Senator Mastriano

Mastriano Responds to the Treatment of Littlestown Bus Driver Dave Bonhoff

HARRISBURG — Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) issued the following statement today:

“The treatment of Littlestown bus driver Dave Bonhoff should outrage every Pennsylvanian who believes in liberty, fairness and the constitutional freedoms that define our nation.

“Mr. Bonhoff is a retired police officer who continued serving his community by safely transporting children to school. Yet he was effectively forced out of his job because he wore a hat that read ‘Make America Great Again.’ Whether someone agrees with that message is completely irrelevant. In America, citizens do not lose their First Amendment rights simply because someone else claims to be offended.

“What happened here is not about ‘sensitivity’ or ‘respect.’ It is about the suffocating culture of political correctness that is spreading through our institutions — a culture that demands conformity, punishes dissent and attempts to silence anyone who refuses to bow to its ideology.

“Political correctness has become a tool of intimidation. It is used to shame, threaten and drive ordinary Americans out of their jobs and public life simply for expressing views that do not align with the approved narrative. That is not tolerance. That is coercion.

“Pennsylvania is the birthplace of American liberty. Our commonwealth gave the world the Declaration of Independence, and our soil was defended by patriots who endured unimaginable hardship to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. They did not fight a revolution so that Americans would one day be bullied into silence by political activists or punished for expressing patriotic beliefs.

“Driving a man out of his job because someone dislikes the message on his hat is not neutrality — it is ideological discrimination, plain and simple.

“Dave Bonhoff showed more courage in standing by his principles than many institutions have shown in defending the rights they claim to value. No American should ever be forced to choose between their livelihood and their constitutional freedoms.

Great food, great people!

We had a fantastic lunch at Pizza Garden in New Oxford the other day, topped off with complimentary espresso and freshly made donuts — a perfect surprise!

Pete, your kindness and hospitality truly made our day. It’s small gestures like that which make local places so special and keep people coming back.

Thank you for the warm welcome and the great food!

#SupportLocal #PizzaGarden #NewOxfordPA #GreatFoodGreatPeople #CommunityHospitality

Senator Doug Mastriano Statement on the Tragic Loss of a Soldier at Letterkenny Army Depot

HARRISBURG – State Senator Doug Mastriano (R-33), Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee and senator representing the 33rd District, issued the following statement regarding the death of a U.S. Army soldier during a training incident Thursday morning at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg:

“Rebbie and I are truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of a soldier during a training incident at Letterkenny Army Depot today. Our hearts go out to this soldier’s family, loved ones, fellow soldiers, and the entire Letterkenny community who are grieving today.

After more than 30 years serving in the United States Army, news like this is deeply personal. Soldiers become family, and when one of our own is lost, the pain is felt across the entire military community. We know that behind every uniform is a family who shares in the sacrifice of service, and today our thoughts and prayers are especially with them.

This soldier answered the call to serve our nation with courage and dedication. That kind of selfless service deserves our deepest gratitude and our lasting remembrance.

The men and women who train and work at Letterkenny Army Depot carry out vital work every day to support our troops and defend our country. Rebbie and I stand with them and with this soldier’s loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

*Continued in comments

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: At the twilight of the Cold War, I stood among a sea of East German Trabant automobiles in Hof, West Germany. These little machines—affectionately called “Trabbys”—were the pride of the German Democratic Republic. Built from pressed composite panels instead of steel and powered by smoky two-stroke engines that sounded more like lawn equipment than automobiles, they were simple, stubborn, and unmistakable.

For decades, the Trabant represented mobility behind the Iron Curtain. Families waited years—sometimes more than a decade—to receive one. Yet in those historic days when the wall fell and the border opened, thousands of them streamed into West Germany, their buzzing engines announcing the arrival of a new era.

There I was, a young lieutenant, standing among rows of these unlikely symbols of freedom—cars that had carried their owners across a divide that had shaped the world for nearly half a century. What once symbolized restriction had suddenly become a convoy of liberation. #FlashbackFriday

March 13 - National K-9 Veteran Day

In the near future, we will introduce legislation to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Emergency Medical Services system and ensure our EMS providers receive the support and recognition they deserve. Across the Commonwealth, EMS agencies continue to struggle with staffing shortages, administrative burdens, and a disciplinary system that too often leaves them without a fair path to resolution. At the same time, the Bureau of EMS has faced persistent challenges gaining the attention and resources it needs within the Department of Health.

This legislation takes three important steps within Title 35 (Health & Safety):

Recognizes the importance of EMS leadership by elevating the Bureau of EMS Director to Deputy Secretary status, ensuring EMS finally has a strong voice at the highest levels of the Department of Health.

Reforms the disciplinary process by establishing a fair and transparent appeals process for EMS agencies, giving providers due process while maintaining high standards of care.

Cuts red tape by creating a clear, consistent pathway for Emergency Medical Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians with lapsed certifications; permitting EMS Vehicle Operators to be trained in-person and on-site or in a digital format – and remove their continuing education credit requirement; removing the requirement that an Advanced Life Support ambulance be staffed with an EMS Vehicle Operator; and establishing an exception for staffing requirements when in a situation with limited EMS resources.

Our EMS professionals are the backbone of emergency response in every community. They deserve a system – top/down -- that works as hard for them as they work for us. This legislation is a meaningful step toward stability, accountability, and respect for the lifesaving work they perform every day.