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In this Update:
Senate Committee Assignments
For the 2025-26 legislative session, I have been assigned to several key Senate Committees, most notably as Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, which will position me to play a vital role in shaping policies that impact the Commonwealth’s infrastructure, health care, governance and innovation. As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I will have an influential role that will allow me to oversee and advance Pennsylvania’s multimodal transportation infrastructure. This committee focuses on critical issues such as the maintenance of roads and bridges, public transit expansion, and the modernization of airports, ports and railways. Transportation is the lifeline of Pennsylvania’s economy and communities. As chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I am committed to ensuring that our infrastructure meets the needs of our residents and businesses, both now and for generations to come. From modernizing critical systems to addressing maintenance challenges, this role provides an incredible opportunity to make meaningful progress. In addition to my chairmanship, I will serve as vice chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, where I will continue my work advocating for senior citizens and younger Pennsylvanians. Supporting the well-being of both our aging population and our youth has always been a priority for me, and I am honored to continue these efforts as vice chair; having served as the most recent past chair of the Aging and Youth Committee. Other committee assignments include:
These committee assignments reflect a broad spectrum of issues that are vital to the success of our commonwealth. I am eager to work alongside my colleagues to advance legislation that improves the lives of Pennsylvanians and those in the 30th district, strengthens our institutions and lays the groundwork for a brighter future. You can stay up to date on committee work and legislation on my website. PennDOT Contest for Students to Improve Roadway Safety
Students are invited to participate in the Innovations Challenge to help the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) increase awareness for seatbelt safety and improve driver behavior for the benefit of our roads. The challenge, which has an award of $6,000 for the winning team, encourages ninth-through twelfth-grade students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to resolve real-world transportation challenges. Regional winners will be invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide cash prize winner. The submission deadline is Jan. 31. PA Forward Student Loan Program Webinars Available for January
During the month of January, PHEAA will be offering webinars that will provide students and families with the borrowing information that is right for them. You can register and find more information here. Searching for Scholarships and Affording the Balance: Tuesday, January 28 at Noon. There are many ways to pay for education and one important step is to search and apply for Scholarships. More free money equals less borrowing. This presentation will review the types of options available, along with tips of applying. It will also offer samples of fun scholarship options to get you started. They will then review what to do about the balances that might be left over to make affordable higher education decisions. Join Suzanne Sparrow, Daniel Wray, and William McGinley from PHEAA for an hour of detailed information on this topic. Borrowing for Education – Which Loan is Right for Me: Thursday, January 30 at Noon. If you have found the schools you would like to attend, filed the FAFSA and State Grant Form, searched for Scholarships, researched higher education costs, and calculated the funding gap. If you see that education loans are a necessity, but are wondering where do I go from here? What loan programs are available? What are the advantages and disadvantage of the various types? Join Suzanne Sparrow, Daniel Wray, and William McGinley of PHEAA for a 1-hour webinar to review the different borrowing options and examine the details associated with each option. The PHEAA loan team will answer your questions as you sort out the information and make decisions that are right for you and your family. New Annual Report Requirement for Business Owners Starting in 2025
As of January 1, there are new annual report requirements for businesses. Types of domestic and foreign businesses that must now file annual reports with the Pennsylvania Department of State include business corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability general partnerships, professional associations and business trusts. The information required includes the business name, jurisdiction, registered office address, principal office address, name of at least one governor (director, member, partner, etc.), officer names (if any), and Department of State file number. The filing fee is $7, which is waived for nonprofits. Reports can be updated during the reporting year for no additional charge. Businesses are encouraged to file the annual report online to avoid any delays or backlogs. The filing window is based on the entity type: corporations Jan. 1 – June 30; limited liability companies Jan. 1 – Sept. 30; and all others Jan. 1 – Dec. 31. The Department of State will notify entities via email (if an email address has been provided) and postcard before their deadline. Failure to file an annual report will result in the administrative dissolution, termination, or cancellation of the business registration, starting in 2027. Business owners can find a step-by-step filing guide and other resources regarding annual reports here. They can also call the Department’s dedicated telephone line for questions about annual reports: 717-787-1057, option 5. Free Winter Activities at State Parks
Staff at Pennsylvania state parks and forests host free events throughout the year for people of all ages. During winter, snow walks, bird watching, night owl hikes and more are among the activities available. The event listing can be sorted by in-person or virtual events. It can also be filtered by region and date. To make it even more convenient, a personalized list of events can be emailed to you weekly if you build an event digest email to your liking. The email can be customized for your event preferences and when you wish to be notified. REAL ID to be In Effect on May 7
Beginning May 7, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card or other federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board domestic commercial flights or enter a military installation or federal facility that requires ID. To get a REAL ID, you must bring your documents to a driver licensing center for verification in person. Learn about the specific items that are required to be issued a REAL ID. The website also offers the option to pre-verify online if your documents are already on file with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. REAL ID is optional. It is not required to drive, vote, access hospitals, visit the post office, access federal courts or apply for or receive federal benefits. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs Available
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is assisting in the application process of FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs. Two programs are currently available, the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant has $750 million available to it. The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant has $600 million available to it. After reviewing information, eligible grant applicants need to send PEMA a non-contractual/required Letter of Interest form to PEMA at RA-Shazmitoff@pa.gov. All completed Letters of Interest are due by Feb. 14, at 4 P.M. All completed applications are due by March 21, at 4 P.M. Any further questions may be sent to RA-Shazmitoff@pa.gov. Help is Available for People Who Want to Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is difficult, and not just because of the addictive properties of nicotine. Different people experience unique challenges, and personalized resources are available for veterans, women, teens, those who are age 60 and older and others. People can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669), text QUIT to 47848 or use the live chat feature on SmokeFree.gov. The website has lots of practical articles, including ones about how to make a plan to quit, manage cravings, cope with stress without smoking and much more. There are resources for people who want to stop using dip and vapes, as well as information about how to support a loved one who is quitting. Jan. 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for peace, even while he worked to instill change. As our country has faced various transitions in the past few years, I hope all Americans can celebrate his commitment to treating each other with decency – even when perspectives may differ. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation into law that made the third Monday in January a federal holiday honoring the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Out and About in the 30th DistrictTyrone Chamber Breakfast Blair County District Attorney Pete Weeks was the speaker at the Tyrone Chamber breakfast which was held this week. His presentation touched on crime in Blair County and highlighted the functions of the DA’s office with a focus on the frequency and severity of various types of crimes that occur throughout the county.
UPMC Altoona Signs Veteran Care Pledge I attended a special ceremony at UPMC Altoona where Mike Corso, President of UPMC Altoona and Bedford; and Derek Coughenour, Executive Director of James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, signed a veteran care pledge. UPMC and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have embarked on a new program implementing a community nurse liaison to focus on care coordination, improved admission and discharge planning, and enhanced inpatient experiences for the Veterans we serve. This program is a statewide extension of a smaller pilot initially tested at UPMC West Shore, UPMC Community Osteopathic and UPMC Harrisburg.
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