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On the Horizon…

Senate, House of Representatives Convene this Week.  WATCH LIVE

Prysmian Group North America to Invest $22.5 Million in Williamsport Manufacturing Expansion.

DCNR to Begin Spraying Forests in Lycoming, Tioga and Union Counties in Spongy Moth Suppression Effort.

Sen. Yaw to Introduce Legislation to Rename State Agency. 

Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority’s Broadband Grant Program Opens May 10.

Out and About

What a great day and wonderful way to celebrate the retirement of Mark Madden.  From his time at the Bradford County Conservation District to his nearly three-decades of service with Penn State Extension (Area 3), I commend him on his many contributions to our region and residents.  Along with his many family and friends, I wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Last week, I visited New Trail Brewing Company in Williamsport. New Trail focuses on local, environmentally friendly brewing and partners with a wide range of people and organizations in our area to promote our region’s outdoor resources including local trails, PA Parks & Forests Foundation, PA Trail Dogs, and more. We had a great tour of their facility and discussed exciting plans for the future of the brewery. Thank you for having me!

The Lycoming County Conservation District (LCCD) hosted its annual legislative update meeting in Williamsport on April 27th.  

During the event, I had the privilege to recognize Denise Moser of South Williamsport on her upcoming retirement from the Conservation District after 22 years of dedicated service. Denise is a native of Sullivan County where she grew-up on her family farm. Over the years, she served as both the Administrative Specialist and Board Secretary and Treasurer for the District and played a critical role in planning all of the District’s events. She also works part-time for Susquehanna Regional EMS and plans to continue this in her retirement.

Congratulations, Denise on your well-deserved retirement from the LCCD!

On Wednesday, I was in Hershey for the Pennsylvania Skill Annual Operators Meeting. I gave the attendees an update on what’s happening in Harrisburg and spoke about legislation I sponsored to tax and regulate legal skill video games, which could result in an estimated $300 million in immediate annual revenue for the state. 

Nearly 100 operators from our region and across the state attended the meeting and discussed the importance of the revenue that Pennsylvania Skill video games bring to small businesses and veterans’ and volunteer organizations.

I had a great time reading “Caps for Sale” with Mrs. Kaufman’s kindergarten class from PA Virtual Charter School!

Last week I stopped by the PA State Association of Township Supervisors 2023 Legislative Grassroots Reception. It was great to talk with supervisors from across the 23rd District!

I had a great meeting with The Fund for Northern Tier Development to discuss economic issues, needs and opportunities in the region!

Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee Holds Informational Briefing on Grid Reliability

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on Monday held a briefing to discuss grid reliability and infrastructure and to provide an update on the future outlook of Pennsylvania power production.

Senate Ag & Rural Affairs Committee Meets to Discuss the Future of PA Over Order Premium

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47) and Minority Chairwoman Sen. Judy Schwank (D-11), held a public hearing today to open an in-depth discussion about the state’s Over Order Premium on Class I milk and what the future of that premium could look like.

Representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board (PMMB), Pennsylvania State Grange (PSG), Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB), Pennsylvania Milk Dealers Association, Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Association of Dairy Cooperatives (PADC), and the Pennsylvania Dairy Association were present to lend their expertise and point of view to the conversation. Read more HERE

Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Seeking Volunteer Mentors

Applications are being accepted for the National Guard Keystone State Challenge Academy. This program gives academically struggling teens a chance to brush up on their studies and learn leadership, discipline and responsibility. Read more and apply HERE

Senate Votes to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation

The Senate approved a bill to help protect Pennsylvania senior citizens from financial exploitation scams using information that is already available within state government.

Under Senate Bill 137, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General would notify the Department of Aging about any investigations or enforcement actions involving someone age 65 or older and related to the Pennsylvania Telemarketer Registration Act.

The improved information sharing would enable the Department of Aging to deliver warnings to local area agencies on aging in counties across the commonwealth while ensuring strict adherence to confidentiality rules.

Senate Bill 137 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Passes Bill to Protect Newborns

The Senate unanimously passed legislation to protect babies whose parents are unable to care for them. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senate Bill 267 would expand Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law to allow parents to surrender their unharmed baby at participating urgent care centers. The urgent care centers will ensure the newborn is transported to a hospital and placed in the care of a health care provider.

Currently, people may bring their newborn (up to 28 days old) to any Pennsylvania hospital, to a police officer at a police station or to an emergency services provider at an EMS station. The Department of Health estimates that 50 babies have been saved by Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law since 2003.

Increasing Accountability and Disaster Response Capability

Legislation requiring Senate confirmation of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) director was approved by a bipartisan Senate vote. Senate Bill 433 would increase accountability and ensure the agency is prepared to deal with emergencies efficiently and effectively.

PEMA is the lead emergency coordination agency in the commonwealth tasked with guaranteeing the safety of 13 million residents. This includes oversight of 911 centers and the Emergency Alert System, as well as hazardous materials and incidents involving five nuclear power plants.

Five state agencies with fewer employees than PEMA require Senate confirmation. The bill is before the House of Representatives for consideration.

Free Tick Testing for All Pennsylvanians

Pennsylvania leads the nation in the number of Lyme disease cases. As we continue to fight Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in the commonwealth, East Stroudsburg University offers a valuable resource for all Pennsylvanians.

The university has a tick lab, which provides free testing on ticks for harmful diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and more. Send a tick sample to the lab and receive the test results that are often necessary evidence for doctors to treat you and increase your chance of staying healthy.

This week, the Senate passed a bill to require school officials to notify a student’s parents or guardian if a tick is removed from them at school and inform them of the symptoms of Lyme disease. The bill also calls for schools to provide the tick to parents or guardians if they would like to send it to the lab for testing.

To remove a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it as close to the skin’s surface as possible and then pull upward with a steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking as this can cause the mouth-parts to break off and remain in the skin. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

For more information about tick-borne diseases or how to submit a tick for testing here.

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