 |
|
| |
|
Capitol Report
|
#Listrak\DateStampLong#
|
The latest news from the State Capitol
|
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
|
Thank You to Our First Responders
Following one of the most significant storms our region has experienced in recent years, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the first responders, utility crews, public works employees, emergency personnel, and local officials across the 87th District who have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe and restore services.
For residents who continue to experience outages, please continue working with your electric service provider for restoration updates. If you encounter downed utility lines or substantial debris creating traffic hazards, please contact your local municipality immediately so crews can respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you again to everyone who has been working around the clock to serve our communities during this challenging time.
|
Community Comes Together to Kick Off America250 Weekend
It was a pleasure to join my friend Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) and so many members of our community at the New Kingstown Fire Company's America250 festivities as we kicked off Independence Day weekend.
Despite the summer heat, the turnout was outstanding. Families enjoyed the fire apparatus, great food, and an evening celebrating the values that make our nation exceptional.
A special thank you to the New Kingstown Fire Company for opening its doors and hosting such a wonderful community event, and to the volunteers and first responders who helped make the evening possible. Events like these remind us that America's strength begins in communities like ours.
|
General Assembly Returns to Session Sunday
At this time, the General Assembly is scheduled to return to session at noon this Sunday, July 12, to consider a negotiated state budget.
As we consider an agreement this weekend, my focus continues to be on supporting a responsible spending plan that protects taxpayers, strengthens our economy, and invests wisely in the priorities that matter most to our communities.
I will continue keeping you informed as we anticipate voting on a final budget on Sunday.
|
Free Shredding and Damaged License Plate Replacement Event
Join Sen. Dawn Keefer (R-31) and me for a free Shredding and Damaged License Plate Replacement Event on Thursday, July 30, from 4-7 p.m., at Mechanicsburg Middle School, 1750 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg.
Protect yourself from identity theft by securely disposing of sensitive personal documents, and if your Pennsylvania license plate has become faded, peeling, damaged, or difficult to read, staff will be on-site to help eligible motorists begin the replacement process.
No RSVP is required. Simply stop by anytime during the event. We look forward to seeing you there!
|
Tips for Extreme Weather
As we celebrated the nation’s 250th birthday last weekend, many areas of the state were hit by severe thunderstorms, high winds, heavy rains and even tornado warnings. For some in Cumberland County, the recovery from those storms continues.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is urging people who experienced property damage to report it. More information about reporting damage is available here. PEMA also notes state and local officials are out assessing damages. If you have questions about the legitimacy of someone asking about your property, please ask for identification. Government officials will always have ID and be happy to show it to you.
In anticipation of more stormy weather in the weeks to come, I wanted to share these four key actions the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends to prepare for any disaster:
| |
• |
Know your risk: Know what could happen where you and your family live. Explore various types of disasters and emergencies on Ready.gov. |
| |
• |
Make a family emergency plan: Follow four easy steps and create a free Family Emergency Plan quickly and easily with FEMA’s fillable form. |
| |
• |
Build an emergency supply kit: Having enough food, water and medicine can help you stay safe and comfortable until help arrives. Find a list to help build your emergency supply kit here. |
| |
• |
Get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies: Emergencies can happen fast, and emergency responders aren’t always nearby. Consider taking first aid and CPR courses to help take care of your family, friends and neighbors. |
It’s also a good time to remember how dangerous floodwaters can be. If you approach a flooded roadway, turn your vehicle around. It only takes a few inches of water to sweep a vehicle away, putting your life in danger, as well as the lives of first responders who come to your aid. Never drive around “road closed” signs and use detours instead. The message is simple. Turn around; don’t drown.
|
House Passes Bill to Improve Access to Mental Health Services
Recognizing the importance of access to mental health care, I joined a majority of my colleagues in the state House to approve a bill that would authorize the Commonwealth to join the Interstate Counseling Compact.
The compact permits a professional counselor’s home state license to be mutually recognized by other states based on criteria laid out within the language of the compact. The agreement would enhance access to care by providing counselors and their patients more opportunities as to where and how they provide treatment.
More than three dozen states already have compact laws, including the neighboring states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia.
Senate Bill 604 is pending the governor’s signature to become law.
|
Important Student Aid Deadline!
First-time applicants planning to attend a community college, trade school or other eligible school have until Saturday, Aug. 1, to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for a PA State Grant in 2026-27.
The PA State Grant Program is offered through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and provides funding to eligible undergraduate students that does not have to be repaid. Complete your FAFSA now at StudentAid.gov.
|
PGC Seeks Help Counting Turkeys
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is again asking the public to report sightings of all wild turkeys they see this summer. The annual Wild Turkey Summer Sighting Survey runs through Aug. 31.
Wild turkey sightings, which aid in population management, can be reported through the Game Commission’s website here.
Participants are asked to report the number of wild turkeys they see, along with the county, township, wildlife management unit (WMU), date of the sighting and their contact information so agency biologists can reach out if they have any questions about the report. Participants may also simply drop a “pin” on the map for the location data to automatically populate. Location data are used only for the survey, not for law enforcement, and are not shared publicly. Viewers can also access WMU- and state-level sighting report summaries from previous years.
|
Nominate Your Favorite Trail
If you have a favorite trail, please nominate it for Pennsylvania’s 2027 Trail of the Year!
Each year, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee (PTAC) designate a Trail of the Year to help build enthusiasm and support for trails and raise public awareness about the economic, environmental and health benefits trails bring. The winning trail will be recognized through a commemorative poster for statewide distribution, a trailhead marker along the trail, and a grant for educational programs to promote safety and environmental protection on the trail.
Click here to nominate your favorite trail. The deadline for nomination is Friday, July 31.
|
|
|
