HARRISBURG – Following the passage of the 2026-27 state budget, which avoided burdening Pennsylvania families with tax increases and championed affordability and job growth, Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47) voiced his support of funding directed to state fruit growers and rape crisis centers.
“Many of our fruit farmers across the state suffered catastrophic crop losses after the historic freeze earlier this spring, resulting in significant revenue loss,” Vogel said. “This budget has allocated $10 million to assist these farmers in navigating through this crisis – something I advocated for as the chairman of the Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee.”
“My colleagues and I prioritized our rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania —nearly doubling their funding in this budget with a $12 million increase,” Vogel said. “Protecting and providing care for survivors of sexual assault has remained a top priority during my time here in the Senate which has been evident through a law I wrote last session expanding access to sexual assault nurse examiners in Pennsylvania hospitals.”
The Senate also reduced more than a billion dollars in overspending from the Department of Human Services. It also, requires PennDOT to deploy an additional $775 million to support local highway projects.
The final agreement negotiated by Senate Republicans cut more than $1.1 billion from the governor’s spending request and does not require any withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund, setting the state on a more sustainable path and avoiding potential bond downgrades and higher debt costs.