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In this Update:
Restoring Damaged Mine Lands Throughout Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties
This week, I was invited to serve as the keynote speaker at the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation’s Annual Conference near Harrisburg. I shared how much progress we’ve made since my friends and I from Tamaqua’s East End used to explore the abandoned coal mines literally across the road from our homes. Landscapes that were once black and gray are now lush and green—or, this time of year, brilliant shades of red and yellow. Streams that once ran orange and black are now clear, with fish swimming through them. And massive holes in the landscape have been filled in and reclaimed. As an original sponsor of Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener program, I understand how important these public-private partnerships are to make our communities healthier, more attractive places to live and create new opportunities for future generations. But we also know there is MUCH more work to be done! Good News at Penn State Schuylkill & Penn State Hazleton!
The Penn State Schuylkill Advisory Board recently shared some VERY positive news:
At Penn State Hazleton, Dr. Menah Pratt has hit the ground running in her new role as Northeast Regional Chancellor. She recently shared her plans to expand outreach to the Greater Hazleton community, strengthen partnerships with local colleges and businesses, recruit students for the 2027-28 academic year, and establish a new regional leadership academy. Penn State Hazleton & Schuylkill are continuing to deliver for students, families, and the entire region. Our entire region benefits from these two important local institutions, every day! My Bill to Address the Caregiver Shortage Signed into Law
My bipartisan legislation to help address Pennsylvania’s long-term care workforce shortage was unanimously passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the Governor. Senate Bill 116 will allow high school juniors and seniors to earn graduation credit by working or volunteering in licensed care settings that provide 24-hour care and supervision for the elderly. Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center. The professionals who provide their care are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. This legislation will give students an opportunity to explore careers in long-term care while helping address this growing need. “Beagle Bill” Signed into Law
The PA House unanimously passed, and the Governor signed Senate Bill 381, also known as the bipartisan “Beagle Bill.” I am a co-sponsor of this legislation. The “Beagle Bill” will prohibit the Commonwealth from funding animal testing and experiments. It will also protect dogs that were bred for testing and make animals previously in a lab available for adoption.
As you can see, our newest pup, Rufus, is growing up FAST! Every dog deserves a chance to live a happy, healthy life outside the lab. This bill is a major win for all those who love and care for animals. Senate Education Committee Reviews Three-Year Bachelor’s Degrees
During a hearing of the Senate Education Committee on the growing trend of three-year college degrees with fewer required credits, I highlighted the importance of both a well-rounded education and hands-on learning experiences. I shared my experience at Lycoming College, where I took 12 credits of German. At the time, I never could have imagined how valuable those classes would be years later. I also emphasized the importance of experiential learning — or, as my German Scout friends liked to say, “learning by doing.” At the Temple Dental Education Center & Clinic in Tamaqua, dental students are gaining firsthand experience working with patients and addressing real-world dental needs. As we consider shortening the traditional four-year degree, we must ensure students don’t lose valuable opportunities to learn beyond the classroom through a well-rounded curriculum, internships, and practical experience. College should prepare students not only for their first job, but also for opportunities that may not even exist yet. Around the Capitol
During our busiest voting session of the year, I welcomed several constituents and organizations to my Capitol office this week. I welcomed Pastor Chris Rothharpt of Trinity Lutheran Church in Pottsville, who served as Guest Chaplain of the Senate on Monday and delivered the opening prayer.
I also met with members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) to discuss issues affecting their industry and how the General Assembly can help address their concerns.
I welcomed my latest job shadow, Noah Hoppes. Noah joined me at the Capitol as part of a class requirement and had the opportunity to sit in on several meetings to get a firsthand look at the legislative process. Around the District
I was recently invited to meet with school leaders and students at two schools in Carbon County. I started my visits at Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21, where we discussed challenges facing our intermediate units and learned more about the Carbon Learning Achievement School (CLAS), an enhanced support program serving students in grades 3 through 12.
I then met with students in Mr. Tyler Harris’ social studies class at Lehighton Area High School and visited the Battle of Gettysburg diorama on display there. Mr. Harris worked with the Lehighton Orioles to acquire the diorama and arrange for its permanent installation at the school—an excellent way to bring Pennsylvania history to life for students. Read more about the diorama here.
We also had a VERY interesting chat with the high school students regarding the new law to eliminate cell phone distractions in our schools!
I was recently invited to attend the Luzerne County Association of Realtors Legislative Night in Wilkes-Barre. It was a great opportunity to hear from local real estate professionals about the challenges facing homebuyers, homeowners, and the housing market throughout our region. There’s no issue I hear about more from employers and employees than the need for more housing in Luzerne, Carbon, and Schuylkill counties. With new jobs continuing to come to our region, the demand for affordable, quality housing continues to grow.
Brenda Swank from my office recently attended Rep. Doyle Heffley’s Family Resource & Addiction Prevention Expo. Those in attendance were able to explore a variety of local and state resources available to our communities. The event also included an impaired driving simulator to put the dangers of impaired driving on full display. Thank you to Rep. Heffley for hosting this important event.
Rep. Dane Watro and I recently held a VERY successful Unclaimed Property Event with PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s staff at the Ringtown Public Library. In just over three hours, we helped return more than $125,000 in unclaimed property to its rightful owners—another record high return total for this type of event. Special thanks to the Ringtown Public Library for hosting us and to Jolene from Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s office for helping make this event a success! If you think the PA Treasury may be holding unclaimed property that belongs to you, contact one of my offices to learn about upcoming events to see how we can help. Congratulations to this Year’s Schuylkill Chamber Award Winners!
After a busy day of meetings, I ended last Thursday at the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce’s Awards Gala.
Congrats to my communications director, Seth Hubler, who was named Young Professional of the Year! I’m grateful for his dedication to the 102 communities our office serves in Carbon, Luzerne, and Schuylkill Counties, from Pine Grove to Palmerton to Bear Creek. Congratulations to all this year’s winners:
Congratulations, Dr. Ismail!
Congratulations to Temple University’s Dr. Amid Ismail on being named a 2026 Trailblazer in Healthcare by City & State PA! (Temple)Alt Text: A flyer advertising the new Temple Dental Education Center & Clinic in Tamaqua. Dr. Ismail is the visionary leader who created the new Temple Dental Education Center & Rural Clinic in Downtown Tamaqua. Thanks to his partnership with Micah Gursky from the Tamaqua Area Community Partnership, the new groundbreaking facility is now expanding access to much-needed dental care while educating the next generation of dentists right here in our region. For those interested in setting up an appointment, call (570) 225-9951. Temple Dental Student Spotlight: Meet Liria Bowser
Welcome to our Temple Dental Student Community Spotlight, where we will feature weekly interviews with students from the new Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry Rural Dental Education Center and Clinic in downtown Tamaqua. This week, the spotlight is on Liria Bowser. Originally from Brazil, Liria moved to Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, in 2022. She attended dental school and practiced dentistry in Brazil before coming to the United States. Now in her final year at Temple, Bowser is thoroughly enjoying her experience at the new rural dental school in Tamaqua. “I love it here at this school in Tamaqua. Dean Ismail has given us an amazing opportunity to help people that are in need while also learning and training,” said Bowser. “The community has also been very welcoming and nice to us. We just all hope we can continue to make a positive impact. It’s been a really good experience.” From the moment she stepped inside the rural dental school, Bowser could see just how great the need for dental care is in the region. “We thought maybe Dean Ismail was exaggerating a little bit about the need for dental care in this area, but he was not, we’re treating people who haven’t been to the dentist in a very long time,” added Bowser. “And it’s a great feeling to help these people. We want to continue to promote health and do as much good as we can.” After training in a rural community, Bowser says she can envision a future practicing in a small town in western Pennsylvania. “I could definitely see myself practicing in a smaller town after this experience when I go back to the Hollidaysburg area,” said Bowser. “There is no doubt that the need is there in our smaller communities.” Important Election Deadlines
With the November 3 election less than two weeks away, here are important dates to remember:
To find your polling place, click here. To request a mail-in ballot, click here. Quote of the Week
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” – President Theodore Roosevelt |
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