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In this Update:
Desert Storm Memorial Dedication Ceremony
What an incredible honor it was to deliver the invocation prayer during the dedication ceremony of the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial in Washington, D.C. Having served in Desert Storm with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the liberation of Kuwait, this was a deeply personal and emotional moment for me. To stand on the National Mall 35 years later – remembering those who served, those who sacrificed, and especially the 383 who never came home, was truly humbling. Making the occasion even more meaningful was sharing it with my beautiful wife, Rebbie. She stood by my side during those uncertain days of war and has been my rock throughout the many years since. From the battlefields of 1991 to the National Mall today, what a journey. God bless our Veterans, their families, and the United States of America! Honoring Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum
It was a tremendous privilege to present the Pennsylvania Freedom Medal to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum during the historic dedication of the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial in Washington, D.C. As a Desert Storm Veteran who served with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the liberation of Kuwait, this moment was especially meaningful to me. Secretary Burgum delivered a powerful and inspiring address, honoring the courage of our Veterans, the extraordinary 34-nation coalition that liberated Kuwait, and the importance of nations standing together for freedom. Thank you, Secretary Burgum, for your leadership, your powerful message, and your commitment to honoring those who served! May we never forget their courage and sacrifice. God bless our Veterans, and God bless America! Honoring Ambassador Al-Sabah
A FRIENDSHIP FORGED IN THE FIRES OF DESERT STORM! Thirty-five years ago, American forces and our coalition partners answered the call to liberate Kuwait. Today, the friendship between our nations remains a powerful testament to that shared history. It was a distinct honor to present the Pennsylvania Freedom Medal to Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Ambassador to the United States, during the National Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial dedication in Washington, D.C. Having served with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment during the liberation of Kuwait, I will always treasure the bond between our nations and the sacrifices that made Kuwait’s freedom possible. Ambassador Al-Sabah was wonderfully gracious, and I deeply appreciated the opportunity to recognize her distinguished service and the enduring friendship between our peoples. From the battlefields of 1991 to the friendship we celebrate today – the United States and Kuwait stand together! Faith Wins – American Restoration Tour
It was a tremendous honor to deliver the closing prayer at the Faith Wins gathering, which brought together pastors, faith leaders, and public officials for a meaningful discussion about faith, America’s founding principles, and the vital role of the church in our communities and nation. It was especially meaningful to share this wonderful occasion with my beautiful wife, Rebbie, alongside our dear friend Pastor Stephen Coleman and State Representative Stephanie Borowicz. What a blessing to fellowship with fellow believers who share a commitment to faith, family, and service to others! We were grateful for the opportunity to join so many dedicated faith leaders who are making a positive difference in their churches and communities. May we never forget the importance of faith, prayer, and the enduring principles upon which our great nation was founded. 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 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!
Honoring a Fallen Soldier of World War I I had the incredible opportunity to lead a NATO delegation in returning the personal effects of a German soldier from the Black Forest region of Germany who had been missing in action since 1918. The artifacts were discovered near the historic Sergeant Alvin York Trail in Châtel-Chéhéry, France, in the Argonne Forest. Remember to Vote! Election Day is Tues., Nov. 3
Tuesday, Nov. 3 is Election Day, your chance to weigh in on state and federal elections. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For those voting by mail, county election offices must receive completed ballots by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your polling place and other voter information here. PA House Needs to Act to Protect Pennsylvania Communities
In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the state’s mandatory life-without-parole sentence for second-degree murder is unconstitutional. The court gave the General Assembly until July 24 to enact a new rule. The Senate passed legislation to protect our communities and fix the problem – twice. Instead of acting on our bipartisan Senate Bill 1400, the House of Representatives advanced a proposal tied to expanding medical parole, creating additional opportunities – without proper guardrails – for convicted felons to be released before completing their sentences. Senate Bill 1400 is supported by Attorney General Dave Sunday, PA State Lodge FOP, PA State Troopers Association and district attorneys across the commonwealth. It has languished in the House Judiciary Committee since June. Second‑degree murder is an extremely serious crime, and the House needs to act so these criminals remain behind bars. New Law Means PA Schools Will Be Cellphone-Free
Pennsylvania teachers will no longer have to compete with smartphones for their students’ attention – and kids will be able to get through the school day without the constant pressure of social media and notifications – with bipartisan passage of a new law requiring schools to adopt policies prohibiting student cellphone use during the school day. Act 117 of 2026 includes limited exceptions, such as students with individualized education plans and special occasions such as field days. It establishes a clear statewide standard, while allowing school districts, which have direct contact with parents, to decide what works best for their communities. The law will take effect with the 2027-28 school year. Pennsylvania joins 40 states in restricting these devices – 19 of which have school-day bans. Read more about the effect of cellphones in schools. Ensuring Sexual Assault Survivors Get Justice
Obtaining justice for sexual assault survivors requires timely processing of rape kit evidence, and I joined colleagues in making it a priority to improve and standardize rape kit testing. Previously, state law allowed local law enforcement agencies to determine whether a sexual assault evidence kit should undergo DNA testing or other forensic analysis, creating the potential for inconsistent practices across the commonwealth. We passed a new law eliminating such discretion. Read more about Act 106 of 2026. In addition, a law we passed in 2024 established a rape kit evidence tracking system, allowing survivors to track the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process. After operating as a pilot program in three counties, it will launch statewide in December. To better care for victims, we included a $12 million increase for rape crisis centers in the current state budget. Prosecuting perpetrators of these heinous crimes should be pursued vigorously, and we’ve made significant changes to ensure just that. Making Education More Affordable
An affordable and thorough education allows young Pennsylvanians to find success and lay down roots while filling in-demand jobs here in the commonwealth – without the burden of heavy debt. In addition to funding K-12 and higher education during the current legislative session, I supported initiatives that:
Affordability in education benefits students, parents, employers and communities. I’ll continue working to lower the cost of education and increase student access to promising careers. Action Taken to Protect Children in the Age of AI
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence requires rapid deployment of sound policies to protect children from its darker side. I supported measures passed by the Senate cracking down on AI child sexual abuse material (CSAM), shielding them from harmful chatbots and banning “nudification” apps. Fortunately, the House of Representatives also passed one of them: Act 87 of 2026 requires teachers, childcare workers, healthcare providers and other individuals responsible for caring for children to report all instances of CSAM they become aware of, including those produced by a minor. This House bill mirrored the language of Senate Bill 1050. Read more about Act 87 of 2026, including the new requirement of reporting hazing. Unfortunately, House Democratic leaders did not act on other bipartisan bills passed by the Senate, including the Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology (SAFECHAT) Act, which would require age-appropriate safeguards to prevent AI content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others, and directs users to appropriate self-harm crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected. Learn more about SAFECHAT. Also awaiting House action is a bill we passed to ban “nudification” apps, which allow individuals to take an image of someone and generate a fake nude or sexually explicit photo of that person. Read more about Senate Bill 1368. The Senate also established a Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age to review state laws, assess emerging technologies and identify gaps in protections for children in the digital environment. It will issue a report and recommendation for action to the General Assembly. Learn more about the task force. Bringing Dollars Back to Communities for Local Road Projects
When we learned PennDOT was sitting on millions of dollars that should be spent on local infrastructure, my Senate colleagues and I used state budget negotiations to free this money up for road projects across the commonwealth. PennDOT agreed to release an additional $775 million from the Motor License Fund for local road projects only, not interstates, which are funded elsewhere. We fought to secure these funds because local road improvements mean safer travel with less congestion and improved transportation infrastructure that supports the economy and job creation. List of Rapid Deployment Transportation Projects Making a Difference with Breast Cancer
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 comes to a close, here are a few ideas to take action all year long in your community: Make mammograms part of the conversation Know your risk Host a Friends Like Me Care Package donation drive Support research |
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