting as an adult as a charter member of Cub Scout Pack 3178.
(5) Representative Belfanti and his wife, Cecilia, were instrumental in bringing scouting back to the Mount Carmel area following a long dormancy, and Representative Belfanti received numerous awards during his 25 years of service.
(6) Before becoming a State Representative, Representative Belfanti enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1967 and served a 13-month tour of duty in the Vietnam War with helicopter units that supplied troops, ammunition and medical supplies to Marines. His CH-46 helicopters, known as Sea Knights, were also the major means for rescuing and providing medivacs for the wounded.
(7) Representative Belfanti rose to the rank of sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1971. Among his decorations were two Bronze Stars with Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnam Service Medal.
(8) Representative Belfanti was active in numerous veterans organizations and cofounded the Black Diamond Detachment of the Marine Corps League, as well as a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), AMVETS and Veterans of the Vietnam War. Representative Belfanti was named Veteran of the Year by the National War Veterans Council and also received the Patriot of the Year award.
(9) Representative Belfanti's legacy includes saving the former Shamokin State General Hospital from divestiture, the opening of State Correctional Institution at Coal Township, resolving issues related to the Centralia mine fire, the Shamokin Creek project, championing numerous abandoned mine reclamation projects and helping with many rail improvement and economic development projects in the district.
(10) Representative Belfanti was also instrumental in securing funding for the State Route 901 widening project from Locust Summit to Interstate 81, as well as the Strong Connector improvement project.
(b) Designation.--The portion of State Routes 54 and 901 in Northumberland County and Schuylkill County from the intersection of State Route 54, State Route 901 and State Route 2023, also known as the Mount Carmel Merriam Highway, in Mount Carmel Township, Northumberland County, to the intersection of State Route 901, also known as Fairgrounds Road, and High Road in Butler Township, Schuylkill County, is hereby designated as the Honorable Robert E. Belfanti, Jr., Memorial Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to traffic in both directions on the highway.