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In this Update:
You Are Invited to My Fulton County Senior Expo Next Week!
Next Thursday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to Noon, I will be hosting my 2026 Senior Expo at the American Legion Post 561 located at 411 N. 5th Street in McConnellsburg. This event is free to attend and will offer door prizes, health screenings, vendor exhibits and light refreshments. I look forward to seeing you all there! Ending State Funding for Gender Transition of Children
Legislation introduced by Sens. Chris Gebhard and Cris Dush, which I co-sponsored, to end state funding for the gender transition of children was approved by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The measure follows recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stating gender-related medical interventions for minors do not meet professionally recognized standards of care. Senate Bill 1321 would require the state to withhold Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funding for any procedure conflicting with federal standards. At least half of U.S. states have passed similar laws. The U.K. banned the use of puberty blockers and sex-reassignment surgeries for minors in 2024. The measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 1321. This legislation, which is similar to legislation I have introduced, Senate Bill 843, the Do No Harm Act, is common sense and would provide protections for children across this Commonwealth. Protecting our children should never be a political issue. Furthermore, taxpayers should never be on the hook for causing our children irreparable harm. Successful Unclaimed Property Event in Hollidaysburg
It was a successful unclaimed property event in Blair County this week! Dozens of people were able to utilize the property search with the Pennsylvania Treasury Department representative. If you were unable to attend the event, feel free to call my office and we’ll be happy to see if you have unclaimed property! Unclaimed property can be old bank accounts, uncashed paychecks, insurance payments, rebates – the list is virtually endless. The bottom line is that it is money owed to people like you. More than 1 in 10 Pennsylvanians have unclaimed property available to be claimed! Committee Acts to Bolster Support of Constitutional Right to Bear Arms
The Senate continued its work to reinforce Second Amendment protections with committee approval of legislation to allow law‑abiding adults who are legally permitted to own a firearm to carry concealed without the need for a government‑issued permit. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 357, which also preserves an optional License to Carry Firearms for reciprocity with other states and modernizes the permitting process by reducing investigation time from 45 to 14 days, updating terminology and removing outdated disqualifiers while keeping all prohibitions for individuals who may not legally possess a firearm. The full Senate recently passed Senate Bill 822 to prevent local governments from undermining constitutional rights by enacting firearms ordinances that are more restrictive than those established by the General Assembly. Read more about our efforts to protect your Second Amendment rights here. Cutting Costs for PA Families by Ending Outdated Emissions Testing
Taking legislative action to do away with an outdated and unnecessary mandate, the Senate voted to eliminate the vehicle emissions testing requirement across the commonwealth. The measure will save Pennsylvanians an estimated $160 million annually. Senate Bill 1298 would remove all 25 counties currently subjected to annual emissions testing. It also clarifies that no additional counties can be added into the program, protecting Pennsylvania vehicle owners. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 1298 here. Remove Invasive Plants, Get a Free Native Replacement
Registration is open for the opportunity to receive free native trees and shrubs by removing invasive plants from your property. You can participate in the Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program by removing an invasive tree or shrub from your property or with permission from a property owner (such as a park, library or school), taking a photo of the removed plants and attending an event to receive a replacement plant. It’s available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Learn more and register here. Save for Education and the Opportunity to Win $5,529
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the fifth annual 529 Day Promotion is running throughout May. Pennsylvania families who contribute at least $10 to their PA 529 account this month could be eligible to win one of six regional awards of $5,529 to boost their education savings. The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program is a tax-advantaged way for families to save for a wide variety of education, including technical training, college, apprenticeship, credential program and K-12 expenses. Saving with a PA 529 does not impact eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. The PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan helps families save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuition expenses and the PA 529 Investment Plan offers a wide variety of investment options to choose from. Find official rules and learn more about how to make an eligible contribution here. Mammo May: No-Cost Breast Cancer Screenings and Diagnostic Imaging
In Pennsylvania, we’ve enacted laws to cover breast cancer screenings and diagnostic breast imaging at no cost for individuals with state-regulated insurance. I urge women to take advantage of these potentially lifesaving laws. Under Act 1 of 2023, supplemental screenings including breast MRI, ultrasounds and BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling are covered at no cost for those with an increased risk who are insured under PA law. Under Act 52 of 2025, which is currently in the implementation stage, diagnostic breast imaging including diagnostic mammograms, breast MRI and ultrasounds are covered at no cost for individuals insured under state law who are of average risk or higher. Learn more about no-cost screenings here. Learn more about no-cost diagnostic imaging here. Information on no-cost mammograms for those without insurance can be found here. Out and About in the 30th DistrictCentral Pennsylvania Clinic in Belleville The Central Pennsylvania Clinic in Belleville put on a Caregivers of Adults with Special Needs Day, where families and individuals with special needs heard presentations on legal, medical and financial tools to help the families better support their loved ones with special needs. The clinic also partners with Broad Top Area Medical Center to provide medical care to individuals with special needs.
Ribbon Cutting for My Guy Craftin’ Recently, community members gathered to celebrate the ribbon cutting celebration for My Guy Craftin’, located at 1242 W. 4th Street in Lewistown. The event marked an exciting milestone for the local business!
Beau’s Dog Park Ribbon Cutting It was a good day for dogs in Blair County! The ribbon was cut for Beau’s Dog Park in Duncansville, which was an Eagle Scout project for Aran Corey. The park is a large fenced in area and a walking trail, completely funded by community donations.
Trout Stocking Event at Blair Gap Run It was a perfect day for trout stocking at Blair Gap Run with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC). The PFBC invites me each year to participate in a trout stocking event in the area, and I always look forward to it.
Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce After Hours Event The Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce recently held their After Hours event at the Port Royal Speedway and Fairgrounds in Port Royal, Juniata County. Guests were given a guided tour of the entire facility including the racetrack, bleacher area, parking and camping areas as well as the Agricultural barn. For more information on upcoming events and other information, you can view their website here. This is also the home of the Juniata County Fair which will be held from September 5-12, 2026.
Meeting with Local Educator, Erin Kitt-Lewis I enjoyed meeting with Erin Kitt-Lewis, an Associate Research Professor at the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and Associate Director of Education at Penn State University. Erin’s work centers on improving the care and quality of life for older adults, particularly those who are chronically ill or at the end of life. As Vice Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, I found her insight valuable.
Hollidaysburg Senior Awards Ceremony Had the honor of presenting two Distinguished Graduate Awards to Hollidaysburg Senior students, Alice Halsam and Michael Waibel. Wishing these students and all graduates the very best. Congratulations!
Penn State Altoona Celebration at Railroaders Memorial Museum Penn State Altoona hosted a celebration at the Railroaders Memorial Museum for a very generous gift they received. Plasser American Corporation donated a train track tamper to support the Rail Transportation Engineering Program at Penn State Altoona. This piece of equipment will be invaluable to this unique program that prepares the next generation of rail professionals. Thank you to Plasser American Corporation for this generous gift!
Blair/Bedford Builders Association After Hours Event A pleasure to be at the Blair/Bedford Builders Association After Hours event hosted by Stuckey Ford Hollidaysburg.
Tour of Central PA Digital Learning Foundation It was great meeting with Malynda Maurer, CEO of Central PA Digital Learning Foundation, and touring their location at the Logan Valley Mall in Altoona. We had the opportunity to discuss ongoing issues facing our cyber charter schools and students. I also had the pleasure of sitting in on one of their middle school classes and hearing directly from the students how much they love their school. Cyber Charter Schools provide a unique opportunity that benefits certain students and these students love their classes, teachers and course work.
Visit to Stack AV As Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, I visited a Pennsylvania-based company that is developing autonomous trucking solutions. With a workforce of approximately 280 people, Stack AV is testing Level 4-intent autonomous technology with commercial partners on public roads in Pennsylvania and other States. The visit featured an on-road demonstration of an autonomous truck with an experienced driver onboard who monitored the automated driving system. Under Act 130 of 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is responsible for overseeing the safe testing and deployment of highly automated vehicles on public roads in the Commonwealth.
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