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Click here to find the latest information on coronavirus from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

Proposed PA Clean Streams Fund to Focus on “Non-Point” Source Water Pollution

By: Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23); Sen. Scott Martin (R-13), Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49)

Pennsylvania has been blessed with over 85,000 miles of rivers and streams – the highest density of any state in the continental United States. Just about every Pennsylvanian lives within walking distance of a river, stream or “crick.” – so many that a map of these waters covers the entire state in blue.

Unfortunately, the abundance of water in our state has allowed it to be taken for granted. A reliable supply of clean water has built our towns, grown our industries, and fed our people, but historic practices have left that water in worse shape than we found it.

Almost one-third of Pennsylvania’s surface water does not meet state water quality standards for either fish or human health. On a map, these “impaired” waters are depicted as bright red blemishes in every corner of the state. In reality, these waters scar our landscape and diminish our economy.  READ MORE 

A Night of Champions

Visit the Loyalsock Athletics Facebook Page for more team recognitions & photos. 

It was an incredible night celebrating the 2020-2021 Loyalsock Township School District State Champions last week. I know of no other school in the area or across the state that has had the overall athletic success that Loyalsock had last school year.

On behalf of the state Senate, I was happy to present several congratulatory citations to these young athletes.  The teams honored included the Girls Golf team; Girls basketball – District Champions; Boys basketball – District Champions and State Champions; Girls softball – District Champions; Boys baseball – District Champions; Track and Field – Idris Ali, State Champion and 3rd place (long and triple jump); Sofia Gardner – long jump; and the Relay team – 3rd place.

A special congratulations also to Ron Insinger, Loyalsock Boys Basketball Coach, who is the recipient of the District 4 Achievement Award. “CI” is the winningest coach in Pennsylvania with 1066 career wins. 

Noteworthy News…

Under the Dome…The Senate Aging & Youth Committee holds a public hearing today on proposed revisions to the Child Protective Services Law at 1:30PM, in Hearing Room 1, North Office Building, State Capitol. WATCH LIVE 

Say “NO” to RGGI…The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will meet Wednesday, August 18 at 10AM to consider a letter to IRRC disapproving of Reg #7-559 regarding a CO2 Budget Trading Program, also known as “RGGI.”  The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a consortium of northeast and mid-Atlantic states that impose a carbon tax on electricity production.  WATCH LIVE

“The last thing we need to do is burden our citizens with a nearly $300 million annual tax on carbon – a tax which will be paid by electricity consumers and employers alike.”

Public Hearing on Invasive Species in Rural Pennsylvania Set for August 24…The Center for Rural Pennsylvania will hold a virtual public hearing August 24, beginning at 10AM, to examine the impacts of invasive species, such as the spotted lanternfly, gypsy moth, emerald ash borer, hydrilla, and reed canarygrass, to Pennsylvania’s economy, agriculture, and natural resources. The hearing will also review policy approaches to manage these invasive threats.  READ MORE 

Bradford County’s Happy Mountain Bouse Farm is Newest PA Centennial Farm…Congratulations to the Bouse family, owners of Happy Mountain Bouse Farm in Towanda, the newest Century Farm in Pennsylvania. Siblings Margaret (Peggy) Bouse Heskell, Rose Bouse and G. Thomas Bouse and their family have farmed the land since purchasing it in 1920. 

Chesapeake Bay Commission to Resume In-Person Meetings…After more than a year of meeting virtually for its quarterly meetings, the Chesapeake Bay Commission will resume in-person gatherings September 9-10 in Easton, MD.   I am proud to serve as Chair of the Pennsylvania Delegation to the Commission, a tri-state legislative commission representing the general assemblies of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.  As a legislative commission, we are advisors to our colleagues in the state House and Senate and advocates for federal support in the U.S. Congress on all matters regarding our nation’s largest estuary. 

“The Commission has no regulatory authority, instead focusing on policy solutions that represent the diversity of urban, suburban and rural life across the Bay’s 64,000 square mile watershed.  The Commission is also the only member of the legislative branch to be a part of the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program that otherwise consists of the region’s governors, the Mayor of D.C., and the Administrator of EPA.” 

Hearing Examines COVID-19 Policies for the 2021-22 School Year

With the start of the new school year approaching, the Senate Education Committee held a public hearing on COVID-19 policies and guidance for Pennsylvania schools.

The committee questioned Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam, Education Secretary Noe Ortega and Acting Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Sherri Smith. Committee members questioned the constitutional authority for school districts to impose pandemic-related mandates on students without an emergency declaration.

You can view the hearing and read testimony here.

Federal Unemployment Benefit Programs End Sept. 4

Reminder for affected Pennsylvanians: Federal unemployment benefit programs, including Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), will end Sept. 4.

The state’s regular unemployment compensation program and those receiving benefits from it are unaffected.

Individuals currently enrolled in PEUC and PUA can take advantage of free jobseeker services offered through PA CareerLink. These services include access to a free job database, resume assistance, information about reskilling opportunities and more. To schedule an appointment, contact your local PA CareerLink office listed here. 

PA Association of Municipal Administrators (PAMA) Hosts 62nd Annual Conference

 Senator Yaw speaks with PA Association of Municipal Administrators (PAMA) President David Jarrett (right) and David Carson (left), Secretary, Eagles Mere Borough, during the 62nd Annual Conference in Gettysburg.  

I had the opportunity to address members of the Pennsylvania Association of Municipal Administrators (PAMA) during its annual conference in Gettysburg last week.

PAMA was first established in 1959 to recognize the professionalism of the Municipal Administrator and to improve standards and practices in the profession through educational programs.

The event also featured a number of speakers including PAMA President David Jarrett, Sayre Borough; Mayor Theodore Streeter, Gettysburg Borough; Liz Wagenseller, Director of the PA Office of Open Records; Holly Lubart, Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association; among many others.

Eagle Grange #1 Celebrates 150 Years

On August 7, 2021, Eagle Grange #1 in Montgomery, Lycoming County, celebrated their 150th Anniversary. They were joined by Grange members and their families, as well as representatives from the state Grange and local officials to celebrate this momentous achievement. Eagle Grange has the distinction of being the first Grange in the state of Pennsylvania, and has been continuously active since the year 1871. Since then, they have contributed in many ways to Montgomery and the surrounding communities through their steadfast support and service.

The occasion was marked with a celebratory dinner, historical anniversary program, and butterfly release, during which 15 butterflies were released in a ceremony led by members Doug Bonsall and Elliott Weiss and secretary Jenn Nauss to celebrate each decade that Eagle Grange #1 has been active. Liz Vollman, from my staff, was on hand to present a citation prepared by the Pennsylvania State Senate to acknowledge the historic achievement. Congratulations Eagle Grange #1 on your 150th Anniversary! I look forward to joining you in many more years to come.    

Annual PennDOT Highway Safety Survey

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking motorists’ input on traffic safety and driving behaviors through its annual online Highway Safety Survey. The survey is available through August 23 and should take about five minutes to complete. All responses, including the “comments” fields, are anonymous.

Nearly 8,000 people responded to last year’s survey, answering questions about safety habits such as seat belt use, impaired driving, speeding and distracted driving. Notably, nearly 91% of respondents said they always wear a seat belt and approximately 88% said they never drive while impaired. When asked how often they choose to exceed the posted speed limit, nearly 84% said they speed at least some of the time. 

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