View this email in a browser

In this Update:

• Harrisburg Happenings
• Focus on the 46th
• Department of Health Withdraws Overbearing Health Regulations After Public Outcry
• Senate Passes Measures to Boost Protection of Senior Citizens
• Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grants Available
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Don’t Miss Your Mammogram!

Harrisburg Happenings

I am pleased to see several pieces of legislation I have sponsored or supported moving forward. My legislation, Senate Bill 1422, was approved unanimously by the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of cell-cultured meat products in Pennsylvania. Our farmers have spent generations raising livestock and producing high-quality food, and I believe we should continue supporting the agricultural heritage and livelihoods that are so important to our Commonwealth.

I am also proud to see bipartisan legislation I introduced with Sen. Nick Pisciottano, Senate Bill 1328, advancing through the Senate Labor & Industry Committee. The bill would require electric utilities and their contractors to have automated external defibrillators readily available at utility and electrical worksites, including temporary and field locations. Lineworkers routinely work in dangerous conditions, and having an AED close at hand could be critical when every second matters.

Finally, I have joined Sen. Dan Laughlin as a co-sponsor of legislation he is proposing to prohibit the use of networked automated license plate reader systems in Pennsylvania. Many people have heard of Flock cameras, but Flock is just one of several companies producing this technology. I believe this is an important conversation about privacy, public safety and how these systems are used, and I look forward to reviewing the legislation as it moves forward.

It was great to welcome Christopher and Christine Musuneggi, constituents from my district, along with Greg Snyder, to my Harrisburg office during NAIFA-Pennsylvania’s “Day on the Hill.” I always appreciate the opportunity to meet with constituents and hear directly from the people who work in our communities.

NAIFA members from across Pennsylvania took the time to meet with legislative leaders and share their perspectives on the insurance and financial services industries. These conversations are important as we work to understand the challenges facing businesses and the people they serve. Thank you to Christopher, Christine, Greg and everyone with NAIFA-Pennsylvania for making your voices heard and for the work you do for Pennsylvanians every day.

The State Capitol Complex was filled with a little extra royalty during the third annual Fair Queen Advocacy Day, hosted by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. I was proud to welcome several outstanding young women from the 46th Senatorial District: West Alexander Fair Queen Keegan Mankey, Greene County Fair Queen Abigail Willis and Washington County Agricultural Fair Queen Grace Hutchin. Jacktown Fair Queen Kendra Tharp was unable to attend, and she was certainly missed.

You can watch my floor remarks introducing our guests by tapping or clicking the image above.

These young women are wonderful representatives of their communities and passionate ambassadors for Pennsylvania agriculture. I am grateful to the advisors, families and volunteers who support our local Fair Queen programs and help preserve this important tradition. Thank you as well to the PA Fair Queen Program and the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs for their continued work.

And Abigail, thank you for the beautiful gift commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Greene County Fair Queen Contest. It was a very thoughtful reminder of the generations of young women who have represented our agricultural communities with such pride.

Focus on the 46th

Yesterday, I visited the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) assisting residents and families impacted by the flooding events on Sept. 12 and Sept. 20. I wanted to help spread the word about this important resource and encourage those affected to take advantage of the assistance available.

The Washington County Department of Public Safety partnered with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to bring together a wide range of flood recovery resources in one location during the two-day event. I appreciate everyone who came together to help our neighbors navigate the recovery process and connect them with the resources they need.

Following the recent flooding, I joined South Strabane Township officials, their solicitor, the fire department, engineers and the Washington County Department of Public Safety to discuss the significant damage, including the large sinkhole that opened near the fire station.

The immediate priority is keeping the fire station and surrounding area safe, particularly with more rain in the forecast. We discussed temporary measures to stabilize the site while engineers work toward a permanent solution to address the deteriorating pipe and prevent additional erosion and damage. I also worked to bring the Department of Environmental Protection directly into the conversation so township officials could explain the situation firsthand and discuss potential assistance. We also identified other possible resources and funding opportunities to help with the significant cost of the repairs.

The recurring flooding problems facing Washington County require both immediate attention and a long-term plan. I met with City of Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess, Councilman Ken Westcott and City Engineer Sam Carroll to discuss what can be done now to help alleviate the flooding and what larger solutions may be needed going forward.

I appreciate their willingness to work together on this issue. I will continue looking for ways the Commonwealth can be a partner as we work toward solutions for the people of Washington.

Our volunteer fire departments and emergency service organizations are facing significant challenges, and I recently had the opportunity to hear directly from leaders in Jefferson and Morgan townships, Jefferson Borough, and Rices Landing and Clarksville boroughs at the Rices Landing Volunteer Fire Department.

One of the biggest concerns we discussed was funding. The costs of equipment, training, maintenance and emergency response continue to rise while many departments rely heavily on volunteers and community support. These men and women answer the call whenever their neighbors need help, often putting themselves in harm’s way without asking for anything in return.

I recently had the opportunity to tour the future SENAV Center in downtown Donora with Rev. Sylvester Kaunda of Vena Real Estate and Dr. Kait Brennan of KB Strategies. After more than three decades of living and working in the Mon Valley, I know how important it is to see new life brought back to our main streets.

This $3 million adaptive reuse project would transform the former hotel on McKean Avenue into a combination of affordable housing, commercial space and the Mon Valley’s first entrepreneur business center. The project would provide workspace and resources for small-business owners while also connecting residents with education and workforce opportunities.

I appreciated the chance to see the building firsthand, hear more about the team’s vision and discuss the Commonwealth funding landscape as this project moves forward. I look forward to continuing the conversation and doing what I can to support continued investment in Donora and throughout the Mon Valley.

My Fifth Annual Appreciation Barbecue was another wonderful opportunity to say something that can never be said enough: thank you to the Veterans, Active Duty Members and families of the 46th Senatorial District for your service and sacrifice. Seeing everyone come out, enjoy some good food and spend time together means so much to me.

A special thank you to Troy Hellen, a Desert Storm Veteran, his wife Lori and their daughter Mackenzie of What’s Smokin’ BBQ for once again doing an incredible job serving up the food. I am also grateful to VFW Memorial Park Post 764 for donating cupcakes, and to DJ JK, John Koval, who once again volunteered his talents to keep the music going throughout the evening.

What a wonderful afternoon it was celebrating America’s 250th Birthday with more than 300 seniors at the Greene County Senior Center Annual Picnic at Waynesburg Lions Club Park. We enjoyed great food, raffles and entertainment, but most importantly, we had the opportunity to celebrate the people who have helped make our communities what they are today.

My Outreach Director, Eric Cowden, even jumped in to help plate and serve lunch, which was a great example of the community spirit that made the day so special. I am grateful to everyone who helped make the event such a success.

A special thank you to Blueprints and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging for hosting this fantastic event and inviting us to be part of it.

Department of Health Withdraws Overbearing Health Regulations After Public Outcry

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Department of Health (DOH) withdrew proposed health regulations that would have vastly expanded state government’s power over the lives of Pennsylvanians, a tremendous victory for the grassroots efforts of commonwealth citizens. 

Shortly before the regulations were withdrawn, more than 10,000 citizens, school officials and others submitted comments to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission expressing their serious concerns. I joined my colleagues in a letter to the commission warning the changes would infringe on our constitutional rights. 

The proposed regulations would have given the state more power to enter homes and businesses without a warrant, speak to students without parents present, access private health records, unilaterally impose mask mandates and more. The DOH introduced the massive, 502-page regulatory overhaul without input from the public or the General Assembly.

Although these regulations were withdrawn, we must remain vigilant – the governor’s DOH could resubmit them at any time.

Senate Passes Measures to Boost Protection of Senior Citizens

The state Department of Aging has been under review by the Pennsylvania auditor general and inspector general over concerns for the well-being of seniors being taken care of by Pennsylvania’s 52 county-based Area Agencies on Aging (AAA).

The Senate approved legislation that would build on the release of Auditor General Tim DeFoor’s recent audit and implement proper safeguards for older Pennsylvanians.

Senate Bill 1376 would:

• Create training requirements for AAA staff currently being inadequately trained as identified in DeFoor’s audit.
• Establish department standards for how to handle each category of case before the AAA.
• Adopt performance metrics designed to adequately ensure older adults are receiving the services they are supposed to from their AAA.
• Outline a corrective action plan to put poor performing AAAs into compliance with the law and department standards and regulations. Learn more about Senate Bill 1376 here.

The Senate also passed legislation to update Pennsylvania’s Older Adult Protective Services Act to better protect seniors from financial abuse and scams.

The FBI ranked Pennsylvania ninth in total losses to fraud experienced by older adults in 2025. More than 7,000 seniors were defrauded of more than $200 million, representing a 43% jump from 2024.

Senate Bill 738 would require financial institutions to report suspected cases of elder financial abuse and empower the institutions to hold suspicious financial transactions. The institution would have to report this transaction to the appropriate AAA. Similar legislation has been passed in more than 20 states and has been used as an effective tool to prevent fraud. Read more about Senate Bill 738 here.

Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grants Available

Pennsylvania students who are blind, deaf or have a visual or hearing impairment may qualify for up to $500 in scholarships through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Applicants must supply written documentation to PHEAA showing they have been evaluated and are eligible to receive benefits and supply a completed Medical Professional Certification form regarding a visual or hearing impairment.

Interested students must also complete the Blind or Deaf Higher Education Beneficiary Grant Application. The completed 2026-27 application and additional documentation must be submitted by March 31, 2027.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Don’t Miss Your Mammogram!

The American Cancer Society recommends that women at average risk begin annual screening mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors, talk with your healthcare provider about whether earlier or additional screening may be appropriate.

To help, we passed Act 1 of 2023 to ensure supplemental breast cancer screening MRIs and ultrasound for individuals at higher risk are covered with no out-of-pocket costs. We also passed Act 52 of 2025 to eliminate all out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic breast imaging, including mammograms, MRIs and ultrasounds needed to evaluate an abnormal finding. Act 52 is currently beginning the implementation process, with full implementation by January 2028.

Pennsylvania residents without insurance or limited insurance, like a high-deductible plan, may qualify for no-cost mammograms and follow-up imaging through programs such as the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. To learn more, contact the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Director of Patient Advocacy Dolores Magro at 800-377-8828.

When breast cancer is detected at its earliest stages, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. Don’t miss your mammogram. Early detection saves lives!