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In this update:
Honoring Quentin Stambaugh with a Long-Overdue Purple Heart
It was an honor to join Quentin Stambaugh as he received his long-overdue Purple Heart. At 101 years old, Quentin is one of the few remaining World War II Veterans, and his courage and sacrifice were finally recognized. The ceremony, hosted by VFW Post 5265 in Spring Grove, was a lively tribute to his service and resilience. I am deeply grateful to all who helped make this long-awaited recognition possible. Quentin, we are forever thankful for your service to our nation. Last year, I had the privilege of introducing Quentin in the Senate Chamber as we recognized both his 100th birthday and his dedicated service to our country. You can learn more about Quentin and learn his secret to a long, good life here. Celebrating 50,000 Acres of Preserved Farmland in York County
We celebrated a major milestone in southern York County this week – 50,000 acres of preserved farmland. This achievement speaks to York County’s leadership in protecting agriculture, our heritage, and our future. A special thank you to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary, Russell Redding, for joining us to mark this accomplishment. Preserving farmland ensures that the land we protect today will continue to feed families, strengthen our economy, and sustain our way of life for generations to come. To continue building on this success, I am introducing legislation to protect the integrity of Pennsylvania’s preserved farmland program. Under current law, when preserved farmland is taken through eminent domain, agencies are not required to fully compensate for the taxpayer investment made to preserve that land. My legislation will require fair compensation, safeguard taxpayer dollars, and honor the commitment of farmers who choose to preserve their land. York County has shown what can be achieved when we make farmland preservation a priority, and this legislation will ensure those investments are protected for the future. You can find more photos from this event on my Facebook page. I will be sitting down with Sen. Cris Dush, who is also working on legislation to address eminent domain challenges, in an upcoming podcast episode. If you own preserved farmland and are concerned about this issue, you do not want to miss our conversation. Subscribe to my podcast on your favorite platform here. A Tribute to Officer Duarte and the Responders Who Answered the Call
The impact and tragic loss of Officer Andrew Duarte cannot be overstated. His courageous actions saved others, and we came together to honor his service and sacrifice. This tribute also recognized the law enforcement officers who responded to the 911 call earlier this year as tragedy unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital, along with the dedicated professionals of the York County Office of Emergency Management’s 911 Center. Their swift response in the face of crisis exemplifies the very best of public service and teamwork. It was especially meaningful that Nancy and David Matarese could attend, reminding us that behind every call and every act of service are lives deeply touched by these sacrifices. Officer Duarte’s bravery and the steadfast dedication of our first responders will never be forgotten. Improving Public Safety
Public safety is one of my top priorities, and the Senate has taken many important steps this year. We passed new laws closing a legal loophole to require sports officials and nonprofit volunteers and employees convicted of sexual assault to register as sexual offenders, and improving the enforcement of Protection from Abuse petitions. To boost fire protection, we enacted measures targeting Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighter shortage, fixing issues with emergency services funding and making it less cumbersome for firefighters to obtain their certification. Legislation passed by the Senate and awaiting action in the House of Representatives includes a bill prohibiting non-monetary bail for the most dangerous individuals and cracking down on thieves using new technology to steal vehicles by spoofing key fobs. I’ll keep working hard to make our communities safe. You can review other measures we passed to increase public safety and address other subjects here. Senate Acts to Help Charitable Organizations Raise Funds
More Pennsylvanians are using cashless payments for transactions, so we approved legislation to allow charitable organizations to accept electronic payments, such as credit cards and Venmo, to raise funds. Senate Bill 416 would allow nonprofits such as volunteer fire companies, youth sports leagues, churches and veterans’ groups to accept electronic payments for raffle tickets. Under current law, nonprofits are limited to accepting only cash or checks for these transactions, which has made it harder to raise funds in today’s increasingly cashless society. The legislation also adds safeguards to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of digital payment methods. Organizations must still comply with the Small Games of Chance Act. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week in Pennsylvania
It’s Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week in Pennsylvania – the first initiative of its kind in the U.S. A Senate resolution would address the alarming rise in online child exploitation and help schools, parents and community leaders promote education and prevention of internet dangers to children. Some resources include:
The resolution builds on recent legislative efforts to protect children from threats online. Act 125 of 2024 criminalized the creation and distribution of an intimate or sexual deepfake of a person and classified explicit deepfakes of minors as child sexual abuse material. Act 35 of 2025 classified digital impersonation and deepfakes as a form of criminal forgery giving law enforcement new tools to combat online abuse. Summer Boating Safety: Life Jackets Save Lives
Boating is a popular pastime across Pennsylvania, particularly in the summer. While it comes with some risk, there is one step we can take to help keep the danger away from the fun. Approximately 80% of boating fatalities happen to boaters who are not wearing a life jacket. Under state law, all boats must have a regulation life jacket on board for each person. Children ages 12 and younger must wear a life jacket in all canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and boats 20 feet long. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission lists detailed information about proper use of life jackets, and what state law requires, to help you enjoy the waterways safely. August is Back to School Month: Join PHEAA For a Budget Webinar
Back to School season is here! As students and families gear up for a new year of learning, excitement, and memories, let’s all do our part to keep kids safe, especially by watching for school buses and children at bus stops. Along with safety on the roads, it’s also a great time to think about preparing for success in and out of the classroom. PHEAA is offering a free webinar, Managing a Personal Budget as a Student, to help families plan for financial success. This one-hour session will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at noon. You can register 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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