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In this Update:

• Robinson’s 2023 Legislative Statistics
• President Pro Tempore Swearing-In
• Upper St. Clair Firefighters Swearing-In
• Giving Students the Tools to Succeed
• Helping Pennsylvanians at the Pump
• Reducing the Tax Burden
• Officiating Opportunities Available Throughout PA
• Recognizing Law Enforcement in Our Communities

Robinson’s 2023 Legislative Statistics

2023 was a very productive year for my office! I’m so proud of all the good work we accomplished for the people of the 37th district. With each bill I propose (many ideas come from you – my constituents!), my goal is to make the Pittsburgh area and Pennsylvania stronger, safer, and an overall better place to work and live.

Some of these bills include:

• providing more accessible mammograms
• increasing manufacturing job opportunities
• allowing parole agents to use body cameras
• allowing small non-profits to expand their fundraising to accept electronic payment
• allowing the doors to be removed from vehicles like Jeeps and Broncos, increasing tourism to PA
• creating a better equipped search and rescue team in the Pittsburgh area
• providing funding to decrease lead in school drinking water
• increasing access to biomarker testing
• keeping dangerous drugs out of the wrong hands
• resolutions to honor and commemorate our veterans

I’m looking forward to another year of collaboration and progress in 2024!

President Pro Tempore Swearing-In

Congratulations to my friend Senator Kim Ward, who was reelected by our colleagues for the position of Senate President Pro Tempore! I’m honored to serve with her and our entire caucus as we continue our work to accomplish results for the people of Pennsylvania.

Upper St. Clair Firefighters Swearing-In

It was a privilege to attend the swearing in ceremony for the firefighters of the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department. Congratulations and thank you for everything you do for the Upper St. Clair community!

Giving Students the Tools to Succeed

The passage of the 2023-24 state budget reflects important Senate Republican priorities, including helping students by dedicating an additional $567 million to Basic Education and an additional $150 million for education tax credits to provide scholarships to students so they can learn in an education environment that best suits their needs.

We also ensured greater collaboration in keeping children safe in the classroom by consolidating school safety programs and operations under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The commission already manages the highly successful School Safety and Security Grant Program created by the Senate in 2018.

As mental health needs continue to rise, we allocated $100 million for K-12 mental health programs for schools so children have the basic foundation to succeed educationally.

Helping Pennsylvanians at the Pump

After automatically rising last year due to inflation, the 2024 Pennsylvania gas tax will return to 2022 levels.

Last year, the average wholesale price of gasoline exceeded $2.99 per gallon, which triggered an automatic increase in the gas tax. Knowing how Pennsylvanians were already struggling with skyrocketing inflation, the Senate passed and sent to the House of Representatives legislation last January to end these inflation-based, automatic gas tax hikes.

Had the House acted in a timely fashion, Pennsylvanians would have saved more than $200 million in the gas tax. We continue to encourage our counterparts to work cooperatively with us to benefit commonwealth residents as we were elected to do.

Reducing the Tax Burden

As part of the state budget, Senate Republicans voted to reduce the tax burden. One initiative would address a barrier to employment for working families by giving parents additional support to continue to seek and maintain employment.

The legislation also exempts Dependent Care Assistance and Flexible Savings Accounts, which are used to cover health care expenses, from the state Personal Income Tax. They were already exempt from federal taxes.

Finally, it helps counties and municipalities avoid raising taxes on their residents. It increases the payment made for state-owned property dedicated to outdoor recreation to $2.40 per acre to be paid from the State Gaming Fund. Previously, open spaces for the public’s enjoyment were more of a financial burden because they aren’t owned by businesses or individuals.

Officiating Opportunities Available Throughout PA

If you would like to help your community more this year, there are lots of opportunities to make a huge difference in the lives of student-athletes.

There’s a shortage of referees, umpires and other high school officials in almost every sport. High school officials protect the integrity of the games our kids love to play by demonstrating qualities like honesty, objectivity, consistency and courage.

Hours are flexible, and it’s a great way to stay in good physical condition. Find out how to become an official.

Recognizing Law Enforcement in Our Communities

Tuesday, Jan. 9, is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Protecting our communities is a dangerous and demanding job, but men and women across the state answered the call to public service. They leave their families not knowing if they’ll need to give their lives to keep us safe.

I appreciate their selflessness and commitment to others and was proud to vote for legislation to help them.

Act 60 of 2023 expands the list of law enforcement entities covered under the Heart and Lung Act, which provides for salary and medical expenses to be paid when an officer or firefighter is injured on the job. Other new laws passed by the Senate allow municipal police to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history checks on police applicants and funds an additional 100 Pennsylvania State Police troopers to help make our communities safer.

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