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In this update:
Izaak Walton League celebrates 100 yearsHappy 100th anniversary to the Izaak Walton League, Chapter 67! We are grateful for the dedication and tireless efforts of the many hardworking volunteers who have done so much to inspire all generations to love the outdoors and support conservation efforts all over the country. My children, my husband and I will always cherish many lifelong memories we have at the Izaak Walton League. Congratulations on a century of work and dedication! Lebanon Cemetery commemorates 150th anniversaryPhoto credit: Auditor General DeFoor’s office It was an honor to attend the Lebanon Cemetery 150th Anniversary Celebration to present a Senate of Pennsylvania citation to mark this special occasion and express the community’s gratitude to the Friends of Lebanon Cemetery for the work they have done to preserve this important history for future generations. Thank you to Pastor Marlon Carter for the kind invitation and opportunity to participate! And it is always great to see Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor in York County! Working with schools to provide a safe learning experienceAs the new school year gets underway, students and teachers in many districts across the state are returning to classes made safer by actions taken by the General Assembly. We have worked together on bipartisan legislation that gives our schools the tools they need to identify potential threats early, provide mental health services and safeguard our classrooms. Landmark legislation in 2018 specifically established a School Safety Committee at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. It also created the School Safety and Security Grant Program which allowed schools to hire school police officers, resource officers and counselors; implement safety plans and violence prevention initiatives; and purchase equipment and physical upgrades to boost student safety. Additionally, we passed legislation creating an anonymous school threat reporting system to help schools and law enforcement be prepared for any potential violent incidents. The Safe2Say program has generated more than 80,000 tips since its inception in 2019, not only for school safety concerns, but also for student safety issues like bullying and self-harm. This is an ongoing process and I’m committed to providing schools with the tools they need to keep students and staff safe. Agriculture and youth grant program applications being acceptedFor every four farmers in Pennsylvania over the age of 65 in 2019, only one was under 35. The Agriculture and Youth Grant Program aims to address the looming workforce deficit the industry is expected to face in coming years. The program provides direct grants of up to $7,500 and matching grants of up to $25,000 to support projects, programs and equipment purchases by youth-run organizations, and those with programs that benefit youth or promote development in agriculture, community leadership, vocational training and peer fellowship. Past funded projects include workforce development programs, seminars and field trips, agricultural safety training, capital projects and equipment purchases aimed at leading students to opportunities in agriculture and building the future workforce that Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry needs to succeed. Applications for these grants will be accepted through Sept. 30. You can find guidelines and application details here. YCAL annual recognition receptionIt was an honor to attend the York County Alliance for Learning’s (YCAL) annual meeting and recognition reception to celebrate the many businesses and school districts who come together and make connections between educators and employers to engage students in career education and development. YCAL is a one-of-a-kind organization that is making a difference! Thanks to Penn State York for hosting the event! You can view more photos from this event here. National article reviews efforts at state level to address ransomware in governmentI recently spoke with a reporter at The Record Media to review legislation I am sponsoring to make the Commonwealth proactive when it comes to securing sensitive data it stores on taxpayers. We have seen a massive spike in cyberattacks targeting both the public and private sectors. We have also seen adversaries use ransomware attacks to extract significant sums of money to be used for nefarious purposes. My legislation, which the Senate approved this session, bans the government from paying ransomware demands. You can learn more about my efforts and other efforts across the country by reading this article. Have you provided input on my latest legislative survey on EV charging stations?While I am soliciting feedback from our community on whether taxpayers and/or ratepayers should subsidize electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, I read interesting articles about California Gov. Gavin Newsom asking residents to avoid charging EVs at certain hours during the ongoing heatwave along the west coast. This is as California legislators approved legislation that would ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. My latest legislative survey asks for your input on whether taxpayers or electric utility ratepayers should pay to subsidize a buildout of more EV charging stations in Pennsylvania. What do you think? I have received hundreds of responses and look forward to sharing the results with you later this month. Free webinars help new hunters enjoy this Pennsylvania traditionThe Pennsylvania Game Commission is hosting free webinars allowing new hunters to ask questions of biologists, game wardens and experienced hunters about the best, safest ways to participate in this Pennsylvania tradition. Register here for upcoming webinars covering archery deer and pheasant hunting. The page includes past webinars on “Hunting Tips & Tactics,” “Getting Started” and other topics. SpiriTrust Lutheran residents visit state CapitolIt was an honor to host residents visiting the state Capitol from SpiriTrust Lutheran. In addition to their normal tour of the building, we had a great discussion about the history of the Senate Chamber. You can view more photos of their visit here. If you and/or your family or group are ever interested in touring the state Capitol building, please let me know! How our office can assist youThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my team and I were able to assist more than 1,600 residents navigate and expedite claims with our state’s unemployment compensation system (as many hardworking taxpayers were forced to the unemployment line through unilateral business shutdowns by the governor). As a reminder, we are here to make state government more accessible and helpful to YOU. Listed below are several constituent services available to you:
Please do not hesitate to contact our offices (listed below, or online here) with any questions, comments or concerns. Local job postingsPA CareerLink shared with me its latest list of local job openings, which you can view here. You can also find job postings shared with the York County Economic Alliance here. You can also access all school district job openings across the 28th Senatorial District here. Upcoming PennDOT maintenance projectsYou can view PennDOT’s list of scheduled maintenance projects for next week below. Office closed for Labor DayPlease be advised that our offices will be closed on Monday, September 5, in observance of Labor Day. I hope you and your family enjoy the weekend. I look forward to seeing folks at the Jacobus Street Fair on Monday. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 6, at 9 a.m. |
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