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In this Update:
Celebrating Civic Leadership with Conemaugh Township Student
I was proud to be joined by Gracyn Bittner, a junior at Conemaugh Township Area High School, as the Pennsylvania State Senate gathered in Philadelphia to commemorate America’s 250th birthday. Gracyn was selected through a partnership with America250PA in recognition of his leadership, passion for American history and commitment to civic engagement. As an Eagle Scout and dedicated student leader, Gracyn plans to pursue service to our country through enrollment at the U.S. Naval Academy after graduation. It was inspiring to see him, and other young leaders, so engaged in honoring our nation’s history. The future looks bright! Gracyn, thank you for joining us for this special occasion. It was a pleasure to have you with us. Building Stronger Consumer Protections for Pennsylvania Families
The Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee approved two bills designed to strengthen protections for Pennsylvania homeowners and homebuyers. Senate Bill 907 would establish statewide licensing and oversight for home inspectors, while Senate Bill 1324 would strengthen consumer protections against fraud and poor-quality work by home improvement contractors. Pennsylvanians deserve qualified professionals and strong consumer safeguards when it comes to making one of the biggest financial investments of their lives. Both bills now move to the full Senate for consideration. Attainable Housing Package Advances in Senate Committee
In step with the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee, the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee advanced a package of legislation focused on expanding access to attainable housing. Included in the package was my bill, Senate Bill 1277, that would give counties, municipalities and school districts more flexibility by extending the tax abatement cap from 10 years to 20 years to help encourage redevelopment and construction of new housing. This voluntary tool will help communities revitalize vacant and underused properties and address rising housing costs. The legislation package now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Back-to-Back Champions, Berlin Brothersvalley Basketball, Visit the Capitol
It was a pleasure to welcome the District 5 PIAA 2A back-to-back state championship girls’ basketball team from Berlin Brothersvalley High School to the capitol this week. Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar and I congratulated the team for another outstanding season. Somerset County is proud! Senate Approves Tougher Penalties for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officers
The Senate approved legislation closing a gap in state law and imposing tougher penalties on individuals who attempt to murder a law enforcement officer and cause serious bodily injury. Under current law, the penalty for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer could be as little as seven years in prison. Senate Bill 1284 establishes a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum of up to life in prison. The measure was passed on Police Officers’ Memorial Day in Pennsylvania, which honors the brave men and women of law enforcement. It now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about this legislation. Protecting Pennsylvanians’ Second Amendment Rights
The Senate moved to protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by approving Senate Bill 822, which strengthens Pennsylvania’s state preemption over regulating firearms and ammunition, preventing local governments from enacting ordinances that are more restrictive than those established by the General Assembly. Allowing local governments to establish a patchwork of inconsistent gun laws would make it impossible for Pennsylvania residents, along with citizens from other states, to travel without fear of inadvertently breaking a local law they were unaware of. Senate Bill 822, which passed with bipartisan support, also reinforces and restores the original intent of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act, ensuring consistent and clear regulations across the state. The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Honors America 250 with Ceremonial Gathering in Philadelphia
With the U.S. Semiquincentennial less than two months away, the state Senate held a ceremonial gathering honoring America’s 250th birthday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The meeting included senators representing all corners of the commonwealth and students from across the state as part of a partnership with America250PA. The event marked the fourth meeting in the last 100 years that has taken place outside of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The previous three meetings were also held in Philadelphia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1926, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration’s signing in 1976 and the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1987. Read more about the historic gathering. Mother’s Day and Mammo May
Mother’s Day is a great time to remind Mom and all the women in your life about the importance of annual mammograms. While these low-dose x-rays are critical to a lifesaving early diagnosis of breast cancer, one in four Pennsylvania women fail to get a mammogram each year. Annual mammograms are recommended for women beginning at age 40 or as early as age 25 if a woman is considered at increased risk for breast cancer. Learn more from the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. |
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