Senator Phillips-Hill E-Newsletter

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In this update:

  • Honoring the Homecoming of Staff Sgt. Clifford Keeney
  • ICYMI: Protecting Property Owners from Eminent Domain Abuse
  • Look Out for Scams, Fraud and Theft During the Holiday Season
  • Touring Caterpillar’s East Coast Distribution Hub
  • Tips for Safe Winter Driving
  • Supporting Early Learning at KinderCare
  • Fishing Gift Vouchers, Licenses on Sale
  • Welcoming Local Students to the Capitol
  • Celebrating Local Leadership with York County Boroughs Association
  • College Application Period is Open
  • 7: Remembering a Day of Infamy
  • On Deck
  • Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects

Honoring the Homecoming of Staff Sgt. Clifford Keeney 

How blessed and fortunate we are to live in a community where people brave frigid weather on a holiday weekend to pay their final respects to a native son who made the ultimate sacrifice more than 80 years ago in defense of our great nation during World War II.

This weekend, our community gathered together to honor Staff Sgt. Clifford Keeney, whose remains were finally returned home after decades of uncertainty. The outpouring of support from neighbors, Veterans, and local families was a powerful reminder of the deep respect we hold for those who served and sacrificed.

I am profoundly grateful to the Keeney family for allowing us to join them as they mourned his loss, honored his extraordinary service, and celebrated his long-awaited homecoming. York County will never forget Staff Sgt. Keeney’s bravery, nor the price he paid for our freedom.

May his memory continue to be a blessing and an enduring reminder of the heroes who shaped our nation’s history. You can learn more here.

ICYMI: Protecting Property Owners from Eminent Domain Abuse

In case you missed it, we released a new episode of Kristin’s Corner featuring my colleague Sen. Cris Dush for an in-depth discussion on eminent domain: why it matters, how it’s been misused, and what we as lawmakers are doing to protect property owners across Pennsylvania.

You can listen to our conversation on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

Our conversation comes at the perfect time: I just introduced new legislation to strengthen protections for families and farmers facing eminent domain proceedings.

If you care about private property rights and government accountability, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Look Out for Scams, Fraud and Theft During the Holiday Season

The holiday shopping season is prime opportunity for scams, fraud and theft. Some of the most common scams to be on the lookout for include bait-and-switch scams, skimming devices and fraudulent “cybersquatting” websites.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday offered several tips to prevent scammers from taking advantage when shopping online:

  • Watch out for bait-and-switch scams, where a retailer lures customers with a low price — but then substitutes a product that either costs more or is less desirable. Also be alert for scammers, known as cybersquatters, who use fraudulent internet domains that look and sound like legitimate brands or stores to trick unsuspecting customers.
  • Be especially careful when paying for services or items with wire transfers, cryptocurrency or money orders. Scammers may also ask for payment for things like bills, parking tickets, etc. via a gift card, which is a big red flag — a gift card is not a normal payment method for these items.
  • Do not provide your Social Security number or bank account information and be wary of emails and texts you didn’t request.
  • Read the fine print. “Buy Now, Pay Later” services could have hidden fees or penalties in their agreements.

The Attorney General’s Office has set up a Scams Complaint Form residents can fill out should they encounter any scams. The FBI also provides tips on how to avoid holiday scams and identify skimming devices, which are estimated to cost consumers and financial institutions more than $1 billion per year.

Touring Caterpillar’s East Coast Distribution Hub

I had the opportunity to tour Caterpillar’s cutting-edge 1.1 million sq. ft. distribution center in Springettsbury Township that serves as a major East Coast hub supporting the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This facility operates around the clock to ensure parts and equipment move efficiently across the country, all while maintaining Caterpillar’s high standards for product integrity.

With more than 350 employees on-site and a nationwide need for more than 3,500 technicians, our discussion underscored a growing workforce demand in skilled trades and logistics. These family-sustaining career paths are essential to strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy, supporting local businesses, and ensuring that major employers like Caterpillar can continue to grow right here in our community.

A special thank you to Robby Bruder, Senior Manager of Logistics, for the informative tour and thoughtful conversation about workforce development, training needs across the industry, and the safeguards in place to maintain quality from the warehouse to the customer.

Tips for Safe Winter Driving

Last winter, there were more than 8,320 vehicle crashes statewide, with 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways and 29 fatalities – 17 of those fatalities were attributed to crashes where a driver was going too fast for conditions and drove out of their lane.

For safe travels this winter, check out the Winter Driving Guide and other suggestions from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, such as keeping an emergency kit handy.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. Free and available 24 hours a day, 511PA provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras.

Supporting Early Learning at KinderCare 

Recently, I had the pleasure of touring KinderCare in East York, where early learning and childcare come together to support working families across our community. From nurturing classrooms to passionate, dedicated educators, it’s clear that KinderCare is helping build a strong foundation for our youngest learners. The facility continues to earn some of the highest achievements in early childhood education, reflecting the trust and confidence of the families they serve.

I was grateful for the warm welcome and the opportunity to read “Duck for President” to a very engaged group of students.

To Center Director Kusor Michelle and the entire team: thank you for your commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment for children each day. Please keep up the extraordinary work you’re doing for York County families. You can learn more about their program here.

Fishing Gift Vouchers, Licenses on Sale

Gift vouchers for your favorite angler, along with Pennsylvania fishing licenses and launch permits, are now available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Items for the upcoming 2026 season can be purchased at HuntFish.pa.gov or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents. Licenses, permits and vouchers purchased now are valid immediately for up to 13 months, from Dec. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026.

While in-person retail purchases remain popular, online purchases can save time and help you avoid long lines, especially right before the spring trout season, which begins statewide on Sat., April 4, 2026. Customers can choose an auto-renew option at the time of purchase.

Welcoming Local Students to the Capitol 

Visits from Loganville–Springfield and Leaders Heights from Dallastown Area School District and North Hills from Central York School District made for a wonderful morning at the Capitol earlier this week. The students brought great energy, thoughtful questions, and a genuine curiosity about how their state government works.

A highlight for many was seeing the Capitol Christmas tree being decorated, adding a festive surprise to their tour! You can find more photos from the visits on my Facebook page.

Celebrating Local Leadership with York County Boroughs Association

Thank you to the York County Boroughs Association for the invitation to attend the 95th Annual Dinner and Awards Meeting at Heritage Hills Resort. It was a wonderful evening celebrating the dedicated leaders who serve our boroughs and honoring this year’s award recipients!

Events like this highlight the strong partnerships and community commitment that make York County such a great place to live and work. Congratulations to all who were recognized for their service and accomplishments! You can find more photos from the evening here.

College Application Period is Open

The application period for most colleges is now open. If the process is new to you, you can find plenty of resources for the college planning and application process here.

Find out which colleges have your major, as well as information for students with disabilities, Veterans and adult students.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency can help you access student financial aid services, including grants, loans and other funding opportunities, including the new Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program.

Dec. 7: Remembering a Day of Infamy

Each year on Dec. 7, we remember the 2,403 service members and civilians killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships and destroyed 188 aircraft.

We remember not just the surprise attack, but the steely resolve of Americans to do whatever it took to defeat the Axis forces of World War II.

On Deck

The Senate of Pennsylvania reconvenes Monday, Dec. 8, at 3 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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