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In this Update:
Senate Approves SB 1261
My Bill Streamlining Popular Funding Program for Fire Companies, EMS Agencies Passes SenateMy bill to make it easier for fire and EMS agencies to access state funding through the Fire and EMS Grant program was approved by the Senate this week and now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. As chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, I was pleased to see this bill pass with unanimous support. Senate Bill 1261 streamlines the Fire and EMS Grant program application process and increases the amount fire and EMS agencies can borrow through the State Fire Commissioner’s low-interest loan program. The bottom line is we do not want our first responders to be ill-equipped when fighting a fire and protecting our community. By passing this important bill, we’re supporting our brave firefighters and EMTs and helping ensure they can continue to perform their critically important jobs. State Animal Working Day at the Capitol
More than a dozen organizations from across Pennsylvania participated in Working Animal Appreciation Day at the State Capitol, highlighting the invaluable contributions of police K-9s, military working dogs, search and rescue teams, service animals, therapy animals, and agricultural working animals. Thank you to the organizations, handlers, trainers, and volunteers who joined us to demonstrate the remarkable work these animals perform every day. Their dedication helps keep our communities safe, supports those in need, and strengthens our Commonwealth. I also want to thank Senator Joe Pittman and my Executive Director, Nate Silcox, for speaking at the event and helping recognize the extraordinary service provided by Pennsylvania’s working animals. New! Monthly Photo Submission
Monthly Photo Submission! Show Us What Makes Adams & Franklin Counties Special! Our communities are filled with incredible people, beautiful landscapes, historic places, and unforgettable moments. I want to help showcase the very best of Adams and Franklin Counties through a new Photo of the Month Contest! Whether it’s a breathtaking sunrise, a family farm, a community event, a veteran being honored, a historic landmark, wildlife, or a special moment that captures the spirit of our region, I encourage you to submit your favorite photos. At the end of each month, I will personally review the submissions and select a Photo of the Month. The chosen photo will be featured on my social media platforms, and the photographer will be recognized for their outstanding work. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the people, places, and moments that make Adams and Franklin Counties such wonderful places to live, work, and raise a family. Submit your best photos by clicking on the link provided and help tell the story of our communities! I look forward to seeing our counties through your lens. Throwback!
In 2008, I led the creation of the Sergeant Alvin C. York Historic Trail in France’s Argonne Forest, marking the route followed by York and his men during the heroic actions of October 8, 1918, that earned York the Medal of Honor and secured his place among America’s greatest soldiers. Dedicated on the 90th anniversary of York’s feat, the trail and interpretive monuments were placed at the actual locations where the events unfolded. The commemoration began in the nearby village of Châtel-Chéhéry and culminated at the site of York’s action deep within the Argonne Forest. The dedication brought together nearly 1,000 attendees, most of them French citizens, along with representatives of the French military, NATO allies, American soldiers, American family members, Boy Scouts and veterans. Three generations of the York family were present—Alvin York’s son, grandson, and great-granddaughter—making the ceremony a powerful tribute to one of America’s most celebrated heroes. The project helped preserve an important chapter of American and French shared history while honoring the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of Sergeant York and the soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces who fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Senate Passes Bill to Fight Human Trafficking
Legislation to give investigators and prosecutors new tools to fight human trafficking in Pennsylvania was passed by the Senate. Senate Bill 45 will help local law enforcement agencies and the state attorney general investigate and prosecute human trafficking by increasing penalties for several related crimes, including promoting prostitution, promoting prostitution of a minor, exploiting prostitutes and patronizing prostitutes. The bill also consolidates crimes related to human trafficking within the Crimes Code, giving the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction so these crimes, which are frequently the basis for large-scale human trafficking organizations, can be prosecuted more effectively. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Read more about our latest action to combat human trafficking here. Bill Targeting Dangerous Fentanyl Additive Passes Senate
The Senate passed legislation to combat the increasing illicit use of the veterinary anesthesia medetomidine by regulating it as a Schedule III controlled substance. Senate Bill 866 provides law enforcement and public health officials with another tool to combat dangerous drug adulterants while including clear exemptions to ensure veterinarians can continue using the medication in the care and treatment of animals. Medetomidine has rapidly overtaken xylazine as a common adulterant in Pennsylvania’s illicit drug supply. While medetomidine was not detected in samples collected in early 2024, it was found in approximately 80% of adulterants sold as fentanyl in Pennsylvania by April 2026. The drug is estimated to be significantly more potent than xylazine and can cause severe cardiovascular complications, even after naloxone has been administered. The General Assembly passed legislation to make xylazine a Schedule III drug in 2024. The bill now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about the measure here. PA Guard Military Family Education Program
As students begin preparing for the fall semester, Pennsylvania National Guard members are reminded their families could be eligible for assistance to offset the cost of higher education. The Military Family Education Program is for Guard members who completed an initial service obligation on or after July 1, 2019, and is eligible to reenlist in the PA National Guard for a period of six years. The grants can be used for a degree-granting or certificate-granting curriculum, course of study, or training program required for entrance into a specific career at an approved Pennsylvania institution of higher learning. Read more details and find applications here. Entries Accepted for PA Agriculture Photo Contest
Pennsylvania residents have until June 30 to submit entries in the 2026 Pennsylvania Agriculture Photo Contest. Submit up to four original photos highlighting the people, places, traditions and beauty of agriculture across our region or the commonwealth. Winning photos will be displayed in the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex during the first weeks of September. The categories are On the Farm, PA Fair Season, Agritourism, and Conservation. Click here for rules and how to submit your photos. National Cancer Survivors Month
There are more than 18.6 million people living with a history of cancer in the U.S. Each person diagnosed with cancer faces a unique set of challenges, but one in four survivors reports a poor physical quality of life, and many experience psychosocial challenges. If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver, you can find resources from the National Cancer Institute here that may help you enhance your health and well-being after a cancer diagnosis. They address emotional concerns, nutrition and physical activity, support services, follow-up medical care and testing for cancer. |
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