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In this update:
Honoring a True Hero: Officer Andrew Duarte
Our community was shaken by the recent tragedy at UPMC Memorial, when a gunman entered the ICU with the intent of causing harm. In the face of chaos, the quick and courageous actions of law enforcement and medical staff saved countless lives. One of those heroes was Officer Andrew Duarte of the West York Borough Police Department. Even after being injured, he returned to help others, truly embodying the warrior spirit his mother, Nancy, says he carried every day. Tragically, he lost his life fulfilling his oath to serve and protect. It was a seldom honor to host Officer Duarte’s mother, Nancy Duarte Matarese, her husband David, and members of the West York Borough Police Department as we paid tribute to his bravery and ultimate sacrifice. The Senate of Pennsylvania adopted Senate Resolution 70, a condolence resolution honoring Officer Andrew Duarte. You can watch Officer Duarte be honored here as well as the opening prayer, given by Reverend Aaron Anderson of Living Word Community Church, here. 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. You can watch my remarks on the floor on YouTube. In case you missed it, I recently had the opportunity to sit down with former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, Paula Scanlan, and speak about her personal experience with competing against a biological male and why she continues to speak out and share her story. You can watch our conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple or Spotify. The bill is now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration. Protecting Pennsylvania’s Cybersecurity
Two key cybersecurity bills advanced unanimously out of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee this week. Senate Bill 376 would ban TikTok from all state-owned devices and networks. This measure would align Pennsylvania with the federal government and more than 39 other states that have already taken steps to address the growing national security threat. Senate Bill 377 would require all state IT contacts to meet cybersecurity standards established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This will help protect taxpayer-funded technology projects and reduce the risk of data breaches across state systems. Both bills are part of a broader package I introduced to modernize and protect the Commonwealth’s information technology infrastructure. They both head to the full Senate for consideration. Improving Government Transparency and Accountability
This week, several of my bills to increase transparency, accountability, and oversight in state and local government advanced out of the Senate State Government and Education committees. These measures are part of a broader effort to restore public trust and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Senate Bill 226 would amend the Right-to-Know law to apply to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. While this organization benefits from public funds and participates in the public retirement systems, it is not currently subject to open records laws. Senate Bill 227, passed by the Senate Education Committee, would amend the Public School Code to strengthen transparency and bring consistency in how public education-related entities are held accountable. Senate Bill 305 responds to the repeated delays and cost overruns of the Mt. Rose interchange project we faced in York County. It would require PennDOT and other state agencies to consider a contractor’s documented history of contract abuse, not just the lowest bid. Finally, Senate Bill 306 would require the Department of State to establish an online tracking system for proposed constitutional amendments, following the previous administration’s failure to properly advertise a critical amendment for victims of sexual abuse. All four bills now move to the full Senate for further consideration. I remain committed to advancing commonsense reforms that promote open government and protect the interests of Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. Bill Strengthening PA’s Sexual Offender Registry Approved by Senate
The Senate unanimously approved legislation this week to better protect children in Pennsylvania against sexual predators. Senate Bill 255 would require a sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association who is convicted of sexual assault to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Under current law, a conviction for this offense does not require registration as a sex offender. Closing this loophole will strengthen SORNA and ensure potentially violent sex offenders can be properly monitored. The bill, which now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration, is part of a larger Senate Republican priority of making commonwealth communities safer. Unclaimed Property Event in Penn Township
Spring is a great time to tidy up, and that includes checking for any unclaimed money that may belong to you in our state treasury! On Thursday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., my team will be joined by members of the Pennsylvania Treasury Department to bring unclaimed property services to the Penn Township Municipal Building, located at 20 Wayne Ave. in Hanover. Our teams have partnered before with events in Loganville and Springettsbury Township, which resulted in more than $200,000 in unclaimed property returned to southern York County citizens. A team member from Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s office will be on hand to help residents search the database, complete the necessary forms, and file claims. A notary public will also be available on-site to assist with any claims exceeding $5,000. You can visit the Pennsylvania Treasury’s Unclaimed Property website here ahead of time to see if there are assets in your name. PA Treasury Continues Working to Return Money to the People
In addition to our upcoming event, more than 40,000 Pennsylvanians may soon find a check in their mailbox for money they didn’t know they had, thanks to legislation passed by my colleagues and me. PA Money Match is a new law that allows Treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. The program includes properties valued at $500 or less that belong to a single owner. Those with eligible properties will receive a letter in the mail to confirm their address. About 45 days later, they’ll receive a check for their property. PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property, which includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates and insurance payments. The average claim is worth more than $1,000. PA Money Match will not automatically return properties exceeding $500 or those that may have more than one owner so please regularly check Treasury’s website to see if you have unclaimed property. Red Lion Scout Earns Eagle Rank
Congratulations to Gavin Pennell, of Boy Scout Troop 28 in Red Lion, on earning the rank of Eagle Scout! I had the pleasure of presenting Gavin with a citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania in recognition of his outstanding achievements and dedication to serve. For his Eagle Scout project, Gavin completed several improvements at the Golden Connections Community Center, including building a bocce ball court, making two new benches, and repairing the fire pit. His project was inspired by his grandparents, Rick and Joyce Julius, who are both active members of the center and supported his work. Gavin is the son of Angie and Dave Pennell. His leadership and commitment to the community reflect the best of scouting and serve as an example for others. Well done, Gavin! You can find more photos here. Celebrating International Firefighters Day Last Weekend
This past weekend marked International Firefighters’ Day, a day where we all should take a moment to recognize the bravery, dedication, and sacrifices of the men and women who protect our communities. Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of joining Jefferson Volunteer Fire Company and Glen Rock Hose and Ladder Company at their annual banquets. These banquets always serve as a reminder of the critical role our local fire companies play every day to keep us safe. Firefighters all across York County demonstrate exceptional service and commitment, often putting themselves in harm’s way to help our community. Thank you to every firefighter who serves our community. We are deeply grateful for all that you do! You can find photos from the banquets here. Thank You for Attending Our License Plate Event
We had a great turnout for our license plate replacement event last Thursday. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to get their plates replaced and Reps. Joe D’Orsie and Wendy Fink for partnering on this initiative. Throughout the evening, residents had the opportunity to get their damaged, faded, or illegible plates replaced at no cost. The Pennsylvania State police were helping check plate eligibility while a PennDOT specialist answered any REAL ID questions. Of course, the event would not have been possible without York Area United Fire and Rescue for generously letting us host at their station! If you attended, please know your new plates are being processed. Events like this are a great example of how we are trying to bring YOUR state government directly to YOU. You can find more photos from the event here. Happy Mother’s Day!
Mothers are the foundation of our families and the heart of our communities. Whether they were cheering us on from the sidelines, organizing school events, or joining scouting trips, their love has always been shown through action. On Mother’s Day we celebrate all the women who nurture, guide, and support us through every stage of life. To all the mothers, especially to my own, thank you for your unwavering love, wisdom, and dedication. Happy Mother’s Day! On Deck
The Senate of Pennsylvania reconvenes on Monday, May 12, at 1 p.m. Follow me on X for all of the latest updates on session convening times. You can watch all of the Senate votes and view our agenda here. 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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