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In this Update:
Beagles in the Capitol!
I was proud to join my colleagues at the PA State Capitol this week for the “Beagles and Bagels Legislative Briefing” on PA Senate Bill 381. The “Beagle Bill” would prevent laboratories from using state funds for painful experiments & procedures, expand use of non-animal tests & adoption opportunities & more. The PA House is also crafting similar humane legislation. Borough of Bradford Woods Celebrates 110th Anniversary
The rainy weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of those attending the Bradford Woods Founder’s Day celebration last Saturday! While at the event I had the honor of presenting the borough with a citation for its 110th Anniversary. Congratulations, Bradford Woods, I wish great success to the community for years to come!
Robinson Literacy Bill Passes Education Committee
I am happy to announce that my bill (SB700) has passed the education committee with strong bipartisan support! This bill will ensure that all students in Pennsylvania are reading proficiently by the third grade. Thank you to my colleagues for supporting this important measure! Liberty Tree Planting Ceremony
As part of the America250PA festivities, each county in the Commonwealth is planting a young Liberty Tree revived from the last known original. Liberty Trees were gathering places for the Sons of Liberty throughout the colonies. The discussions taking place in their shade planted the seeds of the American Revolution. We were happy to join America250PA, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and The Pennsylvania Freemasons at Point State Park to plant Allegheny County’s new, young Liberty Tree. A Moment of Gratitude
This week we honored many of our neighbors who are dedicated to serving, aiding, and advancing our community. Thanks to our nurses, teachers, and firefighters as we close out Teacher Appreciation Week, National Nurses Week, and International Firefighters Day. Senate Votes for the Save Women’s Sports Act
With a bipartisan vote, the Senate passed legislation to protect athletic opportunity, competitive fairness and safety for female athletes across Pennsylvania. The Save Women’s Sports Act would ensure athletic teams designated for girls and women are reserved for biological females in K-12 and collegiate sports across the commonwealth. Senate Bill 9 would reinforce the original intent of Title IX by ensuring female athletes are not denied scholarships, placements or opportunities due to unfair competition from biological males. It is now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration. PASS Scholarships to Help Students in Failing Schools Receive Senate Support
To expand education access and reform outcomes in Pennsylvania’s most challenged schools, the Senate Education Committee this week advanced bipartisan scholarship legislation. The bill, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) scholarship program, now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Senate Bill 10 would establish scholarship accounts for eligible students, allowing them to pursue educational opportunities outside of their assigned public school. The program would be administered by the Pennsylvania State Treasury and funded through appropriations, grants, donations or other contributions from public and private sources. Eligible students must live within the attendance boundary of a school that ranks in the bottom 15% statewide based on academic performance and come from households earning less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Funds in a student’s PASS account could be used for tuition, school-related fees or special education services at a nonpublic school. Learn more about scholarship amounts, which vary from $2,500 to $15,000 based on the student’s grade level. Bill Strengthening PA’s Sexual Offender Registry Approved by Senate
The Senate unanimously approved legislation this week to better protect children in Pennsylvania against sexual predators. Senate Bill 255 would require a sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association who is convicted of sexual assault to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Under current law, a conviction for this offense does not require registration as a sex offender. Closing this loophole will strengthen SORNA and ensure potentially violent sex offenders can be properly monitored. The bill, which now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration, is part of a larger effort to make commonwealth communities safer. PA Treasury Continues Working to Return Money to the People
More than 40,000 Pennsylvanians may soon find a check in their mailbox for money they didn’t know they had, thanks to legislation passed by the Senate. PA Money Match is a new law that allows Treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. The program includes properties valued at $500 or less that belong to a single owner. Those with eligible properties will receive a letter in the mail to confirm their address. About 45 days later, they’ll receive a check for their property. PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property, which includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates and insurance payments. The average claim is worth more than $1,000. Because PA Money Match will not automatically return properties exceeding $500 or those that may have more than one owner, you are still encouraged to regularly use Treasury’s website to check if you have unclaimed property. Happy Mother’s Day!
Mothers are the backbone of our communities. Whether they sat in the stands cheering us on at our games, brought cupcakes to every PTA bake sale or roughed it in the woods with our scout troop, they put action to their love. On Mother’s Day, we recognize the special women who love and care for us at all stages of our lives. Their support sets us up to be happy, healthy members of society. Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there!
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. For anyone who hasn’t already signed up to receive my e-newsletters, you can get on the mailing list here. |
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