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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Join Us Tomorrow at Monroe Township Community Day
Join us tomorrow at Joe Carr Field, 1168 Boiling Springs Road, Mechanicsburg, for a day of fun, food, and fireworks beginning at 4 p.m.
Local businesses and vendors will be set up throughout the day providing plenty of opportunities to shop, explore, and connect. There will be arts and crafts for kids, delicious food options, live entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks show to cap off the evening.
Our office will be there with information on state programs, including the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, unclaimed property searches, tax resources, and more.
Bring your family, your friends, and your questions. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Welcoming New Citizens at the Old Cumberland County Courthouse
Last Friday, a Naturalization Ceremony was held at the Old Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle.
While I was in Harrisburg, members of my district team were proud to attend the ceremony with one of our office interns as dozens of individuals took their oaths to become American citizens.
Events like this are a powerful reminder of the promise and opportunity that citizenship represents, and how special it is to welcome new Americans into our community.
We congratulate all those who were naturalized and thank them for choosing to call our region home.
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Touring the Cumberland Perry Area Career and Technical Center
On Tuesday morning, I had the opportunity to visit the Cumberland Perry Area Career and Technical Center (CPCTC) during one of its middle school camps.
Joined by representatives from Sen. Greg Rothman’s office (R-34) and Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe, we toured the facilities and spoke with middle school students and staff. Students have an opportunity to spend a couple of days learning the basics in programs offered at the CTC.
CPCTC is preparing students across Cumberland and Perry counties for family-sustaining, in-demand careers in the trades and technical fields.
Seeing the students’ passion and skill firsthand was a great reminder of the value of career and technical education in our public school system, and I was happy to see so many students exploring alternatives to the traditional college trajectory.
Thank you to CPCTC for the tour and for helping prepare our students for real-world success!
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DVSCP Annual Meeting
This week while I was at the Capitol, a member of my staff attended the annual meeting of Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties (DVSCP).
I’m proud to support the work of DVSCP and other community organizations that provide essential support and resources to survivors. Their efforts, ranging from emergency shelter to legal advocacy, are crucial to ensuring those in need have a path to safety, stability, and long-term recovery.
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the award honorees of this year’s meeting – Zonta Club of Harrisburg-Hershey and Silver Spring Township Police Chief Christopher Raubenstine. They have been long-standing advocates of survivors, and have dedicated so much time, services, and awareness to such a crucial cause. Thank you for all you do.
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2025–26 PA State Grant Information Available Now
The Pennsylvania State Grant Program application is now open for the upcoming academic year.
Administered by PHEAA, this need-based financial aid helps thousands of students across the Commonwealth pursue higher education. Students can now log into Account Access at www.PHEAA.org to complete the 2025–26 State Grant Form. While email notifications are going out in waves, students do not need to wait to apply. More information is included in the attached flyer and is available on PHEAA’s website.
Please share this update with students and families who may benefit from financial aid opportunities.
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New Liberty Bell License Plates Available
Pennsylvania vehicle owners can now order new state license plates featuring the Liberty Bell, the quintessential symbol of the Commonwealth and our nation’s independence. Perfect timing as we prepare to mark the nation’s 250th birthday next year!
The new style is available for standard vehicles and trucks, including personalized plates. If you switch from a specialty plate (like a military, organization or special fund plate), it will be replaced with a standard plate in the new design.
PennDOT’s partners, such as dealers and online messengers, will use all existing standard issue license plate inventory before transitioning to the new plate design. If you want to ensure you receive the new plate design, order directly through PennDOT. The new license plates are optional for drivers with current license plates.
Click here for more information.
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Hunting Licenses on Sale Monday
General hunting and trapping licenses for the 2025-26 season will be on sale starting Monday, June 23. Single-use antlerless licenses are on sale for all wildlife management units (WMU) and are guaranteed to PA residents in all WMUs through Sunday, July 13.
Starting Monday, July 14, nonresidents will have the opportunity to purchase unsold antlerless licenses on a first-come, first-served basis. Two weeks later, on Monday, July 28, sales of unsold antlerless licenses are open to both residents and nonresidents on a first-come, first served basis. Hunters are eligible to hold up to six antlerless licenses total, except in WMUs 5C and 5D which allow for up to nine more antlerless licenses per hunter – totaling no more than 15 antlerless licenses. Permits for the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) will be available starting Monday, Aug. 11.
Licenses are available for purchase in person at license issuing agents. Click here for a map of agents across the Commonwealth. Licenses also are available for purchase online at huntfish.pa.gov.
Visit www.pgc.pa.gov for more information about hunting in the Commonwealth.
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Celebrating PA Dairy
June is Dairy Month in Pennsylvania, the perfect time to enjoy an extra dish of ice cream or yogurt, another piece of cheese, or a tall glass of milk!
The dairy industry is a major part of our state’s agriculture economy, providing economic value to the tune of $14.7 billion annually and over 52,000 jobs.
If you’d like to support Pennsylvania dairy, be sure to check the milk you purchase at the grocery store and look for the PA Preferred logo or milk with a plant code beginning with “42.” Plant codes are usually printed near the top of the container or on the lid, or sometimes they’re printed right on the label. The first, and most important, part of the code will always be two numbers (between 01 and 56). This identifies the state where the milk was processed. Pennsylvania’s magic number is 42!
Learn more about the state’s dairy industry here.
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Preventing Theft of Benefits
Responding to a growing number of cases of stolen SNAP benefits, the state House recently approved legislation aimed at transitioning to chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
Since October 2022, Pennsylvania has recorded more than 23,000 cases of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits being stolen through skimming schemes. Unlike modern debit and credit cards, EBT cards currently lack chip security technology, making them highly vulnerable to fraud.
House Bill 1429 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to work with the General Assembly to ensure an efficient transition to chip-enabled EBT cards. The legislation would require the department to deliver a report to lawmakers highlighting costs, fraud prevention efforts and relevant statistics to enhance the security of SNAP benefits.
The bill is pending consideration in the Senate.
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Reining in Red Tape
The House Republican Policy Committee held a public hearing this week to examine the impact of excessive regulations on economic growth, job creation and government accountability in Pennsylvania.
The hearing featured testimony from Emily Greene, Pennsylvania state director with Americans for Prosperity, and Kevin Kane, director of legislative strategy with the Commonwealth Foundation, who both underscored how Pennsylvania’s over 164,000 regulatory restrictions – the 14th highest in the nation – are driving businesses, jobs and families out of the state.
According to one study, by reducing regulatory requirements by 36%, Pennsylvania could see an increase of $9.2 billion in gross domestic product (GDP). That amounts to $1,760 per household and the equivalent of 180,000 new jobs each year.
Video of the hearing is available here.
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