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In this Update:
Fair in the Woodlands
I had a great time participating in Findlay Township Fair in the Woodlands! It was nice to see everyone along the parade route and celebrate the community.
Following the parade, Imperial Volunteer Fire Department announced that the much-needed fire station expansion plan can soon begin. I was happy to help secure funding for this project with Rep. Valerie Gaydos Shop With a Cop
Thank you to the Pennsylvania State Police, Macy’s, and Allegheny County Camp Cadet for putting on a great Shop With a Cop event at The Mall at Robinson. Additional thanks to every police department who participated in the event. Press Briefing: Ridding our Schools of Lead and Radon
This week, I participated in a virtual press briefing hosted by Women for a Healthy Environment on the release of their report, “State of Environmental Health in PA Schools.” This report shines a light on the dangerous conditions in some of our schools, and should be a clear sign that we need to do more to keep our children, educators, and school staff safe in our school buildings. As the prime sponsor of bipartisan legislation to require testing for radon and certified point-of-use water filters in schools, I applaud all those who worked on this report and look forward to continuing discussions about how to address these issues. Update on Transportation Funding
The Public Transportation Trust Fund would provide the necessary funding for mass transit – even with money left over! The Senate passed a bill as amended last week, HB 257, that incorporates funds from this ever-growing account to ensure fair funding for transit across PA, with the agreed-to dollar amount by both parties. It’s time for the House to take up our transit bill now so our constituents can continue to get where they need to go. Improving Public Safety
Public safety is one of my top priorities, and the Senate has taken many important steps this year. We passed new laws closing a legal loophole to require sports officials and nonprofit volunteers and employees convicted of sexual assault to register as sexual offenders, and improving the enforcement of Protection from Abuse petitions. To boost fire protection, we enacted measures targeting Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighter shortage, fixing issues with emergency services funding and making it less cumbersome for firefighters to obtain their certification. Legislation I proudly prime sponsored was passed by the Senate and awaiting action in the House of Representatives prohibiting non-monetary bail for the most dangerous individuals. Another bill involving cracking down on thieves using new technology to steal vehicles by spoofing key fobs is waiting on House action I’ll keep working hard to make our communities safe. You can review other measures we passed to increase public safety and address other subjects here. Senate Acts to Help Charitable Organizations Raise Funds
More Pennsylvanians are using cashless payments for transactions, so the Senate recently approved my legislation to allow charitable organizations to accept electronic payments, such as credit cards and Venmo, to raise funds. As prime sponsor of Senate Bill 416, it would allow nonprofits such as volunteer fire companies, youth sports leagues, churches, and veterans’ groups to accept electronic payments for raffle tickets. Under current law, nonprofits are limited to accepting only cash or checks for these transactions, which has made it harder to raise funds in today’s increasingly cashless society. The legislation also adds safeguards to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of digital payment methods. Organizations must still comply with the Small Games of Chance Act. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week in Pennsylvania
It’s Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week in Pennsylvania – the first initiative of its kind in the U.S. A Senate resolution, which I proudly co-sponsor, would address the alarming rise in online child exploitation and help schools, parents, and community leaders promote education and prevention of internet dangers to children. Some resources include:
The resolution builds on recent legislative efforts to protect children from threats online. Act 125 of 2024 criminalized the creation and distribution of an intimate or sexual deepfake of a person and classified explicit deepfakes of minors as child sexual abuse material. Act 35 of 2025 classified digital impersonation and deepfakes as a form of criminal forgery giving law enforcement new tools to combat online abuse. I also prime sponsored legislation to increase state funding for law enforcement agencies who specialize in combating online child exploitation. Please see my 2024 press conference with Alicia, the law’s namesake, who was abducted from her Pittsburgh home at age 13. Summer Boating Safety: Life Jackets Save Lives
Boating is a popular pastime across Pennsylvania, particularly in the summer. While it comes with some risk, there is one step we can take to help keep the danger away from the fun. Approximately 80% of boating fatalities happen to boaters who are not wearing a life jacket. Under state law, all boats must have a regulation life jacket on board for each person. Children ages 12 and younger must wear a life jacket in all canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and boats 20 feet long. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission lists detailed information about proper use of life jackets, and what state law requires, to help you enjoy the waterways safely. August is Back to School Month
As we head into the late stretch of summer, children and parents across our area are preparing for the return to school. It’s a time filled with lots of excitement and more than a little nervousness. Please keep an eye out for more child pedestrians along the roads, particularly around bus stops. I wish every student, faculty member, and staff in the 37th district a great school year! Here’s to a new year of learning and making memories!
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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