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In this Update:
9/11 Memorial Trail Interview with WTAE
As co-chair of the 9/11 Memorial Trail Caucus, I was glad to speak with WTAE-TV Pittsburgh about my support of the mission of the 9/11 Memorial Trail to honor the heroes from that terrible yet historic day. The 9/11 Memorial Trail will do this by “creating and championing a living memorial that connects the three attack sites, educates future generations, and brings communities together through shared remembrance.” See my interview with WTAE here. Marine Corps Reserve Birthday
On Saturday, Aug. 29, we celebrated the 110th birthday of the Marine Corps Reserve. Thank you to all my fellow Marines for your service, and happy birthday to the United States Marine Corps Reserve! Broad + Liberty: Protecting Childhood in the Digital AgeThank you to former Senator Ryan Aument for writing an op-ed showing why schools need to be phone-free! “Today, those concerns are no longer anecdotal. Parents see them at the dinner table, teachers see them in the classroom, and mental health professionals see them in their offices. The question is no longer whether technology is affecting our children, but what we are willing to do about it.” I’m proud to work with Senators Vincent Hughes (D-7) and Steve Santarsiero (D-10) on our bill to join a growing number of states and make PA schools phone-free! Read the full article from Broad + Liberty here. Veterans Breakfast Club Event
Thank you to those who attended the Veterans Breakfast Club (VBC) event this week at Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park. The event featured veterans sharing their stories and connecting with each other over breakfast. All VBC breakfasts are now free of charge (unless otherwise noted) for anyone who would like to attend. Learn more about the Veterans Breakfast Club here. See more photos from the event here. Kan Pai Sushi Grand Opening
Congratulations to Kan Pai Sushi on the grand opening of their new restaurant in Collier Township! I’m glad to welcome this new business to our community and enjoy their delicious sushi! See more photos from the grand opening here. Historic Settlement with Meta Includes Social Media Protections
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Pennsylvania and a multistate coalition have reached a settlement with Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, assuring the social media giant will implement sweeping changes to age verification, limit children’s time on their platforms, and cut kids’ access to harmful content. The settlement, which involves up to $17.1 billion in national remediation payments, is contingent on other major social media companies agreeing to the same changes. Pennsylvania is expected to receive more than $500 million. The attorney general also filed a lawsuit against the owners of Snapchat regarding its failures to warn users of platform addictiveness and protect children from compulsive use. Read more about the settlement with Meta here. In recent years, I’ve worked with my colleagues to strengthen Pennsylvania laws against malicious deepfakes and AI child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and created the Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age. The Senate passed bills to enhance mandatory reporting requirements for AI CSAM and protect children from dangerous AI chatbot interaction. I’m also proud to sponsor Alicia’s Law, legislation that would provide dedicated funding so investigators have the personnel, training, and forensic technology needed to pursue internet crimes against children. Learn more here about Alicia’s Law: Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program Enhancement. Supporting Veterans in State Budget
This summer, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a state budget that makes key investments to support veterans, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities — all while avoiding tax increases and protecting the state’s fiscal future. We increased funding for the Paralyzed Veterans Pension Fund by 10%, and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will use that money to ensure approximately 200 more veterans are able to enroll in the program and receive the $150 monthly stipend to support their living expenses. The finalized 2026-27 state budget also included provisions to create and enhance other programs and services aimed at assisting Pennsylvania veterans and their families, such as:
Learn more about this year’s finalized state budget here. Help Available Finding a New Job
Employers and Pennsylvanians looking for work can access the comprehensive career website PA CareerLink® for assistance. PA CareerLink® offers job search assistance, resume and interview workshops, access to more than 7,000 online training courses, classroom and on-the-job training, and many other programs and resources. All services are provided at no cost to participants. No appointment is necessary. It provides a wide range of resources for individual job seekers tailored for specific situations, such as mature workers, those re-entering the workforce, veterans, individuals with disabilities, young workers, and more. Employers can use it to search for job candidates, learn about apprenticeships, and other needs. International Overdose Awareness Day
This International Overdose Awareness Day, I renew my commitment to combatting opioid abuse and preventing overdoses. I’ve sponsored legislation to establish a grant program to further develop, expand, and improve recovery support services provided in the Commonwealth. Recovery is achievable with support. If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, please know you are not alone. Here are some resources from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP). Individuals seeking treatment or support for themselves or a loved one can call the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline through DDAP at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and staffed by trained professionals. Medicare Questions Answered by PA MEDI
If you’re eligible for Medicare and have questions, PA MEDI (Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight) has local, certified counselors to provide free and confidential assistance to help you navigate the system. PA MEDI is part of a nationwide network of state health insurance assistance programs. It provides unbiased help and information for those on Medicare, their families, and caregivers. PA MEDI does not sell or recommend Medicare insurance products, insurance agents, or brokers. The assistance covers the various Medicare plans, enrollment, rules, billing, appeals, and more. Call 1-800-783-7067 or visit the PA MEDI webpage. Upcoming Events in the 37th District
Looking for things in the area to do this week? Check out these local events across the 37th District!
Happy Labor Day
Happy Labor Day! Today we honor the hard workers in America who make continuous contributions to our nation’s development. As the chair of the Senate Labor & Industry Committee, I’m proud to support workers by backing policies that create jobs, ensure fair labor practices, and strengthen the economic vitality of our commonwealth. See my legislative accomplishments here, many of which focus on promoting our commonwealth’s workforce. I hope you have a great holiday weekend!
I’m proud to represent you in Harrisburg. Please contact me if my team can assist you with any state-level issues or services, including PennDOT, PA Department of Revenue, PA Department of Aging, PA State Treasury, etc. I’m always happy to hear from constituents, but if you need assistance or have concerns regarding a federal issue, you may want to contact your U.S. Senators and/or your member in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you. |
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