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In this Update:
Telephone Town Hall – 20 March @ 11 AM
I will be hosting a Tele Town Hall on Thursday, March 20th, at 11 AM. This Town Hall will focus on Veterans; however, I am open to discussing any topic of your concern. To sign up for the call, please visit https://senatormastriano.com/access-live/. At the time of the event, you will receive a telephone call from me inviting you to participate. Simply stay on the line, and you will be connected to the call. Additionally, this call will be broadcast on my Facebook Live, X, and TikTok. I invite you to join the call to share your thoughts and ask questions about statewide and district-specific issues. Your participation is important, and I encourage you to bring forth your questions and concerns. Roundtable discussion with Veterans Home Advisory Councils
On Thursday, I joined with General Pippy, Senator Baker, Senator Brown, Travis Davis (Head of 6 Veterans Homes), Zach Shambaugh (PA Health Care Association) as well as DMVA staff to engage in a highly productive roundtable discussion focused on our Pennsylvania State Veterans Homes and their oversight. This vital conversation will empower us to enhance the quality of care provided to our Veterans, ensuring they receive the respect and support they deserve. Camp Freedom Visit
Thursday, I, along with Senator Baker and Senator Brown, toured Camp Freedom. Their facility is fantastic! They provide outdoor adventures for disabled Veterans, First Responders, their family members, and Gold Star families. The vital program not only supports our heroes, but also fosters connections and healing in a beautiful, supportive environment. PA’s Congressional Delegation Must Support DOGE
I am calling on the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to support the continued success of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an organization cutting through bureaucratic waste, slashing unnecessary spending and bringing accountability back to government. DOGE has saved $105 billion through fraud elimination, waste reduction and program streamlining. Elon Musk leads the historic shift in efficiency and innovation. In the private sector, his companies have transformed entire industries by revolutionizing processes, leveraging automation and cutting inefficiencies. Following this model, the public sector can eliminate waste, streamline operations, adopt data-driven decision making and use technology to reduce costs and improve services. Government inefficiency is a hidden tax on every citizen. Billions of dollars have vanished into fraudulent programs and unnecessary contracts. Critical resources have been misallocated while Pennsylvanians struggle to make ends meet. Government cannot be bogged down by outdated bureaucracy and broken systems any longer. Budget Hearings Reinforce Need for Greater Financial Accountability
After three weeks of detailed public hearings examining Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $51.5 billion budget plan – which would increase state spending by an eye-popping 7.5% compared to the current fiscal year – it is clear that his priorities are very different than those of Senate Republicans. Shapiro’s unsustainable spending plan would quickly drain every dollar in the state’s bank accounts – including our entire $7.3 billion in emergency savings in the Rainy Day Fund – within two years. This is especially troubling at a time when respected, nonpartisan sources like the Independent Fiscal Office are warning that Pennsylvania faces serious financial challenges. Notably, not even Shapiro’s own team claims that the astronomical cost of his proposed budget can be paid for without higher taxes. Senate Republicans will fight for taxpayers throughout this year’s state budget negotiations. We will continue to work toward a responsible state budget that promotes economic growth, job creation and fiscal stability for the commonwealth. Grow PA Scholarship Grant Applications Available Now
The Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program – created by Senate Republicans as part of this year’s state budget – offers grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who pursue a degree or certification for an in-demand occupation. The application period for grants is open now, with funding awarded on a first come, first served basis. To qualify for the grant, applicants must agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in that occupation after graduation. Grant recipients will be required to live and work in Pennsylvania for 12 months for each year they receive the grant. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the grant converting to a loan requiring repayment. Courses of study that qualify for the grant include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs as approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). Learn more or apply here. Free Trees to Help Public Replace Invasive Plants
Non-native trees and shrubs can have negative ecological and economic impacts on nearby natural areas. Some of those plants include callery pear, tree-of-heaven, Norway maple, burning bush, Japanese barberry and butterfly bush. The Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program is a new initiative that will give homeowners and others the option to remove invasive trees and shrubs from their property and replace them with native trees. Doing so will reduce the likelihood of these species moving into neighboring properties, parks and forests. Property owners are encouraged to remove one or more invasive species and receive up to five free, healthy, native, young replacement trees. Learn more about how to participate. Please note that the Carlisle plant replacement program is already at capacity. License Plates Support Women Veterans
You can support women veterans in Pennsylvania by purchasing a license plate recognizing the importance of the brave women who have served in our military. When you purchase the Honoring Our Women Veterans Registration Plate or the Honoring Our Women Veterans Motorcycle Registration Plate, a portion of the fee will be used to support programs assisting the approximately 63,000 female veterans in Pennsylvania. The motorcycle version of this registration plate is new, having been introduced in December. You do not need to be a veteran to purchase either of these plates. If you are a veteran, you may want to consider purchasing either the Women Veteran Registration Plate or the Women Veteran Motorcycle Registration Plate. Applicants for these plates must submit a legible photocopy of their Form DD-214 or the front and back of their DD2(RET). Learn more about these license plates and several other new plates available for veterans. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
A celebration of country and heritage, St. Patrick’s Day became an official religious holiday in the early 17th century. It commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. “May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.” – Irish blessing
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