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In this Update:
Celebrating Champions: Pennsylvania Wrestling
We celebrated PIAA Champion wrestlers from across the commonwealth. I’m elated to say that Bedford and Somerset Counties have produced four extraordinary student-athletes whose hard work, talent, and grit have earned them places in Pennsylvania wrestling history:
Congratulations to Violette, Juliet, Rowan, Dominic, and all of the remarkable young wrestlers who competed this year! Senate Confirms Consumer Advocate, Reappoints PUC Chair
This week, following a hearing in the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously confirmed Darryl Lawrence as the state’s new Consumer Advocate and Stephen DeFrank to continue serving as chairman of the Public Utility Commission. We thank both nominees for their service and leadership in protecting Pennsylvania consumers and overseeing our critical utilities. Addressing Child Care Staffing Shortage in Somerset
Last week, I joined some tiny advocates as well as local early childhood educators and community leaders in Somerset County, for a press conference at The Learning Lamp Center for Children, to shine a light on the growing child care staffing crisis impacting families and our economy. In Somerset County alone, 17 early childhood educator positions remain unfilled, leaving over 200 children without care. Statewide, 92% of providers are struggling to hire staff. This isn’t just a child care issue. It’s a workforce crisis. For every teacher we’re missing, our centers are missing even more students that could be filling those spots, which means parents can’t go to work. I’m committed to working with my colleagues in Harrisburg to ensure families in Somerset County — and across Pennsylvania — get the support they need to best serve our working families. Senate Votes to Preserve Prescription Assistance for Seniors
Legislation to protect thousands of Pennsylvania seniors from losing access to life-sustaining prescriptions passed the Senate unanimously. Senate Bill 731 would exclude Social Security cost-of-living adjustments from income eligibility calculations for the PACE and PACENET programs. The bill would extend the current exclusion from the end of this year to Dec. 31, 2027. Funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery, the PACE and PACENET programs have provided hundreds of thousands of adults 65 and older with low-cost prescriptions. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Bill to Strengthen Enforcement of PFA Orders Passes Senate
The Senate unanimously approved legislation to improve the enforcement of Protection from Abuse (PFA) petitions and orders and properly reimburse law enforcement agencies. A longstanding imbalance in the law directs a portion of PFA-related court fees to county sheriffs, even when local police departments or state troopers process the paperwork. Senate Bill 302 would require sheriffs to transfer the $25 service fee collected through the existing surcharge to the agency completing the service. The bill would also address a critical safety concern and reinforce professional enforcement standards by authorizing only sheriffs or trained law enforcement officers – not private individuals – to serve PFAs. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Approves Bill to Improve Access to Stroke Resources
The Senate unanimously passed legislation that would improve access to stroke resources. Senate Bill 411 would establish a statewide stroke registry administered and maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The registry would improve patient outcomes by giving emergency medical service providers, hospital stroke teams and other health care providers additional resources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strokes are the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, more than 795,000 people experience a stroke. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Hand-Held Cell Phone Ban for Motorists Now in Effect
A law to increase safety on Pennsylvania roads passed by Senate Republicans that makes it illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving is now in effect. Use is also prohibited when a vehicle is stopped in traffic or at a red light. Drivers may talk using hands-free devices, but holding a phone to make a call, text, get driving directions or check social media is now a citable offense. For the next year, officers may issue written warnings. Formal citations will be issued beginning June 6, 2026. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, distracted drivers were involved in more than 11,000 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2023, outpacing the number of crashes caused by impaired drivers. 23andMe Consumers Can Still Protect Their Information
While 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, consumers should know they still have rights. Notably, if a consumer’s personal or genetic information was exposed in the 2023 data breach, they may file a claim electronically by July 14. People may also wish to delete their profiles and accounts to ensure their personal data is erased from the 23andMe system and not sold as part of the bankruptcy process. Attorney General Dave Sunday says consumers can learn how to delete their genetic data from 23andMe, destroy their 23andMe test sample and revoke permission for their genetic data to be used for research here. Remembering D-Day and Those Who Gave Everything
In one of the most important military actions in history, the Allies began the liberation of Western Europe on June 6, 1944. Each year, there are fewer surviving D-Day veterans, which makes it even more important that we preserve their legacy through education. We must never forget the more than 2,500 Americans who lost their lives turning the tide in World War II. The cost of freedom is high, and they gave everything to defend it for all of us.
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