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In this Update:
Coffee with Camera
The priorities I represent in Harrisburg are a result of conversations I have shared with residents throughout the district and knowing what matters to people helps me most effectively vote on their behalf. I am inviting residents of the 46th Senatorial District to participate in state-related coffee chat THIS Monday, March 2 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at RGB Coffee in Waynesburg, 30 N Washington St, Waynesburg, PA 15370. Coffee and refreshments are provided and registration is not required. Focus on the 46th
67 different fire companies, emergency medical services, and rescue squads in the 46th Senatorial District received a total of $934,266 through the Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program. This program is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner and is available annually. You can review the entire statewide list of awardees by clicking this link.
Congratulations to Perry Township in Greene County for receiving an $85,198 Statewide Local Share Account (LSA) grant for upgrades to the Mt. Morris Community Center. This funding will support critical improvements, including a new roof, upgraded doors, installation of a generator, and bathroom renovations to address safety and accessibility concerns, ensuring this important community hub can continue serving residents for years to come. I was proud to support Township Supervisor Frankie Basile and Township Secretary Chris Kendall as they worked very hard to secure this highly competitive grant. Their dedication to the community truly made the difference. And a heartfelt thank you to everyone at the Community Center for the incredibly warm welcome and celebration – it absolutely brightened my day!
I recently had a wonderful visit to Jefferson-Morgan Elementary School and had the pleasure of presenting a Senate Citation to the incredible Madeline Loring in recognition of being named the 2026 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year. During my visit, I saw firsthand why she is deserving of the title just by walking through her classroom door. Madeline presented her students with a unique and fun way to learn decimal-to-fraction conversion. This wasn’t just a math lesson; it was hands-on, creative, and full of energy. Thank you to Dr. Brandon Robinson, Superintendent, for fostering an environment where teachers like Madeline can innovate and students can truly flourish. You can watch my visit to her classroom to learn more about her award and unique way of engaging her students by tapping or clicking the image above.
I appreciated the invitation to take part in the 3rd Annual Intermediate Unit 1 Legislative Forum. I always enjoy visiting IU1, but this event stood out as especially meaningful. Students from schools across the region arrived ready with thoughtful questions about the issues that matter most to them, such as advice to those who want to become leaders, the role of AI in education and their futures, and, of course, cell phones in school! Their confidence, curiosity, and respectful attention were truly impressive. Thank you to the educators and staff who made this forum possible, and to the outstanding students from Greene, Fayette, and Washington counties who joined the conversation. The future looks bright when young leaders are this involved.
It was a pleasure touring Havencrest Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Monongahela and meeting the new ownership team, who acquired the facility last April and have already made a real difference. This team has been slowly acquiring and rehabilitating failing centers throughout Pennsylvania and other states. What stood out to me was how the partners have approached taking over the facilities – never taking a dollar out, not even a rent check and just pouring money back into the care for the patients. Havencrest is part of Core Healthcare, which is led by a Pennsylvania team that really understands our communities. The owners see themselves as long-term operators, not short-term investors. They are not here to flip properties, but to build something lasting. Since taking over, they have reinvested in the facility, improved the culture, and focused on stability. What really makes Havencrest special is its people. Every employee is local, and there is no agency staffing. These are neighbors caring for neighbors. Staff are paid well, supported, and valued, and you can see that in the quality of care residents get. I’m grateful I got to see the positive changes happening right here at home.
I also recently toured COLTrx in Southpointe. This pharmacy grew out of Asti’s South Hills Pharmacy, which has been a trusted part of the community since 2005. COLTrx stands out because they are changing what pharmacy care can look like. They help nearly 1,000 patients in long-term care, assisted living, and private homes. Many of these patients depend on complex medication routines to stay independent. COLTrx uses a multi-dose packaging system that sorts medications by time of day, making it much easier for families to manage. For many adult children caring for aging parents, COLTrx is truly a lifeline. The technology at COLTrx is advanced. They use robotics to sort and package medications accurately, and vision systems to photograph and check every dose. AI helps review orders to boost efficiency, but people still oversee the process. What really makes COLTrx special, though, are the pharmacists and technicians. They know their patients by name, call to check in, keep track of refills, and sometimes are the only person a patient talks to that day. COLTrx is one of the few pharmacies in our area with hospital-grade sterile and non-sterile hazardous-compounding labs. Compounding means they can make custom medications, like pediatric formulas, hormone therapies, veterinary prescriptions, pain creams, and even sterile injectables and eye medications. These are prepared in FDA-standard clean rooms with backup power and strict air-handling systems. This is pharmacy care at its safest and most accountable. I’m proud to have this kind of excellence right here in the 46th District. By the way, they chose the name COLTrx because CO stands for “compounding,” and LT for “long-term care.”
This week we gathered to kick off Washington County’s Semiquincentennial celebration alongside America250PA, honoring the important role our county played in the founding of our nation. During the Revolutionary War, at a time when supporting independence carried very real risk, the people living here chose to stand with General Washington and the cause of liberty. In 1781, our Commonwealth honored the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army by establishing this county as the first in America to bear the name of George Washington. You can watch highlights from the event by tapping or clicking the image above. Preventing Food Allergies Cuts Costs for Families, Taxpayers
I welcomed the PA Senate Majority Policy Committee to Canonsburg for a public hearing on preventing childhood food allergies. Chaired by Senator David G. Argall, the committee heard clear testimony from medical experts: more than 80% of peanut and egg allergies can be prevented through early introduction. Today, 1.3 million Pennsylvanians live with a food allergy. Rates have climbed 50% in the past two decades, and peanut allergies alone have surged 300%. We heard from advocates like Kelly Cleary and Dr. Mary Clare Maninang-Ocampo of Penn Highlands Pediatrics, who highlighted both the science behind prevention and the access challenges facing rural families. That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 978 to require no-cost insurance coverage for early peanut and egg introduction supplements for infants. Preventive care will improve children’s health, ease the burden on families, reduce long-term costs, and support Pennsylvania agriculture. You can watch the entire hearing by tapping or clicking the image above. Key Points from This Week’s Senate Budget Hearings
Efforts to trim the governor’s $53.3 billion proposed state budget – which would spend $2.7 billion (5.4%) more than the current budget – got underway this week with Senate budget hearings. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee focused on containing the growing cost of Medicaid and other entitlement programs and how to identify and eliminate fraud during the hearing with the Department of Human Services, the highest-spending agency in the state budget. The department requests a 6.6% increase for 2026-27. The committee also questioned officials from the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Pennsylvania State Police about missing revenue, funding projections, cracking down on new, more sophisticated fake IDs and more. DGS seeks an 11.8% spending increase for 2026-27 and the State Police’s proposed budget is more than 9% higher than the current fiscal year. You can go here to find recaps of every budget hearing, plus video and a schedule of remaining hearings, which run through March 5. Hearing Explores Ideas to Combat State Housing Crisis
Efforts to make housing more attainable for working families were reviewed during a Senate hearing with local government officials, housing advocates, builders and developers. The Senate Majority Policy Committee heard how housing shortages drive up costs for Pennsylvanian families and stall economic growth. Among the solutions explored were infrastructure partnership programs to help lower upfront development costs, state tax credits, development incentives and bond financing specifically targeted to middle-income housing development, and more. Forming a robust strategy to increase housing supply, lower costs and stimulate economic activity is a key focus for the Senate this year. Video of the full hearing and written testimony can be viewed here. Share Your Thoughts with the Highway Safety Survey
Pennsylvania motorists have until Saturday to provide input on traffic safety and driving behaviors through an anonymous online survey. The aim is to understand attitudes on state Department of Transportation safety measures and reduce crashes and fatalities. The survey takes about five minutes to complete. The number of people who lost their lives on Pennsylvania highways decreased to 1,127 in 2024, the second lowest since record keeping began in 1928. While 2025 fatality data is not yet complete, preliminary numbers indicate crash fatalities have again decreased. Record-Breaking Unclaimed Property Returns to PA Residents
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that the Pennsylvania Treasury Department returned more unclaimed property in 2025 than ever before: $334.1 million. Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks, and more. Property is always available for the rightful owner to claim. Tangible property – often the contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes – may be auctioned after three years, but proceeds remain available to claim perpetuity. Among the reasons for the record property returns was the General Assembly’s passage of a law that allows Treasury to automatically return unclaimed property valued up to $500. In the program’s first year, nearly $50 million was returned this way. To see if any unclaimed property is available for you, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property. Saturday is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
School bus drivers play a critical role in the safety and well-being of students, but shortages of these vital workers can disrupt schedules and learning. Thank you to all the men and women performing this critical task in our area. Individuals interested in becoming a school bus driver can visit the commonwealth’s Become a School Bus Driver webpage or the School Bus Hero website to learn more.
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