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In this update:
Join Us at the Laurel Fire Station Open House!
On Sunday, Oct. 13, from 12:30 – 4 p.m., the Laurel Fire Company #1 at 94 Schoolhouse Lane in Windsor will host its annual Open House. This family-friendly event is an excellent opportunity to meet local first responders, learn about fire safety, and enjoy activities for kids, delicious food, and raffles. I am excited to share that my team will be partnering with the Pennsylvania State Police to provide license plate replacement services during the event. If you have a damaged or worn license plate, be sure to bring your driver’s license and vehicle registration. Here are the details on the replacement services:
If you need to replace a damaged or worn license plate, be sure to bring your driver’s license and vehicle registration. If more than one name is on the registration, everyone will need to be present with their respective driver’s license. Don’t miss this opportunity to replace your damaged plates, learn about fire safety, and support your local fire department! See you on Sunday! Rabbi Melody Davis Delivers Inspiring Senate Prayer, Reflecting on Oct. 7 Terrorist Attacks
This week, I had the honor of introducing Rabbi Melody Davis from Temple Beth Israel and Ohev Sholom Congregation as our guest chaplain in the Senate. Accompanied by her husband Edwin, Rabbi Davis offered the Senate a heartfelt prayer with words of compassion and strength. You can find her prayer here. Later in the day, I took time to reflect on the victims of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on the people of Israel, and hope for the safe return of the hostages. As Americans, we must continue to stand for the right to worship freely, without fear of prejudice or persecution. You can watch my remarks here. Recognizing Our Next Generation
I was humbled to join leaders at Central York School District and members of the community last week to congratulate the Spirit of Youth Award recipients. A big shout out to Central York Communities That Care for the hard work that goes into recognizing future leaders of York County and the people who have inspired them. You can find more photos from the event here. State of Animal Affairs in York County
I had the pleasure of attending the York County SPCA’s Second Annual State of Animal Affairs Summit, where we discussed key challenges and celebrated important milestones from the past year. The conversation highlighted the significant progress made in protecting and caring for animals in our community. I am eager to continue working with the SPCA and local partners to address these issues and ensure the well-being of animals across York County. You can find more photos from the event here and learn more about the York County SPCA here. PA’s Credit Rating Upgraded Because of Strong Budget Reserves
Pennsylvania received yet another upgrade to its credit rating because of strong budget reserves and prudent financial management of Senate Republicans. Moody’s Investor Services raised the rating to Aa2. The announcement was the fourth significant upgrade to the state’s financial outlook in the past 13 months. Previous upgrades helped Pennsylvania and its taxpayers save nearly $100 million during the December 2023 bond sale. Senate Republicans have been dedicated to building the state’s Rainy Day Fund, allocating nearly $740 million more in this year’s budget – bringing the total balance to more than $7 billion. Above the national average, the fund directly influenced the rating upgrades. ICYMI: “SPEED”ing Up Pennsylvania’s Economy
My latest podcast episode features a conversation with the President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Luke Bernstein, to talk about the historic changes to our state’s permitting process that I championed as part of this year’s budget. You can find the podcast on Apple, Spotify, and on my YouTube channel. Act 1 of 2023 Will Make a Difference
Act 1 of 2023, a landmark law we passed in Pennsylvania, eliminates all costs associated with screening breast MRI, ultrasound, genetic testing and counseling for individuals at high risk of breast cancer who are insured under state-regulated plans. High-risk factors include a personal or family history of breast cancer, abnormal breast screenings or dense breast tissue. Individuals with gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, or those with a first-degree relative carrying these mutations, are also covered for additional screenings and genetic counseling. I joined my colleagues earlier this month to tout the importance of this new law that will save lives. The law will be fully in effect for all state-regulated insurance plans by the end of 2025, though many plans will begin coverage between 2024 and 2025. To find out if your plan qualifies, check with your insurer or employer’s human resources. For uninsured or underinsured women who need immediate screenings, Pennsylvania offers no-cost options through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Legislation to Combat AI-Generated Deepfake Images of Minors in PA Set for Enactment
Legislation to combat “deepfake” images of minors and child sexual abuse materials generated by artificial intelligence (AI) received final legislative approval and is set for enactment into law. Senate Bill 1213 addresses the alarming rise in AI-generated deepfake sexual images of children and non-consenting adults. Currently, Pennsylvania law makes it illegal to share intimate images without consent but does not clearly address the use of AI deepfake technology for this purpose. This gap in our law leaves many vulnerable to a new form of digital abuse. The bill also prohibits AI from being utilized to generate child sexual abuse material, previously referred to as “child pornography,” which is not currently prohibited under law. In August, police in Lancaster County launched an investigation into a case of artificially generated nude photos that use the faces of more than 20 female teenage students. The district attorney said that in some cases charges can’t be filed because the images don’t involve actual children. Senate Bill 1213 would close that loophole. Committee Reviews Impact of Housing on Health
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, which I chair, held a meeting earlier this week to receive a report requested by the House of Representatives to study the impact of housing on health. The report found several suggestions on how to reform social assistance programs to better integrate data sharing to find cost efficiencies and, in the big picture, cost-savings. You can read the report here. Senate Committee Votes to be Prepared for Natural Disasters
As hurricanes Helene and Milton remind us of the importance of being prepared to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee advanced three bills to support Pennsylvania’s emergency responders. All three bills now advance to the full Senate for consideration. House Bill 843 would establish a second urban search and rescue team in western Pennsylvania. Funding for the team was included in this year’s state budget. The bridge collapse and East Palestine train derailment demonstrated the need for emergency response in minutes, not hours. House Bill 1304 would update the language in the 911 Law to increase penalties for misuse of the 911 system and ensure communications service providers report service outages as specified by the Federal Communications Commission or Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. House Bill 2407 would update the state Fire and EMS Grant Program by enabling fire and EMS companies to use grants for preventative health measures, mental health awareness and treatment. The legislation also would allow testing after each of the four training modules that total 188 hours for the Firefighter 1 certification, as opposed to requiring firefighters to pass a cumulative test covering all modules as is currently the case. Finally, the bill would increase the thresholds that fire and EMS companies can borrow from the low-interest Fire and EMS Loan Program. Office Hours Next WeekIn observance of Columbus Day, my offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 14. Normal office hours will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 9 a.m. In addition, my mobile office will be in Penn Township next Thursday! Members of my team will be at the Penn Township Municipal Building located at 20 Wayne Ave., Hanover, PA 17331, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to assist on state-related matters.
Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects
Most weeks PennDOT shares with me its maintenance schedule for the week ahead. When it becomes available, you can view the full list here to see if it will impact you and your family. Share Your Feedback: What Do You Think of PennDOT’s Construction and Maintenance Services?
Motorists have until Tuesday, Oct. 22, to provide feedback regarding PennDOT’s construction and maintenance services via an online survey. The survey asks respondents how they receive PennDOT roadway information and how often PennDOT meets or exceeds expectations regarding construction and maintenance services. Respondents are also asked about experiences with reporting concerns to their department, and whether or how they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services.
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