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In this update:
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 session honoring America’s 250th birthday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia last week. The meeting included my colleagues representing all corners of the commonwealth and students from across the state as part of a partnership with America250PA.
I was honored to host Caleb Ross, a senior at Susquehannock High School. Caleb participated in my annual student government seminar last October and, as part of the program, he wrote the winning essay out of more than 260 students from across southern York County. This fall, Caleb will study at La Salle University in Philadelphia. In addition to continuing his academic success, he promised to report back on his findings on who makes the best cheesesteak. You can watch my interview with Caleb here. 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. You can view more photos from the event on Facebook and Instagram. York County Remembers Fallen Police Officers
Police, family, friends, and law enforcement supporters gathered last week to pay tribute to fallen officers who were killed in the line of duty. There are no right words to describe the brave lives we lost this past year. But one thing is for certain – we will never forget the life, service, and sacrifices of Officer Andrew Duarte, West York Borough Police Department, Det. Sgt. Cody Becker, Northern York County Regional Police Department; Det. Isaiah Emenheiser, Northern York County Regional Police Department; and Det. Mark Baker, Northern York County Regional Police Department. These brave men were the epitome of public servants, who defended our community selflessly and ran toward danger when others were told to stay back. Committee Acts to Bolster Support of Constitutional Right to Bear Arms
The Senate continued its work to reinforce Second Amendment protections with committee approval of legislation to allow law‑abiding adults who are legally permitted to own a firearm to carry concealed without the need for a government‑issued permit. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 357, which also preserves an optional License to Carry Firearms for reciprocity with other states and modernizes the permitting process by reducing investigation time from 45 to 14 days, updating terminology and removing outdated disqualifiers while keeping all prohibitions for individuals who may not legally possess a firearm. The full Senate recently passed Senate Bill 822 to prevent local governments from undermining constitutional rights by enacting more restrictive firearms ordinances than those established by the General Assembly. Read more about our efforts to protect your Second Amendment rights here. Adams County Motorists Do Not Pay It, But York County Motorists Do – Annual Emissions Testing Needs to Go!
Every year – no matter how new your vehicle is – you must get a vehicle emissions test, which hits your wallet to the tune of $40. I even had one neighbor on Facebook comment that it was close to $50 the last time she went to have her vehicle inspected. To make matters worse, our neighbors to the west in Adams County have never had to deal with this arbitrary federal mandate. The Senate voted to eliminate the vehicle emissions testing requirement across the commonwealth. It helps save Pennsylvanians money by freeing 25 counties, including York, from the mandate and prohibits adding any new ones. The bill was approved with a bipartisan vote of 29-21. With newer vehicles getting more fuel efficient, it is time to end this archaic mandate that takes – in some cases – up to $50 from us each year. The bill is now pending further consideration in the House of Representatives. Does Your License Plate Need to be Replaced? Join Rep. Klunk and me on May 26
If your license plate is hard to read because it is peeling, blistering, fading, or discolored, you may qualify for a free replacement. On Tuesday, May 26, from 5-7 p.m., I will be teaming up with Rep. Kate Klunk to host a license plate replacement event at 118 Carlisle St. in Hanover (Rep. Klunk’s district office). Local law enforcement officers will be on-site to inspect license plates and determine if they meet PennDOT’s criteria for replacement. If your plate qualifies, a new one will be mailed directly to your home. All attendees must bring a valid driver’s license and current vehicle registration. If more than one person is listed on the registration, each individual must be present with their own license to complete the process and avoid delays. Please note, the traditional blue, white, and yellow Pennsylvania plate has officially been retired and the new standard “Let Freedom Ring” plates will be provided during this event. This event is open to all local citizens, and I encourage everyone with a worn or damaged plate to take advantage of this convenient opportunity. You can find more information on Facebook. Celebrating the Hard Work of Laurel Fire Company #1
Congratulations to the volunteer firefighters who were honored during the annual Laurel Fire Company #1 banquet. It was a privilege to watch these brave individuals receive well‑deserved recognition for their tireless hard work and commitment to serving our community. I was honored to present these individuals with congratulatory citations from the Senate of Pennsylvania to commemorate their dedication to our community. Renovated Leaders Heights Elementary Opens to Enthusiastic Community
Elementary students who attend or will be attending Leaders Heights Elementary School, part of the Dallastown Area School District, will be pleased to know that a renovation is completed. This three-year project will accommodate the increased capacity for this growing district and modernize the school that is three quarters of a century old. The project expanded each grade from two to five classrooms. Safety and traffic flow changes were also addressed after feedback from parents. It was incredible to see the excitement in so many faces of the students, parents, and faculty during the dedication ceremony. You can see more pictures from last week’s ceremony 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. Sign Up for my Monthly Email Updates for Veterans
Each month, I send an email update specifically for our brave men and women who served and those who support our Veterans. These monthly updates contain updates on federal and state programs, as well as local events of significance to our Veteran community. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving these updates, please sign up on my website. Select “News for Veterans” when selecting a list to subscribe to. My update for May will be going out next week! Stay tuned! |
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