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In this Update:
Senate Votes to Cut Taxes and Put PA Families First
I have supported legislation to dramatically decrease costs for Pennsylvania families by cutting taxes on electric bills and school supplies. House Bill 1667 makes up the largest tax cut in Pennsylvania history. The proposal would eliminate the gross receipts tax on electric bills and require utility companies to pass the reduction on to consumers, saving ratepayers more than $1.7 billion over the first year. It would also implement a two-week sales tax holiday in August for school supplies, such as book bags, crayons, textbooks and tablets. The Senate action comes at a time when Pennsylvania families are laser-focused on the issue of affordability. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Harrisburg Happenings
The Senate this week passed my bipartisan legislation that aids law enforcement’s ability to respond more effectively during Amber Alerts and missing person investigations. Senate Bill 1273 clarifies that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission may share time-sensitive information collected through its automated tolling system with law enforcement in specific situations. This includes cases involving Amber Alerts and Missing Endangered Person Advisory System alerts, where rapid access to vehicle data can be critical. You can watch my floor remarks by tapping or clicking the image above. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
My legislation to protect family-inherited property and preserve generational wealth advanced unanimously from the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Senate Bill 890 would establish the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, offering safeguards for families who inherit property without a will or estate plan. Under current law, inherited property owned jointly by multiple heirs is vulnerable if one owner sells their share or initiates a court-ordered partition. Often, these properties are sold at auction below market value, causing families to lose significant equity and generational wealth. The legislation applies only to heirs’ property, which is real estate inherited through family succession when there is no written agreement among all owners on how to divide the property. Senate Bill 890 now moves to the full Senate for consideration. You can watch my remarks during the Judiciary Committee hearing by tapping or clicking the image above.
I was proud to join my colleagues in the Senate Gas and Oil Caucus and the American Petroleum Institute Pennsylvania in advocating for policies that strengthen Pennsylvania’s robust natural gas and oil industry this week on the Capitol rotunda stairs. You can watch my remarks by tapping or clicking the image above. You can watch the entire press conference on my website by clicking this link.
This month, the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance held its 50th Annual Prevention Conference in Harrisburg, and two incredibly hardworking members of the Greene County Drug & Alcohol Prevention Program made the trip. Tracie Sypin (pictured right) and Shanna Meyers (pictured left) were kind enough to stop by my office to say hello. These women are doing important work to support individuals and families throughout Greene County, and I appreciate their dedication to our communities.
Earlier this month, a scheduling conflict prevented me from meeting with Craig Hodgkins, MSGT USMC (Ret.), and his amazing service dog, Foxy, in person. Fortunately, my Chief of Staff, Katrina, welcomed them for me during Working Animal Appreciation Day at the State Capitol. Foxy is a 7-year-old Long Haired German Shepherd who was specially trained to help Craig with medical challenges after he retired from the United State Marine Corps. Their connection is truly special. In 2021, Foxy woke Craig from a medicated deep sleep to alert him to a fire in their apartment building, giving him time to find safety. It’s easy to see why Foxy was named Service Dog of the Year in 2022. Her loyalty, intelligence and dedication show just how much service animals can change the lives of our veterans. Craig and Foxy visited the Capitol with Thomas Anderson of Life Changing Service Dogs for Veterans. Together, they helped raise awareness and appreciation for the amazing work these animals do every day. Focus on the 46th
The Impact Fee tax on unconventional natural gas wells will once again deliver millions of dollars in funding to communities and projects throughout the 46th Senatorial District, including Washington and Greene counties and parts of Beaver County. Impact Fee taxes are levied in addition to regular business taxes paid by every corporation in Pennsylvania. The disbursements were based on a formula established in Act 13 of 2012 to ensure communities affected by drilling receive their fair share of funding for projects such as road and bridge repairs, housing and other infrastructure needs. The Impact Fee tax provides funding to the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which in turn has generated nearly $38 million in grants for the 46th Senatorial District. Washington and Greene counties remain among the top recipients of Impact Fee revenue statewide, and three municipalities in the 46th District ranked among the top six in Pennsylvania for Impact Fee distributions this year.
I recently gathered representatives from Penn Highlands Mon Valley, the Washington County Commissioners, and Washington County Human Services to discuss how Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act (MHPA) is carried out, especially when it comes to Involuntary Emergency Examination and Treatment (Section 302 of MHPA) by Penn Highlands physicians. The meeting provided an opportunity to clarify responsibilities and ensure everyone has a better understanding of the procedures involved.
We continue to see great progress at the Mon Valley Alliance Alta Vista Business Park in Fallowfield Township, and it’s exciting to watch new tenants move in. Congratulations to Spaleck USA, a fifth-generation company that makes innovative vibrating screening technology for the recycling, chemical, food and stone industries, on opening operations in the 46th District. This project received $2 million through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), which is helping to bring new investment, jobs and economic growth to the Mon Valley.
It was my pleasure to deliver a new American Flag to Library Director Lorie Rogers Celaschi of the Charleroi Area Public Library ahead of America’s 250th birthday.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by my shredding event earlier this month. 68 cars and 11 total totes of sensitive documents (and junk) were shredded and recycled! I have another event coming up August 1. More details on that soon!
I was elated to help surprise Dr. Jeannine French and celebrate her retirement as superintendent. She received several proclamations, and I was honored to present her with a Senate Citation in recognition of her outstanding service to Peters Township School District and the countless students, families, teachers, and staff whose lives she has impacted throughout her career. The room was filled with love and appreciation. Colleagues, community leaders, friends, and family all showed how much Dr. French’s leadership has meant. Everyone there truly admired her and wanted to wish her the best. Thank you, Dr. French, for your dedication, your commitment to education, and the positive impact you’ve had. Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement, and best wishes as you begin this new chapter! Reducing the Backlog in PA Rape Kit Testing
For years, Pennsylvania has worked to reduce the backlog of untested rape kits and to ensure survivors of sexual assault are treated with the urgency and dignity they deserve. We passed a 2024 law to move forward with a statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system so survivors can better understand where their kit is in the process. During the implementation of the system, inconsistency on collection of kits were found from one jurisdiction to another. Senate Bill 1212 establishes a clear, statewide expectation that sexual assault evidence that has been collected should be treated consistently. The measure was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about the latest action to reduce the backlog in rape kit testing here. Cutting Red Tape for Charities
The Senate voted to update charitable financial reporting requirements to better reflect the resources of nonprofits. The change would ensure transparency without imposing an unnecessary burden that undermines the charity’s mission. Senate Bill 1183 would update the level of financial review required for charitable organizations based on the amount of annual contributions they receive. Reviews range from independent CPA audits for larger nonprofits to no reviews or audits for smaller ones. The thresholds have not been updated since 2017. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about updating charitable audit requirements here. Why Do PA Energy Costs Remain High?
A topic I hear often about from constituents is skyrocketing electric rates. Here’s what’s driving this frustrating trend: Pennsylvania is the number one exporting state in the nation for net electricity. We’re the energy hub for the 13 states that are part of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland grid, known as PJM. Without Pennsylvania’s reliable energy sources, including natural gas, coal and nuclear power, states like Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia would literally be in the dark. They don’t produce nearly enough reliable baseload power for their own needs. The Shapiro Price Cap With the Shapiro Price Cap in place, every state is paying the same: $330 per megawatt day, meaning Pennsylvania families and employers are paying MORE while people in Virginia and Maryland are paying LESS. If we want lower electricity rates, we must require other states to do their fair share or pay more to help keep the PJM grid viable. Click here to read more about why energy costs remain high for Pennsylvanians. Free Barbecue Picnic for Veterans and Service Members on July 17
I would like to invite veterans, active duty service members, and their families of the 46th District to attend my fifth annual veterans appreciation barbecue picnic on Friday, July 17, from 5-7 p.m. at the Stone Pavilion in Washington Park. This picnic is an opportunity to thank the men and women who have sacrificed their time and put their lives on hold to defend our great country. Of course, it is also about their families, who lived without their loved ones, often in fear for their safety when they were gone. I encourage all veterans and active duty members of the 46th District and their spouses to attend. Space is limited, so veterans and their families are asked to RSVP by Thursday, July 9. You can register online by clicking this link. You can also call my district office to register and ask for more information at 724-225-4380. |
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