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In this Update:
Increased Funding for Paralyzed Veteran Pension Fund Included in Finalized State BudgetEarlier this month, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a state budget that makes key investments to support veterans, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities — all while avoiding tax increases and protecting the state’s fiscal future. I’m pleased that several of the priorities important to my constituents were included in the finalized 2026-27 state budget, including increased funding for programs supporting our military and veterans:
Learn more about this year’s finalized state budget here. Veterans Breakfast Club Events
Throughout the month, I joined several veterans at Veterans Breakfast Club USA events in Bethel Park and Warrendale. Thank you to all who attended and to the veterans who shared their stories! Check out more photos from the Bethel Park event here and more photos from the Warrendale event here.
Additionally, congratulations to Todd DePastino and the Veterans Breakfast Club team on the grand opening of an official home for the Veterans Breakfast Club and its commitment to our heroes! Thank you for connecting veterans of all branches, their stories, their values, and our community at Phase 4 Learning Center in East Liberty. See more photos from the opening here. Honoring Tuskegee Airmen
I recently participated in honoring the Tuskegee Airmen during a memorial service at Sewickley Cemetery. The Tuskegee Airmen were the Black aviators and ground crews that served with the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Did you know that Western Pennsylvania accounted for the most members of the Tuskegee Airman in the country? See more photos from the ceremony here. Remembering Tim Murphy
It is with a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of my longtime friend and political mentor, Tim Murphy. He was a man devoted to his constituency while in office and devoted to serving veterans after. He began his tenure with the PA State Senate in 1996, serving the 37th Senatorial District until 2003. He then went on to represent the 18th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives until 2017. To his great credit, he served this country with honor and distinction as a Commander and psychologist with the United States Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps from 2009 to 2017. Tim showed me this business from the inside, and taught it to me the way he had learned, to always challenge yourself and continue to grow. Thank you for a lifetime of service. God speed, my friend. Keep a cigar and glass of whiskey ready for when we meet again. Slainte! View more photos from Tim Murphy’s life and career here. Pittsburgh Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America Annual Luncheon
Thanks to the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) for inviting me to speak at their luncheon! It was an honor to connect with other veterans and learn about how the organization lives out its mission to “never stop serving.” See more photos from the luncheon here. Displaying the POW/MIA Flag at Public Schools
In June, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 835, which would require the display of the official POW/MIA flag, when space permits, at public schools during times the U.S. flag is also flown. To read more about the legislation, click here. I’m also proud to sponsor a resolution each year observing POW/MIA Recognition Day in Pennsylvania. Learn more here about this effort to support and remember those who were held captive and those who remain missing. Senate Calls for Congressional Medal of Honor for Maj. Richard D. Winters
The PA Senate unanimously voted to urge Congress to recommend Maj. Richard D. Winters for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exemplary service to our nation. His bravery, resilience, and humility on and off the battlefield continue to inspire the next generations of military men and women, and Pennsylvania is proud to have his remarkable legacy tied to our great commonwealth. I am pleased to join my colleagues and fellow veterans, Sens. Doug Mastriano (R-33), Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Greg Rothman (R-34), Gene Yaw (R-23), and Patty Kim (D-15) in the effort. Learn more about this resolution here. PA Guard Military Family Education Program
As students begin preparing for the fall semester, Pennsylvania National Guard members are reminded that their families could be eligible for assistance to offset the cost of higher education. The Military Family Education Program is for Guard members who completed an initial service obligation on or after July 1, 2019, and are eligible to re-enlist in the PA National Guard for a period of six years. The grants can be used for a degree-granting or certificate-granting curriculum, course of study, or training program required for entrance into a specific career at an approved Pennsylvania institution of higher learning. Read more details and find applications here. Pennsylvania National Guard & Veterans Day at the Capitol
In June, we celebrated Pennsylvania National Guard & Veterans Day at the PA Capitol, a great opportunity for legislators and staff to connect with servicemembers and learn more about their mission. I’m proud to have the 171st Air Refueling Wing right here in the 37th Senatorial District! Beware of the “Veterans Savings Program” Postcard Scam
Veterans and their spouses are being targeted by a new postcard scam advertising a fraudulent “Veterans Saving Program.” The mailer claims eligibility for an extra $185 monthly payment and dental benefits, but the program does not exist. More information about this scam is available here. Tribune Review: “Nonprofits Play Waiting Game as State Delays OK for Online Raffle Ticket Sales”
Did you know that non-profits in Pennsylvania are at a fundraising disadvantage because they’re unnecessarily barred from accepting online payments such as Venmo or PayPal? I’m proud to sponsor legislation to help our VFWs, volunteer fire companies, youth sports leagues, and others like them to raise funds more easily and help their cause by eliminating this antiquated barrier. I hope the House takes up this commonsense bill soon to ensure PA non-profits have access to the tools they need to effectively fundraise. Learn more about the legislation I’ve sponsored here. Posting of Veterans’ Benefits
With the enactment of Act 31 of 2025, Pennsylvania businesses with at least 50 employees are now required to display the benefits and services available to veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs along with contact information for veterans’ resources. Leet Township Veterans Memorial Unveiling
Thank you to Leet Township for their support of veterans and their recent unveiling of a new veterans’ memorial. This memorial will stand as a place where community members can come and recognize those who have fought for our freedom. I encourage everyone to stop by the memorial. See more photos from the unveiling here. Veteran Benefits Assistance
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) provides veterans and their beneficiaries with free and safe assistance when applying for benefits. Seeking free help from the DMVA can help veterans avoid scams and exploitation from people looking to profit from veterans’ earned benefits. For more information about pension poaching, click here.
Additionally, on the second Tuesday of each month, my office hosts a veterans’ benefits expert from the American Legion. He is available to answer any questions or help solve issues a veteran may have with obtaining their benefits. If you would like to schedule a FREE appointment to receive assistance with your veterans’ benefits, please call my office at (412) 785-3070. Veteran Burial Benefits
Eligible veterans and their spouses can receive no-cost burial benefits at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. These benefits include burial in a VA National Cemetery, headstone or marker with inscription included, and gravesite maintenance in perpetuity. Veterans’ spouses are still eligible for these benefits if they pre-decease the veteran or if the veteran is interred in a non-VA cemetery. For more information on veteran burial benefits from the VA, click here. Sen. McCormick’s Defense Summit Highlights Pittsburgh CompaniesThanks to Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA) for hosting an incredible Defense & Innovation Summit where so many Pennsylvania companies that contribute to the defense of our nation were featured on a national stage, including local Pittsburgh companies like Astrobotic, Eos Energy Enterprises, Gecko Robotics, and more. As a military veteran, it was great to hear from the Joint Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and impressive to see firsthand how Pennsylvania continues to lead in strengthening our nation’s defense industrial base. Learn more about the summit here. Ensuring Veteran Access to Psilocybin-Assisted Therapies for PTSDJune 27 was PTSD Awareness Day. While PTSD can afflict anyone with trauma, veterans are especially susceptible. That is why I’m proud to partner with Sens. Pennycuick (R-24) and Bartolotta (R-46) to sponsor legislation to ensure veterans can access treatment for service-connected PTSD and Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) with promising low-dose, psilocybin-assisted therapies. Early clinical trial data has demonstrated that low-dose psilocybin-assisted treatments, when conducted in a controlled clinical setting with a licensed and trained physician, have shown remarkable promise in helping patients. These therapies have exceptional success rates in helping patients achieve healing and lasting recovery, with some clinical trials reporting over 75% of participants experiencing symptom remission. Our proposal will amend Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Try Act to offer lifesaving psilocybin-assisted therapies to veterans. The act will require psilocybin treatments to be administered under strict clinical supervision, and will also automatically align Pennsylvania’s scheduling with any future federal rescheduling of psilocybin. These provisions will only take effect if the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reclassifies psilocybin from a Schedule I controlled substance, or issues a waiver authorizing its use. Learn more about the legislation here. Month of the American Soldier Resolution
I was proud to join my fellow veterans last month in the Senate in introducing a resolution to designate June 2026 as “Month of the American Soldier” in Pennsylvania. This designation will honor the generations of Pennsylvania soldiers whose valor and devotion to duty have helped shaped the course of American history. Learn more about the resolution here. National Parks Military Lifetime Pass
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and members of Gold Star Families are eligible for a free Military Lifetime Pass at national parks, which will admit the passholder and accompanying passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas, or the passholder and up to three additional people over the age of 16 where per person fees are charged. Passes cover entrance and day-use fees at lands managed by the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To request a free digital pass, click here. To request a physical pass, which requires a $12.50 shipping and handling fee, click 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. |
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