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In this Update:
Wishing You a Happy and Healthy New Year
As we turn the calendar page on another eventful year, I want to wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2026. May the new year bring you joy and success, shared with those you love. Focus on the 46th
It was truly a pleasure to present Donald Towner, Jr. of the California Volunteer Fire Department with a Senate Citation recognizing an incredible 50 years of dedicated service to our community. Since joining the department in December 1975, Don has served with great skill and unwavering commitment as both a firefighter and Chief Engineer. For five decades, he has worked tirelessly to protect the health, safety, and welfare of his fellow citizens – often answering the call under difficult and dangerous circumstances, without hesitation or expectation of recognition. Congratulations, Don, on this richly deserved honor. Thank you for 50 years of selfless service, and best wishes for continued happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.
I was also thrilled to present my friend Terry Wiltrout with a well-deserved Retirement Citation from the Senate of Pennsylvania. Terry has served in the medical industry for more than 31 years, spending the last 10 at UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene, where he retired as Vice President of Operations. Terry has brought so much to this role, and I have truly enjoyed working with him on many projects over the years. Most recently, he led the effort behind a new emergency entrance at UPMC Greene, which I was proud to support with funding. Rural hospitals are vital lifelines, often providing the sole access to emergency, primary, and long-term care for nearly 20% of Americans. They improve health outcomes, help prevent deaths, and serve as key economic drivers by providing jobs, supporting local businesses, and strengthening local tax bases.
I recently stopped by to visit my friend and Mount Pleasant Township Manager, Stacey Andronas, and to present a Senate Certificate to Supervisor Gary Farner, who is retiring at the end of the year. Municipal leadership is crucial because it directly shapes a community’s quality of life by managing daily services, setting policy, fostering economic growth, and building community resilience. Local leaders help ensure residents have safe, functioning, and thriving environments while serving as the vital link between citizens and higher levels of government. Strong leaders create a shared vision, balance tradition with innovation, and effectively address complex challenges. Thank you, Gary, for your years of dedication and commitment to your community – and thank you to all of our municipal leaders who work tirelessly to make southwestern Pennsylvania a great place to live, work, and play. Pictured is Stacey, filling in for Gary.
We also celebrated our dear friend Kathy McClure’s retirement after 31 years – 20 of them as Executive Director – at the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library in beautiful downtown Waynesburg. Kathy has been a fixture at the library and throughout the Waynesburg community for years, and it was my pleasure to present her with a citation, as well as a keepsake of the wonderful article that appeared in the local paper. Kathy is a tireless champion of the library and literacy, whether it is in the halls of the Capitol in Harrisburg or at the start of the Christmas Parade in Waynesburg, Kathy is always working to make her community a better place. The library has seen many changes and upgrades during Kathy’s tenure, and with the help of a dedicated board, excellent staff, and a committed community, the Bowlby Public Library remains a strong and vibrant part of Greene County. A special thank you to Lisa Belding, board president, for hosting the special ceremony honoring Kathy’s retirement.
I want to thank the senior leadership team at Aquatech for taking the time to meet with me, walk me through your manufacturing shop to see how you build and assemble highly specialized systems, and tour the laboratory. The work you’re doing at your headquarters right here in Canonsburg is truly impressive! At its core, Aquatech specializes in treating, reusing, and recycling water for industrial processes, helping companies reduce freshwater consumption, minimize wastewater discharge, and comply with environmental regulations. Its work spans water reuse, desalination, zero-liquid-discharge systems, and long-term operation and maintenance of facilities. The company has earned global recognition, including being named Water Company of the Year by Global Water Intelligence and Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce. They are demonstrating how advanced manufacturing and technology can thrive in southwestern Pennsylvania. I’m proud to support companies like Aquatech that are investing in our region, strengthening our economy, and helping solve some of the world’s most complex challenges. Speaking on Civility and Growth at the PMA Annual Seminar
I was incredibly honored to be invited to speak at the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association’s 44th Annual PMA Seminar and Luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in New York City, a truly distinguished event during Pennsylvania Society weekend. This year’s program brought together an exceptional group of Pennsylvania leaders from business, government, education, and industry to share their insights on the challenges, opportunities, and priorities shaping the future of our commonwealth. Being part of that conversation, alongside so many thoughtful and accomplished voices, was both humbling and energizing. In my remarks, I focused on something I believe is absolutely essential to Pennsylvania’s success: civility. Civility does not mean abandoning principles or avoiding tough conversations. It means listening, respecting different perspectives, and working together to move Pennsylvania forward. Manufacturing has long been the backbone of our economy, and its future depends not only on smart policy and innovation, but on leaders who are willing to collaborate in good faith. I am grateful to PMA for creating a space where that kind of dialogue still matters and still happens. Grow PA Scholarship Grant Applications Available SOON
The Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program – created by Senate Republicans – offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification for an in-demand occupation. The application period for grants is expected to open in early February, with funding awarded on a first come, first served basis. To qualify for the grant, applicants must agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation. Grant recipients will be required to live and work in Pennsylvania for 12 months for each year they receive the grant. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the grant converting to a loan requiring repayment. Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). You can monitor Grow PA Scholarship updates by using this link. 2025 Review: Improving Pennsylvania Health Care
Healthy and safe communities are one of my top priorities. The Senate passed several measures in 2025 aimed at improving health care across Pennsylvania. Legislation of note included bills expanding no-cost breast cancer screening, saving lives from overdoses and preserving prescription drug coverage for seniors. The Senate also acted to alleviate staffing shortages in long-term care facilities, expand access to high-quality maternity services, and more. As we enter the second year of the 2025-26 legislative session, I’ll continue working to improve access to affordable, quality health care. Read more about health care legislation and other important bills here. Heating Assistance Program Now Open
Residents who struggle with their home heating bills can apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service. Learn about income eligibility and other details here. Apply online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS or by phone at 1-866-857-7095. The program runs through April 2026. PA Treasury Mails Nearly 100,000 Money Match Checks Check your mailboxes, because the Pennsylvania Treasury Department recently mailed nearly 100,000 Pennsylvania Money Match checks totaling more than $22 million. Treasurer Stacy Garrity urges those who receive a check to cash or deposit it immediately – this is a real program, and this money belongs to Pennsylvanians. Money Match, a law that went into effect in 2025, allows the Pennsylvania Treasury to return single-owner unclaimed property valued at $500 or less automatically without the need to search or file a claim. Money Match successfully returned $50 million in its first year and will continue issuing checks quarterly. More than one in 10 Pennsylvanians is owed some of the over $5 billion of unclaimed property in Treasury’s care. The average value of a claim is $1,000. Visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property to start searching. Watch Out for Black Ice
Nearly impossible to see, black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that forms on road surfaces creating a significant driving and walking hazard. It appears “black” because the dark color of the pavement or surface beneath shows through the clear ice. Black ice typically forms when air temperatures are at or just below freezing. Common locations are bridges and overpasses, shaded areas and low-traffic roads. Please proceed with caution in these conditions and get where you’re going safely. You can find other useful winter driving tips here.
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