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In this Update:
Saving Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton
Penn State’s final decision about the potential closures of Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton is approaching. This week, our local state legislative delegation sent two letters to Penn State leadership expressing our strong support for saving these campuses. Read our Penn State Schuylkill letter here and our Penn State Hazleton letter here. Since the potential closures were first announced, the outpouring of support has been inspiring. We’ve had more than 5,400 people respond to our survey, which asked “do you support closing Penn State Schuylkill and Penn State Hazleton?” The results: more than 96% do NOT support the potential closures. We also had more than 200 people attend our public hearings about the future of these campuses. The facts strongly support saving these campuses, and our region has loudly voiced its support. If you haven’t filled out our survey yet, please do so here. Should Minors Undergo Irreversible Gender Transitioning Operations?
At the invitation of Senator Judy Ward, the Senate Majority Policy Committee, which I chair, visited Altoona for a public hearing on the Do No Harm Act, which would prohibit minors from receiving irreversible gender transitioning procedures and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding these services. We heard from medical professionals, parents, advocates, and individuals who have detransitioned. From 2015 to 2023, more than $21.8 million in taxpayer dollars was used for these services – without this issue ever being voted on by the Senate or the House. On January 28, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order which states “it is the policy of the United States that it will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support the so-called “transition” of a child from one sex to another, and it will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life-altering procedures.” Thank you to all who joined us – the stories we heard we very powerful. Arson Attack at Pennsylvania Governor’s MansionThe attack on the Pennsylvania Governor’s mansion is extremely disturbing and I’m thankful that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe. Anyone responsible for this horrifying crime must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. In the aftermath of this attack, U.S. Senator Dave McCormick wrote an op-ed about the troubling rise in political violence in our country. Read it here. Will Pennsylvania Seize the Economic Opportunities Presented by AI?
At the invitation of Senator Tracy Pennycuick, I chaired a joint Senate Majority Policy Committee/ House Republican Policy Committee public hearing in Pittsburgh about how artificial intelligence is reshaping Pennsylvania’s economy. We heard from industry-leading experts about how AI is significantly changing operations in healthcare, aerospace, and banking. We discussed the biggest challenge to fully seizing this opportunity to grow our economy – unfriendly energy policies. Ken Zapinski, the director of research and public policy for Pittsburgh Works Together, advised that Pennsylvania must build more power plants, take advantage of old industrial sites that have access to existing gas and electric infrastructure, and minimize permitting and development hurdles to move at the speed of business to truly take advantage of the rapidly expanding AI industry.
While in Pittsburgh, Rep. Tim Twardzik, Senator Pennycuick, and I made a very special visit. We met Bacon Bert, one of the six Pirates Pierogies that take the field for the Great Pittsburgh Pierogy Race after the fifth inning of every Pirates game. I don’t think Rep. Twardzik’s father could have imagined this when he invented Mrs. T’s Pierogies in his grandmother’s Shenandoah kitchen many years ago! No. 9 Coal Mine in Lansford Now Open for the Season
The No.9 Coal Mine & Museum is now open for the season. Located between Coaldale and Lansford, the museum features a 1,600-foot ride into the heart of the mountain and a huge collection of artifacts. It’s a great place to learn what the lives of our ancestors who worked in the mines were really like! Visit on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. I’ve been proud to support them since they first came to me with their plan to open for tours. I’ll never forget that first meeting. At the time I was a state representative who only represented Schuylkill County, and I didn’t think I could assist, since the mine was in Carbon. They then showed me the old mine maps, proving indeed that the mine reached underneath Coaldale in Schuylkill County. The rest, as they say, is history! Don’t forget to mark your calendars – the annual Memorial Day weekend picnic and car cruise will take place on Sunday, May 25. Meeting with Faith Leaders from Schuylkill County
I hosted a breakfast this week with more than 40 faith leaders from Schuylkill County about issues affecting our communities that are now under consideration in Harrisburg. Thank you all for joining us – we had a very productive discussion. How to Write a Successful Grant Application
Thank you to the more than 40 people who attended our seminar at Penn State Schuylkill on how to write a successful grant application hosted by Reps. Tim Twardzik, Jamie Barton, JoAnne Stehr, Dane Watro and me. Every year, we work with local organizations to secure millions in state grants to support key projects to breathe new life into our area. But we cannot do this alone – it takes strong partnerships and thoughtful planning to turn community revitalization ideas into reality. Special thanks to Linda Falcone, MBA, Educator for Penn State Extension, who provided an in-depth overview of the grant writing process and best practices for writing a successful application. Reining in Unconfirmed Leaders of State Agencies
To restore balance and transparency in state government, the Senate passed a bill reining in the use of unconfirmed state agency leaders. Senate Bill 472 advanced to the House of Representatives for consideration. Former Gov. Tom Wolf appointed 11 individuals to lead various state agencies in the “acting” capacity and never nominated them to the Senate as part of the official confirmation process. Additionally, 21 cabinet officials served in “acting” capacity longer than 90 days. This allowed key decisions to be made without public scrutiny. With the passage of the bill, an individual serving in a leadership role without official confirmation by the Senate would be designated as “Deputy Head of Department.” The designation could be used once during a governor’s term. These individuals would have to appear before the General Assembly during the annual budget process. They would not receive elevated compensation or additional benefits beyond their peers. Most importantly, they would not be allowed to remain indefinitely without Senate review and would not be permitted to serve longer than 90 days. Voter Registration Deadline is May 5
The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania’s May 20 primary election is Monday, May 5. Your county election office must receive your application for a mail-in or absentee ballot by Tuesday, May 13, at 5 p.m. To legally register, individuals must be a citizen of the United States, reside in their local voting precincts at least 30 days prior to the election and be at least age 18 on Election Day, Tuesday, May 20. Once registered to vote, you are not required to register again unless you change your residence, name or political party affiliation. Voter registration forms, mail-in ballot applications and absentee ballot applications are available here or from your local county’s Board of Elections. You can also use the site to check your registration status. REAL ID to Replace Driver’s License as Federally Acceptable ID on May 7
Beginning May 7, Pennsylvanians who wish to board flights, visit military bases and enter certain federal facilities will be required to present a form of federally accepted identification. Options include a passport, military ID or a REAL ID. You do not need to wait until your driver license renews to get a REAL ID. To get one, you must provide documents proving your identity, lawful status, Social Security number and Pennsylvania residency. Review the list of acceptable documents. All documents must be original versions or certified copies (if applicable). While any of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s (PennDOT) driver license centers can verify these documents for customers who want a REAL ID, only certain locations can provide your REAL ID the same day. Otherwise, expect to receive your REAL ID within 15 business days after successful document verification. Happy Easter!
Easter represents joy, hope and redemption. Warmest wishes to all families who celebrate this holy holiday and rejoice in eternal life. Happy Easter! |
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