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In this Update:

• Washington County Senior Expo Set for Sept. 24
• PennDOT Hosting Hiring Events in Washington and Greene Counties
• Focus on the 46th
• Bill Protecting Fairness in Women’s Sports Awaits House Action
• Treasury Launches New Financial Education Hub
• Avoiding Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
• Job Opportunities for Nurses at PA Veterans Homes
• Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Accepting Applications for 2027

Washington County Senior Expo Set for Sept. 24

The 2026 Washington County Senior Expo will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Washington County Fairgrounds. I am pleased to co-host this free event with state Rep. Tim O’Neal and Washington County Commissioners Nick Sherman, Electra Janis and Larry Maggi, in partnership with the Southwestern PA Area Agency on Aging.

More than 100 vendors and representatives from local, state and federal agencies are expected to participate. Attendees will have the opportunity to get information and have their questions answered on a wide range of issues, including Social Security, transportation, Medicare, legal services, in-home services, legislation, consumer protection, long-term care and utility services.

I encourage seniors and their families to join us for this valuable opportunity to connect with organizations and agencies that provide important services throughout our community. The event is free and open to the public.

PennDOT Hosting Hiring Events in Washington and Greene Counties

PennDOT District 12 is hosting two upcoming hiring events for individuals interested in joining the department and helping maintain our local roads and infrastructure. Events will be held at the Washington County Maintenance Office in Eighty-Four on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m., and at the Greene County Maintenance Office in Waynesburg on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 1 to 6 p.m.

Available positions include Transportation Equipment Operator A, which requires a CDL and offers a starting salary of $23.46 per hour, and Diesel Construction Equipment Mechanic, with a starting salary of $28.94 per hour. Commonwealth recruitment staff and hiring managers will be available at both events to answer questions, discuss available positions, and conduct applications and interviews onsite.

For questions about the Washington County event, contact Rebecca at 724-223-4485. Questions about the Greene County event can be directed to Michele at 724-627-6131. General questions about positions or the application process can be directed to Mary Machesky at 724-439-7353.

Focus on the 46th

It was an honor to recognize the Mount Morris Community Volunteer Fire Company as it celebrates 100 years of service to Perry Township and the surrounding communities. During the department’s recent open house, my staff member Eric presented a Senate Citation of Congratulations to Fire Chief Kris Osecky on my behalf.

Since 1926, the department’s volunteer firefighters have answered calls for fires, accidents, storms and medical emergencies at all hours. Their commitment extends well beyond emergency response, as they also help educate young people, train new firefighters and promote public safety throughout the community.

I am incredibly grateful to every member, past and present, who has dedicated their time and put themselves in harm’s way to protect their neighbors. A century of service is an extraordinary milestone, and the Mount Morris Community Volunteer Fire Company has earned the respect and gratitude of everyone it serves. Congratulations on 100 years!

I recently met with Dan McCarthy from Just Harvest, a Southwestern Pennsylvania organization working to fight hunger and improve access to healthy food. Amy Salmon, a longtime advocate for healthy food access and one of my constituents, also joined us for the conversation.

We discussed ways to make healthy, affordable food more accessible to families in our communities, as well as bipartisan legislation being proposed to strengthen EBT card security and help prevent families from having their benefits stolen. This is a serious concern. In 2024, the Office of the State Inspector General reported that more than $15 million in SNAP benefits were stolen using illegal devices placed on point-of-sale terminals to obtain EBT card information.

I appreciate Dan and Amy taking the time to share their perspectives and discuss practical ways we can help protect families and improve access to nutritious food.

I appreciated the opportunity to meet with residents from the UPMC Washington Family Medicine Residency Program and discuss the importance of advocacy in healthcare. For nearly 50 years, the program has trained physicians who go on to serve communities throughout our region in family medicine, urgent care and emergency medicine.

We had a thoughtful conversation about the challenges facing younger physicians, the impact legislation and regulations can have on healthcare, and what we can do to ensure Pennsylvania remains competitive and continues to attract and retain talented medical professionals.

Thank you to Dr. Monica Speicher and the entire residency program for taking the time to meet with me and for their continued investment in the next generation of physicians who will serve Southwestern Pennsylvania.

I recently toured AHN Suburban in Bellevue with state Reps. Jason Ortitay and Tim O’Neal, Intermediate Unit 1 Executive Director Dr. Don Martin, and IU1 Assistant to the Executive Director for Educational Programs Jenny Lent. Lena Hannah of IU1 invited us to see the facility and learn more about how this former hospital has been repurposed.

The more than 100-year-old facility now serves as a unique combination of a business incubator, healthcare innovation center and educational resource. AlphaLab Health, a partnership between Innovation Works and Allegheny Health Network, helps life sciences startups grow by providing access to clinicians, office space, laboratories and other support. We also saw how Northgate School District uses the building to provide students with internships, job experience and entrepreneurship opportunities. The tour included a commercial kitchen used for culinary training, a fitness center connecting students with physical therapy and research, and a greenhouse that produces approximately 200 heads of lettuce each week as part of a hands-on horticulture program.

Lena wanted us to see this model as possibilities are considered for the future of Canonsburg Hospital once the new facility is built. Whether a similar approach would be the right fit for Canonsburg remains to be seen, but it was encouraging to see how a large, fully equipped former hospital can be put to productive use rather than being left vacant or demolished. I appreciate everyone who took the time to share their experiences and ideas with us.

I would like to sincerely thank my two summer district interns, Nick Horgan and Allee Hoover, for the outstanding work they have done representing my office and serving the people of the 46th Senatorial District. Both have approached their responsibilities with professionalism, diligence and a strong work ethic, and they have been valuable members of our team.

Nick is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in political science and history at Robert Morris University and is expected to graduate next year. Allee is beginning her sophomore year at Penn State University–Main Campus, where she is studying agricultural and extension education and plans to minor in communications. Many may also recognize Allee as the 2024 West Alexander Fair Queen.

We are certainly sad to see their internships come to an end, but I am excited to see where their hard work and dedication take them. Thank you, Nick and Allee, for everything you have done for our office and the people we serve. It has been a pleasure having you as part of the #CameraCrew, and I wish you both the very best in the future!

Bill Protecting Fairness in Women’s Sports Awaits House Action

As students across Pennsylvania return to school, it is past time for the commonwealth to ensure fairness for women and girls taking part in collegiate and high school sports.

Earlier this year, at the urging of students and parents, the Senate approved bipartisan legislation – twice – to preserve opportunities for female athletes at public schools and colleges by requiring scholastic sports teams to be designated based on biological sex. Senate Bill 1293 would also allow students to take legal action if they are harmed by violations of this rule.

Month after month, the House of Representatives has avoided voting on this reasonable legislation grounded in fairness. The bill has been moved to multiple House committees in a series of parliamentary maneuvers to avoid a vote.

The longer the House delays, the more female athletes are at risk of being unfairly forced off the field or the winner’s podium. We must enact the Save Women’s Sports Act to restore common sense to scholastic sports.

Treasury Launches New Financial Education Hub

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the launch of the department’s online Financial Education Hub, a one-stop-shop of resources designed to help Pennsylvanians improve their financial literacy and make informed financial decisions.

The new hub brings together state and federal resources covering topics such as budgeting, saving, retirement planning, digital assets and cryptocurrencies. It also includes information on Treasury programs, like the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program, Keystone Scholars and PA ABLE.

Resources are organized for specific audiences including students, teachers, active military members, veterans and older adults. Visit the Financial Education Hub here.

Avoiding Student Loan Forgiveness Scams

Students and families take out significant loans to pay for higher education, which attracts scammers looking to exploit the situation.

“Act immediately to qualify for student loan forgiveness” is just one of the high-pressure loan forgiveness pitches used to trick borrowers into sharing personal information. Scammers will frequently request an up-front or monthly fee while promising immediate and total student loan cancellation. Most government forgiveness programs require years of qualifying payments or employment in certain fields before forgiving loans.

Be wary of aggressive language and check the source before clicking. Learn more about avoiding these scams here.

Job Opportunities for Nurses at PA Veterans Homes

Pennsylvania’s six veterans homes care for our neighbors who answered the call to serve. The homes offer levels of care tailored to the specific health needs of residents and are supplemented with an array of clinical services.

Pennsylvania veterans homes are looking to hire registered nurses and license practical nurses to provide the kind of care that will allow veterans to live an active and healthy life with as much independence as possible.

Learn more about these opportunities and apply here.

Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Accepting Applications for 2027

Teenagers in jeopardy of not graduating on time or dropping out of school have a chance at obtaining their basic education through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs’ Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy.

Applications are being accepted for its first class of 2027, which begins in January at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. There is no tuition cost to attend, and meals, housing, uniforms and school supplies are provided at no charge.

The program lasts for five-and-a-half months as a residential phase and 24 months of mentorship by academy staff back in home communities. Learn more about the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy and apply here.