Profile

Pennsylvania State Senator Don White was elected in 2000 to his first term representing the 41st Senatorial District, which includes all of Indiana County as well as parts of Armstrong, Butler, Clearfield and Westmoreland Counties.

Senator White serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance and is the Vice Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He is a member of four other Senate committees: Community, Economic and Recreational Development, Environmental Resources and Energy, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, and Labor and Industry. He is also a member of the PENNVEST Board of Directors and the Southwestern PA Veterans’ Center Advisory Council.

Among his legislative accomplishments, Senator White authored a new law requiring that incoming college freshmen be vaccinated against meningitis.  Additionally, he created legislation to expand Pennsylvania's Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones and create Keystone Innovations Zones as a way to promote economic development, with an emphasis on areas located near colleges and universities.

Senator White also drafted a law that revamped Pennsylvania's insurance solvency laws resulting in significantly reduced workers compensation premium costs, helping small businesses and preserving jobs. He has actively promoted legislation to provide property tax relief to Pennsylvania homeowners.

He was the Prime Sponsor of Act 105 of 2006 which provides tuition credits to spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard members who die while on active military duty.  The legislation also requires the Commonwealth to cover all, or a portion of, the life insurance premiums for Pennsylvania National Guard members called to active duty to serve in a combat zone as well as those killed in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.

Senator White also introduced Act 83 of 2005 which extends the coverage that full-time students called to active military duty can receive under their parents’ medical insurance plans.

As a lifelong resident of the district, Senator White recognizes the issues that are most important to the families of the 41st District.

Senator White is committed to promoting economic development and job creation and has secured funding for local organizations to market the region as an area for business growth. He is also committed to improving local roads, highways and bridges throughout his district. Senator White has been instrumental in securing millions of dollars in funding for water, sewer and other infrastructure improvements for municipalities across the district.

He understands the need to reduce the tax burden placed on homeowners and small businesses as well as the necessity to improve Pennsylvania's public education system to give students the best opportunity to be competitive in the high-tech, global workplace of the 21st Century.

Born in Kittanning, Senator White has lived in Indiana most of his life and is a 1968 graduate of Indiana Area High School. He attended Juniata College from 1968 to 1972. Senator White enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1972 and served in Germany until receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1975.

He is married to Sarah "Anne" Broderick. Their daughter, Abby, is currently attending medical school.

Senator White is a member of the Optimist Club, the National Rifle Association and the Farm Bureaus of Armstrong and Indiana counties. Anne White is the past President of the Board of Directors of the Alice Paul House (a shelter for women), Treasurer of the Indiana Area Meals on Wheels and a director on the Indiana Regional Medical Center Board. The Whites are members of Christ Episcopal Church in Indiana.