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In this Update:
Federal Grants Available for Emergency Response
The 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program will open on November 12 and close December 20. The primary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. Interested parties should visit this link to learn more. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. Focus on the 46th
Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman is spearheading preliminary research with the Washington County Department of Parks and Recreation (WCPR) on the potential of constructing a fish hatchery or nursery in the county utilizing the WCPR budget. This hypothetical hatchery/nursery would be used to boost tourism by supplying local waters with fish that could sustain professional tournaments (bass, crappie, catfish, etc) and would be utilized by our school districts for educational purposes. I think this is a wonderful idea. Commissioner Sherman has also asked me and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce to join him on some early fact gathering. This week we visited Waynesburg University’s marine biology lab, which is active in the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Cooperative Nursery Program. Dr. Christian Hayes, Waynesburg University Asst. Professor of Biology, spent time with our group discussing the ins and outs of the nursing process. As of this week, the lab is overseeing about 800 channel catfish. These catfish can be sent to classrooms across the region for educational purposes or eventually released into local waters. Thank you Dr. Hayes and thank you to WU President Douglas Lee for hosting us.
It was certainly a day to celebrate PA Representative Dan Miller’s legislation (Act 113 of 2024) that has created a western PA based Urban Search & Rescue Task Force (USAR). It’s an incredible advancement to increase our region’s emergency response capabilities. The need for this task force became glaringly evident during the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in 2022 when our nearest USAR team was based out of Philadelphia. I was proud to support this legislation in the Senate. Along with celebrating this achievement, Representative Miller invited me and a few of my colleagues in Harrisburg to deliver a bipartisan, bicameral update on additional increased support for our first responders. I was honored to discuss my legislation, Senate Bill 365 (Act 121 of 2024), that addresses first responder’s mental health needs by allowing them to receive workers compensation benefits and treatment for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) they experience in the line of duty. You can watch my video remarks from the press conference by clicking the image above.
Congratulations to my dear friends, the Bottino family, on their success and growth of their business, Bottino Financial Insurance Services. Last week this truly family-owned business opened their new offices in Peters Township. All the best to you and the exciting future in store. Thank you to Amy Petro and the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce for organizing and hosting the ceremony. PA Voters Return Senate Republican Majority
Pennsylvania voters returned a Republican majority to the state Senate in Tuesday’s General Election, re-electing all Republican incumbents and sending new Republican senators to Harrisburg. Senate Republicans will hold the majority in the 2025-26 legislative session. Newly and re-elected senators will be sworn into office to begin their four-year term on Jan. 7, 2025. Working together, Senate Republicans will continue to be steadfast in our work to empower Pennsylvanians by standing against executive and judicial overreach, rejecting Democrats’ massive tax increases, and ensuring the fundamental rights of our Commonwealth’s citizens remain safely guarded. New Law Makes Workers’ Comp More Efficient
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation system will be more efficient because of legislation unanimously passed by Senate Republicans that is now law. Act 126 of 2024 moves more benefit payments from paper checks to direct deposit. Individuals entitled to compensation may request funds be deposited into an account of their choosing. The law also allows insurers to no longer have to offer paper checks as a payment as long as the individual has a bank account that accepts direct deposit. The reforms, which are also more cost-effective, were unanimously recommended by the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council. Shooting Ranges Open to the Public
Whether you’re a hunter preparing for rifle season or would simply like to maintain your shooting skills for self-defense, you can take aim at a public shooting range. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers recreation opportunities at public rifle, pistol, archery and shotgun ranges on 40 state game lands throughout the state. It constructed or renovated more than a dozen public shooting ranges this year alone, with plans to upgrade more. You must possess an annual shooting range permit or a current general hunting or furtaker license to use the public shooting ranges. Find a shooting range near you. Fish and Boat Commission is Accepting Boating Facility Grant Applications
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has two grant opportunities for qualifying organizations to capitalize on the surge in new boating activity. The Boating Facility Grant Program provides grants for planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities on PA waterways. Townships, boroughs and municipal and county governments can learn more and apply online by Nov. 30. The Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation (R3) Grant Program will reimburse up to $25,000 for eligible expenses that support R3-related educational programs and increase learning opportunities for anglers and boaters. Learn more and apply online by Dec. 6. Recognizing the Selfless Sacrifice of Veterans
Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day is a time to appreciate the brave men and women who selflessly dedicated their time to preserve our beloved American freedoms. We also think of their families, who lived with the understanding that their loved ones could be in harm’s way and may not make it home. These tremendous sacrifices are truly the ultimate demonstration of patriotism.
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