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In this Update:

• Happy New Year
• Family-Sustaining Jobs Give Pennsylvanians Great Opportunity
• Senate Republicans Vote for Healthy Communities
• Home Heating Assistance Takes the Chill Out
• Free Drug Overdose Prevention Supplies Available
• PA Farm Show Runs Jan. 4-11

Happy New Year

I hope you had a safe and enjoyable time ringing in the New Year, I sure did! I am excited to get back to work as the General Assembly begins the new 2025-2026 legislative session this Tuesday.

During the 2023-2024 legislative session, I was proud to have:

▸ introduced 50 bills, 13 of which passed their respective standing committee, and 8 were passed by the Senate
▸ established a new Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) in the district
▸ passed Senate Bill 365, which changes the standard that a first responder must meet in order to establish a workers’ compensation claim for a post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI)
▸ added Senate Bill 654 to the 2024 tax code, which reduces the tax burden faced by farmers and landowners who have leased their mineral rights
▸ added Senate Bill 629 to the 2024 tax code, which elevates the removal of waste from a grease trap to a tax exemption status
▸ added Senate Bill 1172 to an omnibus conveyance bill, which authorizes the Department of General Services to grant and convey to Franklin Township, Greene County, certain lands situate in Franklin Township
▸ championed my Senate companion bill to House Bill 2177, which was signed into law and will now allow motorcycles to be inspected year-round
▸ passed a comprehensive probation reform bill, Act 44 of 2023
▸ been the co-prime sponsor and champion of the Senate version of the “Solar for Schools” initiative which brings federal dollars to our communities and offers grants to schools to fund solar energy projects
▸ helped name the interchange of I-79 and PA Turnpike 576, in Cecil Township, Washington County, as the Lance Corporal Robert Alan “Bucky” McPherson Memorial Interchange in all directions

In 2024, I helped secure $64.7 million in grants for the 46^th Senatorial District. The Impact Fee on unconventional natural gas wells brought and additional $26.4 million to the district.

I’m proud to represent you and will continue to be laser focused on keeping the southwest corner of Pennsylvania a top priority in Harrisburg.

Family-Sustaining Jobs Give Pennsylvanians Great Opportunity

Access to family-sustaining jobs give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to thrive, so Senate Republicans focused on creating an environment to attract and retain great employers.

That’s why we worked to continue the phase-down of the jobs-killing Corporate Net Income Tax and began eliminating the start-up penalty that thwarts entrepreneurship. We also funded scholarships to encourage young people to fill high-demand job openings and enacted the Max Manufacturing Initiative so Pennsylvania can produce high-value products and create family-sustaining jobs.

Because high energy prices mean fewer jobs, we fought the RGGI electricity tax and streamlined the permit-review process for job creators. The budget we passed ensures business sites are prepared to welcome new jobs and created new Keystone Opportunity Zones to bring new businesses to underutilized parcels of land. Read more about how we have protected PA jobs.

Senate Republicans Vote for Healthy Communities

To support families, Senate Republicans passed bills in the 2023-24 legislative session that foster healthy communities.

Landmark legislation eliminated out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer screening and testing for women at high risk – the first bill of its kind in the nation. Pennsylvanians also have greater access to licensed addiction treatment programs because of a bill we passed.

From babies who are just a few days old to people who have lived a long life, new laws help Pennsylvanians with the medical care they need. Struggling babies now have critical access to life-saving care provided by medically prescribed pasteurized human donor milk. Another new law prevents senior citizens using Pennsylvania’s prescription drug programs from losing their benefits due to a Social Security cost-of-living increase.

Learn more about our efforts to improve health care, including tackling health care staffing shortages, improving patient care options and reducing administrative burdens for health care providers.

Home Heating Assistance Takes the Chill Out

Residents struggling with their home heating bills may apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through April 4.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel or termination of utility service.

The income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP are $22,590 for an individual, $30,660 for a couple and $46,800 for a family of four. Find limits for other family sizes here. Residents may apply for LIHEAP online or by contacting their local county assistance office.

Free Drug Overdose Prevention Supplies Available

Naloxone and drug-checking strips designed to detect xylazine and fentanyl are available at no cost through the Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program.

The program’s goal is to improve community-based distribution and harm reduction efforts while focusing on individuals who face the greatest risk of experiencing overdose.

Organizations can use an interactive map, which can be filtered by product, distribution methods and trainings offered. It will display contact information for getting supplies. If organizations aren’t able to get supplies using the map, they’re encouraged to use this form.

PA Farm Show Runs Jan. 4-11

As a state where agriculture is one of the top industries, Pennsylvania is proud to host the largest indoor agricultural exposition under one roof in the nation. The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs from Jan. 4-11 in Harrisburg.

The Farm Show features nearly 6,000 animals, competitive events and 250 commercial exhibits. There are also educational and entertaining events – and of course the famed Food Court. Admission is free, and parking is $15 per car.

Agriculture in PA employs nearly half a million people and contributes $132.5 billion to the state’s economy annually.

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