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In this Update:

• Eagle Scout Citation Presentation
• Veteran Service Officer Meetings
• Monthly Photo Submission
• Throwback!
• Working to Increase Affordability for Pennsylvanians
• New Law Cracks Down on Robocalls, Scam Texts and Caller ID Spoofing
• Key Election Dates to Remember
• National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24
• Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Eagle Scout Citation Presentation

Congratulations to Senior Patrol Leader Merrick Harrison of Troop 73 in Adam’s County on receiving your Eagle Scout Award. I was pleased to provide a Senate Citation to honor your achievement! 

Thank you, Merrick, for your outstanding leadership, dedication to scouting, and service to our community.

Veteran Service Officer Meetings

VETERAN SERVICES – CHAMBERSBURG DISTRICT OFFICE

** Our NEXT available appointment date is THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2026 **

On the third Thursday of each month, a Veteran Service Officer with the Pennsylvania American Legion will be available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY at my Chambersburg District Office to assist veterans and their families.

Assistance is available with:

State and Education Benefits

Military Personnel and Medical Records

Compensation and Pension Claims

Burial and Survivor benefits

Enrollment in the VA Health Care System.

Chambersburg District Office
37 South Main Street, Suite 200
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: 717-264-6100

Email: dmastriano@pasen.gov

*Please note: Office hours are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Please call or email to schedule an appointment. Our NEXT available appointment date is THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2026

 If you served our nation, we are here to serve you.

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!

My backyard as a kid and our dog, Rick.

The house my folks bought was actually condemned when they purchased it. That was how Dad could afford it. It needed a whole lot of TLC, but with hard work, they turned it into our home.

We didn’t have much, but we had a backyard to explore, a dog at our side, and a place we called home. Some of the best memories come from the simplest beginnings.

Working to Increase Affordability for Pennsylvanians

At a time when families continue to feel the strain of inflation, we know state government must look for ways to implement policies and programs to increase affordability. Fighting for the state budget to respect taxpayers and take less of your hard-earned money, enacting the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Programs, and making homes more attainable are some of the ways we’ve focused on affordability during the 2025-26 legislative session.

The new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit provides meaningful relief for working families across the commonwealth. Families that claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit may also claim the state tax credit equal to 10% of the federal amount. This amounts to hundreds of dollars saved every year for many working families.

We also created the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Program, which provides incentives for businesses to make contributions of up to $500 annually toward their employees’ child-care costs.

And we took steps to make housing attainable to more Pennsylvanians by passing legislation streamlining municipal approval processes, reducing delays, cutting unnecessary red tape, and creating a Housing Development Regulatory Compliance Officer to serve as a single point of contact and improve coordination in the permitting process.

We’re committed to continuing to implement greater government efficiencies and policies to control the growth of spending and help address affordability for families throughout Pennsylvania.

New Law Cracks Down on Robocalls, Scam Texts and Caller ID Spoofing

Legislation we unanimously passed enacting stronger protections from deceptive telemarketing practices will take effect Monday, Oct. 19.

Under Act 47 of 2026, Pennsylvania’s telemarketing law will now cover modern forms of solicitation, including text messages, voicemails, ringless voicemails and robocalls. It also establishes stronger rules for when and how telemarketers can contact Pennsylvanians, including:

• Prohibiting telemarketing calls before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. and on Sundays.
• Requiring prior express written consent for most robocalls and telemarketing text messages.
• Prohibiting telemarketers from falsely identifying themselves or using deceptive caller ID information, including spoofed numbers.
• Requiring telemarketers to stop a solicitation when a consumer asks them to do so.

The legislation also prohibits the use of AI-generated messages to deceive consumers.

Key Election Dates to Remember

Election Day will be here before you know it, and I want to make sure you know the key dates.

• The first step is registering to vote, and the deadline to do that is Monday, Oct. 19.
• If you want to vote by absentee ballot, the deadline to file a request is Tuesday, Oct. 27.
• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

To make sure you’re registered, learn how to request an absentee ballot and find your polling place, visit the state’s elections information webpage.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, most people who use prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend. Removing unnecessary medications from the home can help remove this risk.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs.

Find a local collection site near you at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV breast cancer, is diagnosed when breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. While treatments can help control metastatic cancer and allow many people to live longer, Stage IV breast cancer is currently considered incurable.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s recognize the Pennsylvanians living with metastatic breast cancer every day. Organizations like the PA Breast Cancer Coalition offer programs specific to individuals with metastatic breast cancer including a Stage IV-specific care package program and patient resources.

Metastatic breast cancer research is essential to developing more effective treatments, improving quality of life and extending the lives of those living with stage IV cancer.

Please consider making a $5 contribution to research when you renew your Pennsylvania driver’s license or vehicle registration online. For more information, visit the PA Breast Cancer Coalition website.