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Is this Update:
Robinson Honors 250 Years of the United States Marine Corps
This year, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps. To commemorate this incredible milestone, I hosted a ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol this week. The event featured the U.S. Marine Corps’ traditional cake-cutting ceremony honoring Marine Corps customs and camaraderie. We also highlighted new Marines as they symbolically took their oath to join the Corps on the rotunda steps. Thank you to everyone who joined the ceremony and made it a great success. Semper Fi! Read more about the event here. Allegheny County Legislators Announce More Than $3 Million in Grants for Community Improvements
I am proud to have worked with my fellow Allegheny County legislators to secure over $3 million in funding from the Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund (GEDTF) for community development projects throughout Allegheny County. I joined my fellow Allegheny County Representatives – Anita Kulik (D-45), Dan Deasy (D-27), Valerie Gaydos (R-44), Arvind Venkat (D-30), Natalie Mihalek (R-40), Jason Ortitay (R-46), Jeremy Shaffer (R-28), and Andrew Kuzma (R-39) – in recommending 18 improvement projects across our shared region. These investments will strengthen our communities, improve public safety, and boost the quality of life for residents across our region. Read about all the projects that received funding here. Franklin Park’s Salute to Veterans
I was honored to join so many of my fellow veterans at the Borough of Franklin Park’s Salute to Veterans breakfast. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with and hear stories from those who served our country with bravery, honor, and distinction. Improving Literacy Rates Among Pennsylvania Students
Senator Devlin Robinson speaks at a rally in the PA capitol building with the PA Literacy Coalition in May 2025. One of my major priorities – the Literacy Achievement for All Pennsylvania Students initiative that I championed with Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-7) – was included in the budget legislation to improve low literacy rates in Pennsylvania by using a three-pronged approach:
Improving literacy rates among Pennsylvania students is one of the smartest investments we can make in our state’s future. Only one-third of Pennsylvania students are proficient in reading, and one in five American adults struggle to read basic sentences, limiting their ability to find employment, complete everyday tasks, or participate fully in civic life. This initiative ensures schools have the tools they need to effectively teach our kids to read proficiently and lead successful adult lives. The language builds on successful reforms enacted in other states – such as Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee – that have adopted similar reforms aligned with the science of reading, resulting in notable gains in literacy. Read more about the Literacy Achievement for All Pennsylvania Students initiative here. Read more about this year’s state budget here. Employers, Trade Unions and Lawmakers: New Permitting Reforms, Stopping RGGI Will Boost PA Economy
Trade unions, employers and energy producers joined lawmakers at the Capitol to celebrate new reforms cutting red tape and blocking the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) electricity tax – moves that will unleash Pennsylvania’s economic potential and help create jobs. Both reforms were enacted with the 2025-26 state budget. Pennsylvania’s permitting process has been a deterrent to businesses moving to or expanding in Pennsylvania, costing our state countless jobs. The new law cuts red tape, establishes clear timelines for permit reviews and creates a real-time online tracking system. In addition, key permits will be deemed approved if a state agency moves too slowly. Participating in RGGI, a multi-state electricity tax Gov. Tom Wolf attempted to implement via an illegal regulation and which Gov. Josh Shapiro pursued through the courts, would have increased electricity rates for families and businesses, eliminated energy and manufacturing jobs, forced Pennsylvania power plants to close and created serious threats to grid reliability. “After six long years the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will no longer be a part of Pennsylvania politics and our energy future in Pennsylvania. This is great news for hardworking Pennsylvanians all across the state,” said Shawn Steffee, business agent, Boilermakers Local 154 Pittsburgh and president, South Central Building Trades Council. Read more reaction to these reforms here. AI and Children: Legislation to Keep Kids Safe
The Senate approved legislation to better protect young people against the increased threats posed by child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) generated using artificial intelligence (AI). Senate Bill 1050 would require all individuals classified as mandated reporters to notify authorities of all instances of CSAM they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. A mandated reporter includes teachers, childcare workers, health care providers and others responsible for caring for children. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Senate previously passed key legislation to combat the issue of sexually explicit materials created through AI by passing Act 125 of 2024 and Act 35 of 2025, which addressed deepfakes and sexual deepfakes. In addition, Senate Bill 1090, the Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology (SAFECHAT) Act, was approved by the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. Read about that measure here. New Law Will Preserve Prescription Access for Seniors
Legislation to prevent thousands of Pennsylvania seniors from losing access to life-sustaining prescription medications is set to become law following final passage by the Senate. House Bill 923 would extend the practice of excluding Social Security cost-of-living adjustments when calculating income eligibility for the PACE and PACENET programs. The exclusion, currently set to expire at the end of 2025, will be extended through Dec. 31, 2027 when the bill is signed by the governor. Without the extension, 10,039 PACENET enrollees would lose their coverage. Additionally, 12,594 PACE enrollees would move to PACENET, losing their lower copayment and their PACE-paid Part D premium. The New Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal is Now Open!
On Tuesday, November 18, the new Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal opened to the public. This new investment will continue to grow the greater Pittsburgh region, and I am excited to see the opportunities it brings to western PA. Bill to Ensure Disabled Veterans Receive Free Hunting Licenses Passes Senate
The Senate passed legislation that would close an unintended gap in Pennsylvania’s existing free hunting license program for disabled veterans. Under current law, only veterans who suffered injuries during combat and were deemed 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for free hunting licenses. Partially disabled veterans may purchase discounted licenses. Those who suffered service-connected injuries outside of combat — in training, non-combat operations, peacetime duties or other hazardous activities — are not currently eligible for a discount. Senate Bill 1020 would expand eligibility so that all 100% disabled veterans qualify for a free hunting license, regardless of how or where their service-connected injuries occurred. It would also maintain discounted licenses for partially disabled veterans. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Attorney General’s New Elder Exploitation Section Expands Protections for Older Pennsylvanians
An expansion of protections and services for seniors, focused on deterring financial theft and holding offenders criminally responsible, was announced with the launch of the Office of Attorney General’s Elder Exploitation Section by Attorney General Dave Sunday. The section will primarily focus on cases involving financial exploitation, deception and theft from older residents — typically perpetrated by relatives, caregivers or appointed conservators and powers of attorney. These are complex cases, involving meticulous review of financial records and other documents. Municipal police departments may not have the resources required to take on these investigations. The Elder Exploitation Section will have the resources, and expects referrals to come from police departments, county, state, and federal agencies and other sources. What Do You Think About Removing Cellphones from Schools in PA?
There’s still time to submit your response to my legislative survey! I’m polling constituents in the 37th Senatorial District about their position on requiring all school districts in Pennsylvania to create and implement a policy prohibiting student use of cellphones during the school day. Submit your response to the survey question here. National Diabetes Awareness Month
Diabetes affects about 38 million Americans, including adults and youth. A disease that occurs when your blood sugar is too high, diabetes can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart, and it is linked to some types of cancer. The good news is that taking charge of your health may help you prevent diabetes health problems. Find out more 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. 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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