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In this Update:
WWII Hero Brought Home, Laid to Rest
I was humbled to attend the funeral for Fireman First Class (F1c) Walter Schleiter, a Navy Serviceman from Pittsburgh who was killed in action at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. F1c Schleiter was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. The sudden attacks at Pearl Harbor resulted in the death of 429 crewmen aboard the Oklahoma, including Mr. Schleiter. Thanks to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Mr. Schleiter’s remains were identified and accounted for on May 18, 2018. He was laid to rest on Thursday with full military honors at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Mr. Schleiter also received a funeral flyover from the 911th Airlift Wing, and the Coraopolis VFD hung an American Flag at an overpass in his honor. Thank you to everyone who attended the funeral and procession for this hero and to everyone who helped to bring him home. Above all, thank you Fireman First Class Walter Schleiter for paying the ultimate sacrifice. You are not forgotten. Purple Up for Military Kids!
Don’t forget to “Purple Up!” in support of Pennsylvania’s military children on Monday, April 15. I spoke on Senate Resolution 248, which designates April 2024 as Month of the Military Child in Pennsylvania, and April 15 as Purple Up! For Military Kids Day. Purple represents all branches of the United States Armed Forces, and by wearing this color on April 15, you can show your support to these great kids and their families. You can view my remarks here. Robinson Bill to Prioritize Community Safety Approved in Senate
I am pleased to be the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1120, which would strengthen the bail determination process for dangerous individuals, specifically: repeat violent offenders, drug dealers trafficking 10 grams or more of fentanyl and those who assault law enforcement officers or evade arrest on foot. This legislation would only allow cash bail to be used and ban release on own recognizance or unsecured bail from being issued to these extreme cases of individuals who pose a threat to public safety while they await trial. The bill is part of our effort to improve community safety across Pennsylvania as an average of 14 Pennsylvanians die every day from a drug overdose. After receiving strong bipartisan support in the Senate, it now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and approximately 50 times more potent than heroin. Two milligrams of fentanyl – the amount that fits on the tip of a pencil – is enough to kill an average person. You can read more here. Robinson Bill to Advance Manufacturing Passes Senate
One of my very first initiatives coming into office was to ensure better opportunities for Pennsylvania’s manufacturers and attract top notch engineers and scientists to our commonwealth to work with our state-related universities in these endeavors. After years of hard work in crafting this bill with stakeholders, I’m proud this is now so close to reaching the legislative finish line with very strong bipartisan support! Senate Bill 998: Combatting Illegal Street Racing
I was pleased to see Senate Bill 998 approved by the Senate Transportation Committee this week. This legislation, which I proudly prime sponsored with three of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, would “put the brakes” on illegal street racing and would increase fines from $250 to $2,000 per infraction. You can read my full press release here. Senate Bill 580: Paid Family Leave in PA
I spoke in the Capitol Rotunda this week on my bill, Senate Bill 580, ‘The Family Care Act’. This legislation would create a paid family leave program in Pennsylvania for those who need time to put their families and loved ones first without having to worry about their jobs. It makes sense for businesses and families. You can view my remarks here. Celebrating Community Colleges: Senate Resolution 246
I was pleased to join my colleague and co-chair of the Community College Caucus, Senator Lisa Boscola, to speak on the importance of Pennsylvania’s Community Colleges via our resolution, SR246. Community colleges play a valuable role in our commonwealth in providing higher education opportunities to more students and training them for in-demand jobs. Beware of E-ZPass Scam
A new phishing scam is targeting E-ZPass account holders requesting information to settle outstanding toll amounts. The texts claim to be from “Pa Turnpike Toll Services” and center around urgent requests with your account that would result in a late fee if the balance does not get settled. Similar scams have been reported by toll agencies across the country in the past several days. Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email or similar message suggesting it is from E-ZPass or another toll agency should not click the link. E-ZPass account holders can use approved safe methods to check their accounts such as the PA Turnpike E-ZPass website or the PA Toll Pay app available from the Apple App Store or Google Play store. Those who receive a fraudulent text can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov. The site is dedicated to sharing information on internet crimes across law enforcement agencies. Capitol VisitorsI always enjoy having visitors from my district come out to the Capitol during session! Thank you to everyone who made the trip out, it was a pleasure to host you all.
Congratulations to the Moon Area High School Girls’ Soccer Team! The team captured their 3rd consecutive PIAA state championship this past fall, all while maintaining an average GPA of 4.0. Their head coach, Bill Pfeifer, also became the first girls’ soccer coach in WPIAL history to surpass 500 wins. Congratulations, everyone, on your incredible season!
Our region was well represented at the PA Senate’s Technical School Education Day! It was an honor for me to host Parkway West CTC in the Senate Chamber.
I also had the pleasure to host students from Steel Center for Career and Technical Education in the Senate Chamber for Technical School Education Day.
Thank you, University of Pittsburgh’s Women’s Volleyball Team, for bringing your ACC Champion and NCAA Regional Championship trophies to the PA Senate. I was proud to recognize them for their hard work! Senator…and Auto Mechanic?
A busy week in Harrisburg ended with an interesting detour. You never know what you will encounter while traveling the PA Turnpike! This van was traveling from Philadelphia to Dayton for a cheer competition when their oil pan came loose. With the help of a fellow Good Samaritan, we got the oil pan secured so they could continue on their journey. Stay safe out there!
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