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In this Update:
June is National Dairy Month
In honor of National Dairy Month, I hosted a press conference where state and local agriculture leaders shared the positive impacts of our state dairy industry. We continue to thank our Pennsylvania dairy farmers for their dedication to providing this commonwealth and our nation with a variety of healthy dairy products and being apart of our largest agriculture industry in Pennsylvania. Another Butler County Senior Expo in the Books
Thank you to the seniors and their families who came out to our Butler County Senior Expo on June 5! My staff and I were pleased to meet some newcomers and see many returning faces. Butler County has a variety of services and programs seniors can benefit from, and we were happy to have representatives from those organizations present at the expo to share that information with all attendees. If you missed this expo, we will be hosting another senior expo in Beaver County on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community College of Beaver County, 1 Campus Drive in Monaca. Highlights in the 47th
Mary Jo Marandini from the Beaver County Transit Authority stopped by my Harrisburg office to discuss the future of public transportation in our region. We talked about ongoing modernization efforts, the importance of reliable transit services for residents, and the funding challenges and opportunities facing public transportation systems. I appreciate Mary Jo sharing her insights and look forward to continuing to work together on these issues.
The Capitol hosted many service cats, dogs, and horses for Working Animal Appreciation Day last week. Groups such as the Pennsylvania State Working Animal Foundation, First Tracks Search and Rescue and the Pennsylvania State Police’s Tactical Mounted Section are an incredible asset, and we can’t thank them enough for their service and dedication to our communities.
Last Tuesday, I had the pleasure of meeting with the State Grange Royalty. We discussed their priority issues including agricultural education and volunteer fire and EMS support. They have a bright future ahead of them!
It was an honor to attend the Beaver County Support Our Troops Rally and join community members in recognizing the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our nation. Our servicemembers, veterans and their families make tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and we are grateful for their dedication and commitment to our country.
I met with John Witherspoon from Arconic to discuss investments in the Cranberry Township facility, the Kawneer brand, and energy-related issues impacting manufacturers across Pennsylvania. Thank you for the productive conversation and for Arconic’s continued investment in our region and workforce.
While in Harrisburg, I had the opportunity to meet with Danielle Schmidt (pictured on right), executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Butler County, and Mikele Bay, executive director of the Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County, as part of Children’s Advocacy Center Hill Day. We discussed the important work Children’s Advocacy Centers do to support children and families affected by abuse by bringing together law enforcement, child welfare professionals, medical providers, mental health experts, and victim advocates in a coordinated, child-focused approach. Thank you to Danielle and Mikele for taking the time to share more about the services they provide and the impact their organizations have on children and families across Pennsylvania. I appreciate their dedication to helping young people and supporting families during difficult times. Senate Passes Bill to Fight Human Trafficking
Legislation to give investigators and prosecutors new tools to fight human trafficking in Pennsylvania was passed by the Senate. Senate Bill 45 will help local law enforcement agencies and the state attorney general investigate and prosecute human trafficking by increasing penalties for several related crimes, including promoting prostitution, promoting prostitution of a minor, exploiting prostitutes and patronizing prostitutes. The bill also consolidates crimes related to human trafficking within the Crimes Code, giving the attorney general concurrent jurisdiction so these crimes, which are frequently the basis for large-scale human trafficking organizations, can be prosecuted more effectively. It now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Read more about our latest action to combat human trafficking here. Bill Targeting Dangerous Fentanyl Additive Passes Senate
The Senate passed legislation to combat the increasing illicit use of the veterinary anesthesia medetomidine by regulating it as a Schedule III controlled substance. Senate Bill 866 provides law enforcement and public health officials with another tool to combat dangerous drug adulterants while including clear exemptions to ensure veterinarians can continue using the medication in the care and treatment of animals. Medetomidine has rapidly overtaken xylazine as a common adulterant in Pennsylvania’s illicit drug supply. While medetomidine was not detected in samples collected in early 2024, it was found in approximately 80% of adulterants sold as fentanyl in Pennsylvania by April 2026. The drug is estimated to be significantly more potent than xylazine and can cause severe cardiovascular complications, even after naloxone has been administered. The General Assembly passed legislation to make xylazine a Schedule III drug in 2024. The bill now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about the measure here. PA Guard Military Family Education Program
As students begin preparing for the fall semester, Pennsylvania National Guard members are reminded their families could be eligible for assistance to offset the cost of higher education. The Military Family Education Program is for Guard members who completed an initial service obligation on or after July 1, 2019, and is eligible to reenlist in the PA National Guard for a period of six years. The grants can be used for a degree-granting or certificate-granting curriculum, course of study, or training program required for entrance into a specific career at an approved Pennsylvania institution of higher learning. Read more details and find applications here. Entries Accepted for PA Agriculture Photo Contest
Pennsylvania residents have until June 30 to submit entries in the 2026 Pennsylvania Agriculture Photo Contest. Submit up to four original photos highlighting the people, places, traditions and beauty of agriculture across our region or the commonwealth. Winning photos will be displayed in the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex during the first weeks of September. The categories are On the Farm, PA Fair Season, Agritourism, and Conservation. Click here for rules and how to submit your photos. National Cancer Survivors Month
There are more than 18.6 million people living with a history of cancer in the U.S. Each person diagnosed with cancer faces a unique set of challenges, but one in four survivors reports a poor physical quality of life, and many experience psychosocial challenges. If you are a cancer survivor or caregiver, you can find resources from the National Cancer Institute here that may help you enhance your health and well-being after a cancer diagnosis. They address emotional concerns, nutrition and physical activity, support services, follow-up medical care and testing for cancer.
Please contact me to provide input on any state-related matter, or to receive help in dealing with a state agency. |
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