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In this Update:
Veterans Day Service at the PA State Capitol
Honored to host a special Veterans Day ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, commemorating the 37th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Special thanks to Brigadier General John Wenzel, Rev. Ron Zeigler, SFC Tanna Sullivan of the 28th Division Band, and American Legion Post 272, led by Bill Dornsife, for making this ceremony so meaningful. As a Cold War veteran, November 9, 1989, holds special significance. We held the line. The Wall came down. Freedom prevailed! God bless our veterans and God bless America! Fannett-Metal School Visit
It was a pleasure to visit Fannett-Metal High School and speak with students as their senator! I was especially impressed by how engaged the students were! It was also wonderful to hear from Daniel Foy, a 2009 Fannett-Metal graduate, who shared his experiences serving in both the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and the West Virginia Air National Guard. Daniel now serves as Franklin County’s Chief Deputy Sheriff. Thank you to the students and staff for such a welcoming visit, and to Daniel for sharing his story and commitment to serving our communities! Manitowoc Company Veterans Day Event
It was a tremendous honor to be part of Manitowoc’s Veterans Day celebration in Shady Grove, PA. Manitowoc’s commitment to honoring those who have served, including through its Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG), speaks volumes about the value they place on their veteran employees and their service. I was truly humbled and grateful to be invited to speak at this special event celebrating the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform. Thank you to Manitowoc for making our veterans feel valued and appreciated, and most importantly, thank you to all who have served. Your sacrifice, courage, and continued contributions will never be forgotten. Freedom is never free! 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!
Cold War Aircraft. NATO Warriors. A New Era of Allied Cooperation. I was aboard a Soviet-era Antonov An-26 military transport aircraft during a NATO exercise in Szczecin, Poland. Alongside fellow American and European officers, I participated in multinational training designed to strengthen NATO interoperability and readiness. Once symbols of opposing military blocs, Soviet-built aircraft were now carrying us as NATO allies together—a powerful reminder of how dramatically Europe had changed since the fall of the Iron Curtain. PA Taxpayer-Funded Childcare Programs Face More Accountability
Taxpayers have seen childcare fraud and abuse uncovered in other states, and we’ve passed a new law to strengthen oversight of Pennsylvania’s taxpayer-funded childcare programs. Act 113 of 2026 requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to provide annual reports detailing inspections, investigations, enforcement actions and financial oversight activities related to childcare facilities and programs receiving public funding. The reports will cover facility inspections, violations, complaints, investigations and enforcement actions. It would also require reporting on taxpayer-funded childcare payments, improper payments identified and efforts to recover misspent funds. More than a billion taxpayer dollars are spent annually on childcare in Pennsylvania, and this law will help ensure it’s spent properly. New Law Helps Protect Children from Online Exploitation
A new law I supported provides critical resources to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors working to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Act 71 of 2026 expands the Investigation and Prosecution of Internet Crimes Against Children Program, providing grants to help pay for investigators, prosecutors, forensic specialists and education for professionals working on cases involving human trafficking, sexual offenses, child sexual abuse, unlawful contact with minors and the sexual exploitation of children using online platforms. The bill is called “Alicia’s Law” in honor of Alicia Kozak (Kozakiewicz), a Pittsburgh-area resident who was abducted, sexually assaulted and tortured at age 13 by a man she met online in what is recognized as the nation’s first known internet-facilitated child abduction case. Read more about Alicia’s Law. Home Heating Assistance Program Accepting Applications
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) application period is now open. Eligible applicants can receive a one-time cash grant to help pay a heating bill. Grants range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income and fuel type and is sent directly to the utility provider or fuel company. Families experiencing an emergency related to household heat may be eligible to receive additional funds through a crisis grant. Learn more about the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program here. Cold Weather Life Jacket Requirement in Effect
Nearly 80% of Pennsylvania boating fatalities occurred because boaters were not wearing life jackets. With that in mind, please note the state’s cold weather life jacket requirement is in effect through April 30. Boaters are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet or on any kayak, canoe or paddleboard. Even on warm days from late fall through early spring, water temperatures can remain frigid on rivers, lakes and streams. Wearing a life jacket helps you survive cold-water shock, which occurs when a person is unexpectedly plunged into cold water resulting in an involuntary gasp where water is often inhaled and swimming is difficult. Learn more from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. State Police Accepting Applications for Youth Camp
Pennsylvania residents aged 15 to 17 interested in a career in law enforcement or the military can apply now to attend the State Police Youth Week camp taking place June 6-12, 2027, at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County. Held in collaboration with the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Pennsylvania American Legion, the camp provides cadets hands-on learning experiences and physical fitness training to build their understanding of law enforcement as well as their confidence, teamwork, self-esteem and leadership abilities. Candidates should be physically fit with a strong academic record. Local American Legion posts sponsor cadets and cover the registration fees. For more information and an application, visit the State Police Youth Week webpage. Motorboat Fuel Consumption Survey Underway
If you own a motorboat registered in Pennsylvania, you might have received an invitation from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to take part in its annual fuel consumption survey of motorboat registrants. Participation will help support PA boating. The results will be used to determine the Oil Company Franchise Tax refund that PFBC receives on behalf of registered boaters. The refund helps pay for boat access area maintenance, buoys, beacons, signs and other water markers, boating safety education, law enforcement and more. The survey will be available into mid-November. A random sampling of about 20,000 motorboat registrants will be asked via postcard or email to report their boat fuel consumption from April through September of this year. Learn more at the commission’s website. |
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