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In this update:
“Take Back Your Health” Tour Kicks Off in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania took center stage this week as U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. launched his nationwide “Take Back Your Health” tour in the commonwealth. In Harrisburg, Secretary Kennedy joined my colleagues and me to highlight new initiatives focused on improving public health, strengthening nutrition standards, and making health care more affordable for American families. The event spotlighted the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the unveiling of a new food pyramid, and efforts to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid while lowering prescription drug costs. Secretary Kennedy emphasized the administration is working toward a generational shift in American health care by putting science, transparency, and nutrition back at the center of public policy. Pennsylvania was chosen as the starting point because of its strong agricultural roots and leadership in food production. You can watch my remarks from the day here and find more photos here. Returning Whole Milk to Schools
Secretary Kennedy’s message is already taking shape through polices that put nutrition, health and common sense back into our schools. In June, I joined my Senate colleagues in voting to approve a resolution urging Congress to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Whole milk provides 13 essential vitamins to help build strong bones and maintain a healthy immune system. The evidence is overwhelming that both 2% and whole milk should be offered to our students in schools. I am pleased to report this measure it now law. We applaud the recent enactment of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act at the federal level, which allows U.S. schools to now offer whole and 2% milk as options for students, in addition to the current reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk. The bill was in response to enactment of federal legislation in 2010 that permitted only low-fat and fat-free milk options in public schools. Within the first two years of the law taking effect, 1.2 million fewer students drank milk with their lunches. Pennsylvania ranks second in the number of dairy farms and eighth in total milk production, making this change a great positive for children while also supporting our dairy farmers! Save the Date: Farmers Breakfast
As I shared last week, our annual Farmers Breakfast is back, and it is shaping up to be one of our best yet! Registration is now open – we are encouraging you to reserve your spot early. This event brings together farmers, local leaders, and partners for a morning of conversation and connection over a delicious breakfast. More details are coming soon, including the announcement of our guest speaker. If you joined us last year, you would remember hearing from Congressman G.T. Thompson, and we are excited to continue that tradition with another strong speaker this year. Do you want to be the first to know who our guest speaker will be? Make sure you are subscribed to our Farmers e-newsletter so you don’t miss the announcement coming out this weekend. Event Details: The deadline to register is Feb. 9. Please note, we are requiring each attendee to register individually to ensure we have enough seating and food. Celebrating Agriculture in Pennsylvania
From Jacobus to the White House, from Camp David to the Pennsylvania Farm Show, this week was a powerful reminder of how far the impact of Pennsylvania agriculture truly reaches. Between Paul Waclo’s one-of-a-kind chainsaw artistry, taking part in the Senator Mike Waugh Celebrity Draft Horse Feed Scurry with Leah Flinchbaugh, and a meaningful exchange with British Deputy Consul General Mel Lawrance on the strength of U.S.–British agricultural ties, every moment highlighted how agriculture connects craftsmanship, conservation, competition, and global relationships. I was also able to catch up with Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture, Russell Redding. Stay tuned for our conversation coming soon to Kristin’s Corner. The Farm Show is a true celebration of our heritage, our people, and the future we’re protecting. Celebrating Innovation at York College Knowledge Park
It was a pleasure to join Dataforma, JDB Engineering, and MANTEC for a ribbon cutting celebration at their new shared home in York College of Pennsylvania’s Knowledge Park. Their continued partnership reflects the strength of innovation, collaboration, and workforce development happening right here in York County. This new space represents exciting growth for all three organizations and further strengthens the connection between education, engineering, and economic development in our region. Jan. 31 Submission Deadline for Student Anti-Litter Contest
Students in grades K–6 have until Jan. 31 to submit entries for the latest Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful “Litter Hawk” anti-litter campaign. This year’s theme is Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful, incorporating the nation’s semiquincentennial. Students can craft their message through art, writing or video. Winners will be announced in April and will be invited to take part in a Capitol ceremony. Contest details and application can be found here. Take Part in the Wild Turkey Sighting Survey
Pennsylvanians are asked to report wild turkey flocks they encounter to help the state Game Commission with winter research, population monitoring and leg-banding efforts to track survival and harvest rates. If you’d like to take part, please report the location of any turkey flocks you see through March 15 on this webpage. Game Commission crews will assess sites for the potential to trap turkeys. Turkeys will not be moved; they’ll simply be leg-banded and released on site. Trapping turkeys during winter is part of the Game Commission’s ongoing population monitoring. Happy 100th Birthday, Mitchell
It was such an honor to join PA State Rep. Joe D’Orsie in presenting Mitchell Angelos with Senate and House citations recognizing this incredible milestone and celebrating a truly remarkable life. Born in 1926, Mr. Angelos served our country during World War II as a demolition specialist in the U.S. Army, went on to earn his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and holds seven patents from his work on military and defense projects. Talk about a life well lived! Even more special is the love and respect he has earned from his family, friends, and everyone who knows him. Happy birthday! National Blood Donor Month
The American Red Cross reports a blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply, drawing down the blood supply by about 35% over the past month. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and type O, A negative and B negative blood. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving relies on friends and neighbors making donations. Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects
Most weeks, PennDOT provides me with its upcoming maintenance schedule. While my team and I aim to keep this information up to date, please note that the page may not always reflect the latest changes. For the most accurate details, I recommend checking back on Friday afternoons or over the weekend, as we usually receive updates from PennDOT on Fridays. You can view the full list here to see if any roadwork might impact you and your family.
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