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In this Update:
How Can We Encourage More Dentists to Practice in Rural PA?
The Senate Majority Policy Committee will continue its travels across Pennsylvania later this month, visiting Tamaqua to review strategies to address the shortage of dentists in rural Pennsylvania. This event will take place on Wednesday, June 18 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lehigh Carbon Community College Morgan Center in downtown Tamaqua. Joining us will be local healthcare officials, statewide dental associations, and community college and university officials. At least 50% of the state is underserved when it comes to dental care. A lack of dental care affects more than just your teeth – it contributes to heart disease and increased rates of opioid abuse. Attracting dentists to practice in rural areas is one of the biggest challenges in fixing this problem. We’re now working on a potential solution – creating Pennsylvania’s first ever rural dental school in Tamaqua. The committee has gotten off to a very busy start this year, visiting Pittsburgh to discuss AI, Altoona to discuss the Do No Harm Act, Canonsburg to discuss innovations in healthcare, Glenfield to discuss veterans workforce initiatives, and more. We will be announcing more hearings soon – stay tuned! Senate Votes for the Save Women’s Sports Act
With a bipartisan vote, the Senate passed legislation to protect athletic opportunity, competitive fairness and safety for female athletes across Pennsylvania. The Save Women’s Sports Act would ensure athletic teams designated for girls and women are reserved for biological females in K-12 and collegiate sports across the commonwealth. Senate Bill 9 would reinforce the original intent of Title IX by ensuring female athletes are not denied scholarships, placements or opportunities due to unfair competition from biological males. It is now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration. Addressing the Workforce Crisis at Long-Term Care Centers
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 make sure they are cared for are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. The number of Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2040. Despite this sharp increase, Pennsylvania saw a 14% decrease in long-term care professionals. To support these employees, residents, and their families, the Senate passed a bill I introduced to remove barriers for those looking to enter this workforce by a strongly bipartisan vote of 47-3. A second bill of mine to address this crisis was approved by the Senate Education Committee. These bills must advance to the governor’s desk as soon as possible, to ensure that our loved ones can receive the quality care they deserve. PASS Scholarships to Help Students in Failing Schools Receive Senate Support
To expand education access and reform outcomes in Pennsylvania’s most challenged schools, the Senate Education Committee advanced bipartisan scholarship legislation. The bill, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) scholarship program, now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Senate Bill 10 would establish scholarship accounts for eligible students, allowing them to pursue educational opportunities outside of their assigned public school. The program would be administered by the Pennsylvania State Treasury and funded through appropriations, grants, donations or other contributions from public and private sources. Eligible students must live within the attendance boundary of a school that ranks in the bottom 15% statewide based on academic performance and come from households earning less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Funds in a student’s PASS account could be used for tuition, school-related fees or special education services at a nonpublic school. Learn more about scholarship amounts, which vary from $2,500 to $15,000 based on the student’s grade level. Put Down Your Phone While Driving: New Law Takes Effect June 5
On June 5, a new law will take effect banning the use of hand-held devices while driving, even while temporarily stopped due to traffic or a red light. This law is named after Paul Miller, who tragically lost his life in 2010 in an accident caused by a tractor trailer driver reaching for his phone while driving. According to PennDOT data, there were 9,950 crashes involving distracted drivers last year, resulting in more than 6,000 injuries and 49 fatalities. We approved this law with strong bipartisan support to prevent more tragedies and ensure our roads are safe for all. How Can We Solve the Literacy Crisis?
According to the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition, reading performance has declined by 0.9 grade levels in Schuylkill County, 0.8 grade levels in Carbon County, and 0.6 grade levels in Luzerne County since 2019. Struggling students are more likely to drop out of high school, earn less, and are more likely to break the law. Here in Pennsylvania, I helped guide bipartisan legislation into law to bolster reading instruction, help schools identify struggling readers earlier, and ensure educators are better trained. One thing is clear – we need to do better, here in PA and across the nation. Learn more here. Senate Votes to Improve Communication About School Safety Issues
To empower parents and increase transparency, the Senate passed legislation to improve reporting requirements about potentially dangerous situations at schools. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 246 would require parental and employee notification when there is a weapon on any school property that violates its weapons policy, as well as when there are cases of harassment and bullying. It would apply to public, non-public and private schools. Current law does not require school districts to inform parents about incidents when a weapon is brought onto school grounds or to related activities. |
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