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In this Update:
LCCC Morgan Center Changes Lives!
This week marked the beginning of the fall semester at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Morgan Center. I visited the campus to review how they can partner with others to educate the next generation of skilled employees. Bringing this campus to Tamaqua was transformational. Through strong community partnerships, we repurposed the vacant junior high school where my parents once taught into the borough’s first college. For the first time, people in this area had the chance to learn career-defining skills close to home – and thanks to the generosity of the Morgan Foundation, residents of Tamaqua School District could do so without paying tuition. Because of this partnership, the Tamaqua Area School District now has a higher percentage of residents who have earned an associate degree than almost any other Schuylkill County school district. It’s increased by 50% in the past decade – an incredible outcome that changed the lives of so many people. Now, we’re looking to the future and planning for the next steps forward in higher education for this entire region! Bipartisan Support for Welfare Work Requirements, Accountability Reforms
One of my top legislative priorities is bringing more accountability to our public assistance programs. Earlier this year, the Senate approved three of my bills to stop waste, fraud, and abuse in Pennsylvania’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program and Medical Assistance program. My bills, which received bipartisan support, would ensure dead people do not continue receiving benefits and prevent fraud. Recently, new bipartisan legislation was introduced by Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) and Rep. Mark Gillen (R-Berks) to establish commonsense work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid recipients. We’re NOT talking about sending grandma back to work in the local coal mine – this measure would encourage able-bodied Medicaid enrollees to seek employment, training, or volunteering opportunities. I’ve supported similar measures for many years. Sen. Michele Brooks (R-Mercer) and Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Adams) also recently introduced legislation to ensure taxpayer dollars from the SNAP program cannot be used for junk foods like candy and soda. In their memo announcing this legislation, they note that “it’s hard to justify why children can’t drink whole milk at school yet are allowed to buy pop and candy with taxpayer-funded food assistance.” I’m a cosponsor of this important bill. These taxpayer dollars are meant to provide critical assistance to those struggling to make ends meet. We need stronger laws on the books. Wednesday: Carbon County Senior Citizens Expo
Rep. Doyle Heffley and I are hosting our annual Senior Citizens Expo on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Co. in Lehighton. Exhibitors from local, county, and state agencies will be on hand with information about the services they provide. Last year, we had more than 1,000 people join us – don’t miss it! For more information, please call 570-773-0891. Honoring Local Heroes in Coaldale
This week, eleven firefighters from the Coaldale and Tamaqua fire departments were awarded the Medal of Valor after saving the life of a teenager trapped in a house fire. I was honored to congratulate these local heroes during the ceremony. Hearing the accounts of the rescue was very moving and an important reminder of why supporting our volunteer fire fighters is so important. They are always there for us during the worst moments of our lives. Congratulating Hazleton Baseball Champions
Congratulations to the Hazleton Area High School Cougars baseball team, who won the District 2 6A championship for the seventh year in a row! Led by head coach Russ Canzler, the Cougars finished the 2025 season with an 18-6 record. Rep. Dane Watro and I presented the team with official Senate and House citations in recognition of their success. Sunday: Coal Miners’ Heritage Festival in Lansford
The 18th annual Coal Miners’ Heritage Festival is this Sunday, August 31, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the No.9 Coal Mine & Museum in Lansford. There’s no better place to experience what the job of a coal miner in past decades was like. Guided tours of the 1855 mine will be available and the mining museum – the largest in our region – will be open. They’ll also have plenty of food, including coal region favorites like pierogies, halupki, and halushki, live music all day, a coal shoveling contest at 2 o’clock, and more activities for all ages. Visiting the mine and museum brought me greater appreciation for the conditions our families worked in. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the restoration and reconstruction of the nearly 150-year-old Dorrance Mine Fans—the latest piece of coal mining history now on display. Happy Labor Day
Labor Day is a time to celebrate the workers who make our communities thrive while providing for their families. My Grandmother Argall was an active member of her union as a garment worker. The letter above was a response she received from Congressman Ivor D. Fenton back in the 1940s – what a different time it was! Similarly, my Grandfather Miller was a proud member of the United Mine Workers of America in St. Clair. No matter what your vocation or whether you’re an active employee or a retiree, I hope you enter this last stretch of summer with a wonderful holiday weekend. Recycle Electronics for Free in Pottsville
Rep. Tim Twardzik and I are hosting a free electronics recycling event at the Fairlane Village Mall parking lot on Friday, September 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We can accept small appliances, cell phones, printers, computers, laptops, VCRs, flat-screen TVs, wire, metal items, or anything with a plug. We cannot accept any tube TVs or monitors. If you have any questions, please call my Mahanoy City office at 570-773-0891. Replace Hard-to-Read License Plates in Orwigsburg
Is your license plate worn out? You can get it replaced for free at an event Rep. Jamie Barton and I are hosting on Wednesday, September 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orwigsburg Veterans Community Memorial Hall. A local police officer will be on hand to inspect your plate to determine if it qualifies for replacement. For more information or to RSVP, call 570-773-0891. 2026-27 PA Student Aid Guide Available
For parents and students planning for college, the new Student Aid Guide from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) provides a complete overview of the financial aid process. The guide can help you:
For more help planning for college, check out PHEAA webinars and EducationPlanner.org. Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law
Students are heading back to class, so we all need to be on the lookout for children around school buses and bus stops. Some reminders about Pennsylvania’s School Bus Stopping Law:
School districts are permitted to install automated camera systems on buses to enforce the law. You can find more information about the law and penalties, and safety tips for children, here.
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