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In this Update:

• 2026 Ag Progress Days Recap
• School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action
• Mark Your Calendar for Our Beaver County Senior Expo
• Schools Can Apply Now for Safety, AED Training Grants
• Highlights in the 47^th
• Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes Highlighted at Senate Hearing
• What to Know About Teen Gambling
• Elk Cam Shows Largest Free-Roaming Elk population in Eastern U.S.

2026 Ag Progress Days Recap

Another great Ag Progress Days in the books!

I enjoyed spending time with farmers, agricultural leaders, exhibitors, and families from across Pennsylvania to talk about the future of agriculture and the issues that matter most to our rural communities.

I’m proud to support Pennsylvania agriculture and will continue working to make sure our farmers have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

During this year’s event, I was pleased to again chair the joint public hearing, “Cultivating 250 Years: Pennsylvania Agriculture Past, Present and Future.”

A special thank you to Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding; U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture; retired Lebanon County dairy farmer Robert Smith; the Reskovac family from Fayette County; and Dean Troy Ott, dean of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, for sharing their experiences and providing valuable testimony. View the full hearing here.

I also want to recognize my fellow Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee chairs — Sen. Judy Schwank, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski and Rep. Dan Moul — for their leadership and participation in this important discussion.

Pennsylvania agriculture has a proud 250-year history, a vital role today and a bright future. I’m grateful to everyone who continues to work to keep our farms and agricultural communities strong for generations to come.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and made this year’s Ag Progress Days a great one!

School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action

Over the past five years, 25,136 Pennsylvania drivers have been cited for school zone violations, including 8,302 for overtaking or illegally passing a school bus. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania breaks down the numbers here.

In September 2025, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 65, Enhancing the Safe Transportation of School Children, which would extend the stopping distance requirement from 10 feet to 15 feet before reaching the bus when the red signal lights are flashing and the side stop arm is activated. It also develops a tiered penalty system for a second or subsequent offense. Current law does not penalize repeat offenders.

With the start of a new school year nearly a year later, it still awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. Read more about this effort to boost school bus safety here.

Mark Your Calendar for Our Beaver County Senior Expo

Area seniors and their families are invited to our Beaver County Expo on Friday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Community College of Beaver County, 1 Campus Dr. in Monaca.

Local and state organizations will be available to provide seniors and their families with important information on senior-focused services and programs being offered. Various health screening tests will also be offered for attendees to participate in.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please call my Rochester district office at 724-774-0444.

Schools Can Apply Now for Safety, AED Training Grants

School districts can apply now for the latest round of funding to improve safety, including an initiative passed by the General Assembly to increase the presence of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at school events.

Under the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program, school districts, career and technical centers, intermediate units, charter schools and cyber charter schools are eligible for funding to use for safety and security assessments, staff training and more. It can also be used to improve CPR training and AED preparedness.

In addition, nonpublic schools can apply for CPR/AED Training for Nonpublic Schools Grant Program that can be used for CPR and AED training.

The AED funding is made available through Greg Moyer’s Law, named in honor of Pennsylvania student-athlete Greg Moyer, who died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game.

Highlights in the 47^th

I was pleased to attend SummerFest at the Shell Sports Complex in Aliquippa!

Shell Polymers, Inspired Hearts and Hands, The Wright Promise, Frye Transportation, and so many volunteers and community partners came together to help nearly 1,000 Beaver County students get ready for the new school year.

Each student received clothing, new shoes, a backpack filled with school supplies, a hygiene kit, a winter coat, and food to take home. That’s more than $250 in resources for each child!

It was great to see so many people coming together to support local families and make sure our kids head back to school feeling prepared and confident. Thank you to everyone who helped make SummerFest possible!

Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes Highlighted at Senate Hearing

Strategies to increase energy production and lower utility bills for Pennsylvanians were the focus of a public hearing by the Senate Majority Policy Committee.

The committee heard from energy generators, utilities, business groups, taxpayer advocates and more. Pennsylvania is the top electricity exporter and supplier of natural gas, but the retirement of generation sources is driving up prices and risking electric grid reliability.

Testifiers noted the commonwealth needs to build more reliable baseload generation to keep prices stable and ensure access to energy. Read more and access hearing video here.

What to Know About Teen Gambling

Just because teens aren’t allowed to gamble doesn’t mean they don’t.

Gambling among teenagers is a growing problem. Information is available to learn what teen problem gambling is, how to recognize the warning signs and where to go for help. 

Topics include: Why do people gamble? The “gambler’s fallacy,” and Who’s at risk? Learn more here from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Elk Cam Shows Largest Free-Roaming Elk population in Eastern U.S.

Elk were once native to Pennsylvania but disappeared in the 1800s due to overhunting and habitat loss. Today, Pennsylvania is home to 1,300 to 1,400 elk, making it the largest free-roaming elk population in the eastern U.S.

Live from Elk State Forest in northern PA, the Elk Cam is a window into the world of these impressive animals, as well as turkey, deer and other wildlife. Best viewing times are mornings and evenings.

The livestream is provided by HDOnTap and made possible with the help of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.