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In this Update:
BrickWorks Groundbreaking I was proud to attend the BrickWorks groundbreaking celebration this week! This project will be a new 260-unit multi-family development in the heart of the Strip District that I was pleased to help support with state funding. This continues to transform the area into a thriving residential neighborhood and tourist hotspot. See more photos from the event here. Celebrating our CommunitiesLast weekend, several communities celebrated annual community events! I’m always glad to stop by and say hello to my constituents.
Last Saturday was a great day to celebrate South Park Township! I hope everyone enjoyed the parade and Community Day activities as much as I did. At the event, I even had the chance to dunk township supervisor Larry Vogel in the dunk tank! It was nice to see familiar faces and meet new friends. See more photos from community day here.
Robinson Township hosted their 24th annual Autumn Festival last weekend. Thank you to everyone who organized the event and to those who joined in on the fun! Check out more photos from the event here.
It was wonderful to see so many community members enjoying Collier Township’s annual CollierFest. See more photos of the festivities here. Rasika Khedikar Citation Presentation
I was pleased to recognize Upper St. Clair School District student, Rasika Khedikar, for receiving the Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Award for starting “Cooking With Care,” a club at her school that addresses food insecurity. I’m very proud to have young people in my district like Rasika taking initiative to combat a profound issue like this. Thank you for your exceptional leadership and dedication to serving our community! Connected Communities with SWPPA
This week, I met with Southwestern PA Partnerships for Aging (SWPPA) where we discussed Connected Communities, an initiative that builds local support networks to help older adults age in place via housing stability, health coordination, and community engagement. Thank you to SWPPA for your dedication to improving the quality of life for older adults across southwestern PA! Blackout PCa Prostate Cancer Walk
Last Sunday, I attended the Blackout PCa Prostate Cancer walk with numerous survivors and family members, along with special guest and former Steelers running back, Rashard Mendenhall. I’m proud to sponsor legislation that removes cost barriers to screening for Pennsylvanians at high risk of developing prostate cancer. Learn more about my legislation to improve Pennsylvanians’ insurance coverage of prostate cancer screenings here. See more photos from the walk here. Riley’s Pour House Groundbreaking
Last week, Riley’s Pour House had their groundbreaking for their new pub that should be open for St. Patrick’s Day 2027! Following the loss of the establishment in a fire in 2024, the Riley family has remained steadfast in their commitment to rebuild and return to Main Street in Carnegie. It has been a long 22 months, but Riley’s will be back! See more photos from the groundbreaking ceremony here. Back-to-School Safety Starts Before the First Bell
Every year around this time, parents focus on getting their children ready for another school year. They buy school supplies and prepare for the return to homework and after-school activities. This year, I hope families will spend a little time preparing for something else: The online world their children enter every day. For many students, social media is as much a part of life as it is the classroom. It allows them to stay connected with friends and share experiences, but it also creates opportunities for cyberbullying, exploitation, and abuse. Not only do smartphones and apps cause issues with attention and focus in the classroom, which I seek to address with my legislation to implement a statewide bell-to-bell cellphone ban in schools, but these devices also provide a gateway to a much more dangerous world where children can interact with strangers who seek to do them harm. Combine this with the fact that teens spend an average of nearly eight hours on screens per day, and the need for awareness of the harms of smartphone and social media use has never been higher. Technology has changed dramatically throughout the past decade, yet one thing has not: Parents remain a child’s first line of defense. Read my latest op-ed on social media safety and parental awareness here. September 11th Face the State InterviewServing alongside many fellow Marines in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks was a great honor and privilege. I appreciated the opportunity to share my experience recently on CBS 21 Harrisburg’s Face the State with host Joel D. Smith. Veterans Suicide Awareness Month
September is Veterans Suicide Awareness Month, which recognizes the silent struggles many veterans face. Trauma, stress, depression, addiction, and loneliness are challenges no one should handle alone. Veterans deserve our unwavering support not only in recognition of their service, but also in addressing the burdens they may carry. To bring awareness to this issue, I’ve partnered with my colleagues and fellow veterans, Sens. Tracy Pennycuick, Gene Yaw, Greg Rothman, Doug Mastriano, and Cris Dush, to introduce a resolution designating September 2026 as Veterans Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the resolution here. If you or someone you know is struggling, please dial 988 – help is always available! Learn more about helpful resources here. Protecting Children from Harmful AI Chats
It’s critical that our commonwealth establishes commonsense safeguards for children who are increasingly interacting with AI chatbots. I’m proud that the Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation to do just that back in March. Senate Bill 1090 would require robust, age-appropriate safeguards to prevent content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide, or violence against others, and directs users to appropriate crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected. In recent years, vulnerable individuals, including minors, have used AI chatbots to cope with trauma, depression, and anxiety, only to have chatbot responses allegedly contribute to deaths by suicide. I hope the House also passes this bill so it can be enacted before the end of this legislative session. Read more about this important measure. Last Chance: Share Your Thoughts About Cancer Policies
I’m pleased to invite you to participate in my survey on cancer policies. Please provide your feedback below on legislation affecting coverage of and treatment for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and more. This survey is closing soon, so get your responses in now! Rivian Ribbon Cutting
Congratulations to Rivian on the grand opening of their new direct-to-consumer service and customer experience center in Bethel Park! Rivian strives to simplify vehicle care and offer expert guidance to customers looking for a company that embodies a commitment to sustainable transportation. Welcome to the community! See more photos from the opening here. Treasurer Garrity Announces $1,000 Bonus for Families’ Education Savings
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity is giving families with qualified PA 529 College and Career Saving Program Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) accounts a $1,000 bonus contribution, enhancing education savings for about 107,000 Pennsylvania families. The bonus is being paid for through surplus dollars in the GSP Fund. PA 529 GSP savers with at least a $1,000 account balance, or those with at least a $100 balance with contributions made since 2022, as of July 31, 2026, are eligible for this bonus deposit. Account owners will see this deposit reflected in their third quarter statement. The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuition costs with account growth dependent on tuition inflation. For more information, visit the PA 529 website. Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses Gain New Opportunities
Pennsylvania veteran-owned small businesses that get certified can be listed on a state database, opening doors to state contracting opportunities. To qualify for certification, businesses must be at least 51% veteran-owned, meet “small business” revenue and size standards, and hold a valid third-party certification. The state does not certify a business as veteran-owned; it only verifies it. Find out how to obtain certification and third-party verification at the Department of General Services website here. 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 Fall!
September 22 was officially the first day of Fall! Check out this map from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of the best places in the commonwealth to view the vibrant colors of fall here.
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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