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In this Update:
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This week, I joined my colleagues in the Capitol to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. While research and treatment for breast cancer has come a long way, there is still work to do. With the passage of Senate Bill 8 this session, women who have an increased risk of breast cancer will now have screenings and genetic testing fully covered by their insurer. My colleagues and I will continue to work toward helping those across our Commonwealth who are afflicted with this terrible disease. If you have the opportunity this month to travel through Harrisburg, make sure to stop by and see the Capitol fountain turned pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness! This month serves as an important time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the work that still lies ahead. One in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime, so early detection and access to life-saving treatments remain critical. We stand united in spreading awareness and fostering hope, reminding everyone that we can make a lasting impact in the fight against breast cancer. Stay up to date here. Milk Hauling Legislation Heads to the House
The Senate took action this week and approved legislation that I authored and sponsored with Senator Gene Yaw (R-23), that would exempt milk haulers from travel bans imposed during a declaration of disaster emergency. Senate Bill 153 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. The dairy industry is truly a 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, 365 days-a-year operation involving a highly perishable product – raw milk – and the laws and regulations governing it need to reflect this reality. The Senate took the first steps to pass commonsense legislation that would make it easier, not harder, for our dairy farmers to continue farming and providing our food supply with high-quality milk product. By clicking the image above, you can see my comments on the legislation from the Senate floor. Route 75 Bridge Restoration
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said restoration work on a truss bridge along a Route 75 bridge spanning First Street and the Juniata River in Port Royal Borough will start on Monday, October 7. The project involves removing and replacing overhead structural members, painting, and other non-critical repairs. The contractor will keep one lane of the bridge open for most of the project duration. It will implement eight-hour closures on Sunday, October 13, and Sunday, October 20. It will close the road between 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. on those dates and implement a detour using Routes 333, 35, and 3002 (Main Street). PennDOT hopes that closing the bridges on Sunday will minimize traffic disruptions for motorists. It anticipates project completion after lifting the detour on Sunday, October 20, but notes that all work is weather-dependent. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com PA CareerLink – Blair County Job Fair
For more information regarding the Job Fair please call 814-940-6201 or to pre-register click here. The Liberty Tree Project
The Pennsylvania Freemasons in coordination with America250PA are proud to present the Liberty Tree Project! This event is part of a multi-year celebration of our nation’s 250th Anniversary. On October 12, there will be a tree planting and dedication in Mifflin and Juniata Counties. Liberty Trees were gathering places for the Sons of Liberty throughout all 13 colonies. From their meetings and discussions, the seeds of the American Revolution were planted. The trees planted are actual descendants of real Liberty Trees. The Mifflin County event will be held at McVeytown Community Park located at 10 N. Queen St. in McVeytown and will be held at 10:30 A.M. The Juniata County event will be held at Westminster United Presbyterian Church Cemetery located on North Street in Mifflintown at 1:30 P.M. For more information or to RSVP, please reach out to Amanda@America250PA.org. Senate Votes to Strengthen PA’s Sexual Offender Registry
The Senate unanimously approved legislation to protect children from sexual predators by closing a loophole in existing state law. The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 1317 would add the crime of sexual assault by a sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association as a Tier II sexual offense, requiring individuals convicted of this offense to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. Under current law, those convicted of this offense are not required to register as sex offenders. The bill supports the Senate Republican priority of cultivating healthy and safe communities. Bill to Minimize Utility Disruptions, Protect Workers Passes Senate
The Senate unanimously passed a bill to improve and extend protection of Pennsylvanians and the workers who maintain essential underground utilities such as gas, water, telecommunications and more. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 1237 would make permanent the PA One Call Law, which has been extended for 50 years and is set to expire on Dec. 31. PA One Call prevents accidents that threaten the safety of Pennsylvanians, construction workers and other excavators. It also minimizes utility service disruptions by ensuring underground utility lines are properly marked prior to any digging. The bill would also enhance safety protocols by improving communication between excavators, facility owners and the Public Utility Commission, as well as requiring better documentation of underground utility lines. To prevent dangerous situations, the legislation calls for expanded timelines for filing violation reports and additional consequences for non-compliance. State Game Lands Tours About to Get Rolling
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will be offering Fall Driving Tours on State Game Lands, happening on Sundays in October. These driving tours provide residents with a look at habitat projects, as well as hunting and trapping opportunities on public lands across the state. All tours are held on Sundays (no hunting is interrupted). They are FREE, held rain or shine, and open to vehicles licensed for travel on public roads. Here is a schedule of all events across the state: SUNDAY, OCT. 6
Starting Point: Game lands parking lot on Wheelerville Mtn. on Rte. 154, south of Canton. (41.59331, -76.79151)
Starting Point: End of Dewey Road at state game lands gate. (41.341406, -78.369065) *Please note, ONLY PennDOT licensed vehicles will be permitted on this driving tour. ATVs and UTVs are NOT permitted on tour. SUNDAY, OCT. 13
Starting Point: Gate 6 along Rte. 869. (40.29883, -78.640998.)
Starting Point: Rte. 53 towards Prince Gallitzin State Park, past Marina Rd. (40.6598, -78.49579)
Starting Point: Game lands parking lot on Mountain Springs Rd off Rte. 487. *Tour route will vary from previous years due to storm damage* (41.38830, -76.27779) SUNDAY, OCT. 20
Starting Point: SGL Parking Lot off Rte 810/ Mountain Rd. (40.552243, -76.054135)
Starting Point: SGL gate off Ellendale Rd. (40.406108, -76.818071)
Starting Point: SGL 51 Maintenance building at 268 Dunbar Ohiopyle Rd, Dunbar. (39.9147133, -79.5523173)
Starting Point: Kenrock Rd, off Rte 913. (40.2163556, -78.1827349) $10 Million Available to Farmers for Agricultural Innovation
To support farmers who supply our communities with healthy foods and beverages, Senate Republicans dedicated $10 million for the new Agricultural Innovation Grant Program in this year’s budget. Funding can be used to improve efficiency on the farm or in processing, generate energy while reducing nutrient waste leaving the farm and support crops that effectively store carbon or replace non-renewable resources. It can also be used to address practical challenges including data collection, biosecurity and odor remediation. Learn more about eligibility and apply online by Nov. 15. State Pumpkin Contest Open Until Oct. 20
The Department of Agriculture has announced its PA Preferred® Pumpkin Palooza Contest. Participants are encouraged to express their creativity by painting or carving a pumpkin. Pumpkins must be purchased from a Pennsylvania farm, and contestants must be a Pennsylvania resident. Three age divisions include child (11 and younger), youth (12-17) and adult (18 and older). Contestants should email a photo of their submission, with the subject “PA Pumpkin Palooza Entry,” to agcontests@pa.gov by Oct. 20. Winners, who will be emailed on Oct. 24, will receive a PA Preferred swag bag. Learn more. Out and AboutHuntingdon Fair Queen Visits Capitol It was truly a pleasure to catch up with Isabella Jones, Huntingdon County Fair Queen, and her father, Scott, at the Capitol, this week! Isabella was at the Capitol with Fair Queens from across our Commonwealth to highlight the importance of our Fair Queen program and the impact of our agricultural and fair industries. While juggling the tasks of fair queen this year, Isabella is also a freshman at Penn State University, majoring in Music Education and is a member of the Blue Band.
Central PA Food Bank is Expanding! Central Pennsylvania Food Bank celebrated the expansion of its services to include the Hollidaysburg Healthy Food Hub this week. The actual location is not operating yet, but the plans for the building were on display. The new location will serve the larger Allegheny Mountain Region, with a specific focus on the counties represented within Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin, in addition to the counties of Bedford, Centre and Clearfield. The food bank serves approximately 65,000 neighbors. Pictured speaking is Joe Arthur, CEO of the Central PA Food Bank.
Mascot Day at the Capitol! The Juniata College Eagle, “Alfie”, flew into the Capitol for Mascot Day! It was great to catch up with my friends from Juniata College during a busy session week.
Blair County Naturalization Ceremony It was a very special ceremony at the Blair County Courthouse, where nine individuals swore an oath of citizenship before the judicial bench. Countries represented were China, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam. These individuals worked very hard to receive the title of Citizen of the United States of America. Congratulations to each of them! The recited oath: “I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”
Protecting Women’s Sports It was an honor to host Riley Gaines at the Capitol this week, along with Senator Cris Dush. A former nationally ranked collegiate swimmer, Riley, is a champion for women across our nation and for women’s sports. Last session, I authored Senate Bill 1191 with Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill, along with my House colleague Rep. Barb Gleim, who introduced House Bill 972. Our legislation would have created the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act and preserved athletic opportunities for young women here in Pennsylvania. The legislation was ultimately vetoed by Governor Wolf. It is so encouraging to see someone like Riley standing for the truth, and I was glad to have her meet with so many of my colleagues as we look to address these legislative issues in the future.
Blair County Airport Expands Travel Great things are happening at the Blair County Airport! This week the ribbon was cut with the support from the Blair, Huntingdon and Bedford County Chamber of Commerce to spotlight the new carrier and service. Contour Airlines has partnered with the airport and has added a daily flight to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina to better serve the needs of our community. Pictured is Tracy Plessinger, General Manager of the Airport, elected officials and Chamber ambassadors, and Airport Authority Board Members.
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