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In this Update:
Focus on the 46th
I am incredibly honored to have assisted AMVETS (American Veterans), the Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization, in moving their AMVETS National Headquarters to Washington County. This week we broke ground on the renovations to the former synagogue on North Avenue that will be completed in 2025. Joseph Chenelly [AMVETS National Executive Director] who is pictured with me, Horace Johnson [AMVETS National Commander], and Brady Brooks [AMVETS Commander, Post 72347] highlighted the importance of giving support to not only our 14,000 Washington County veterans but veterans in our neighboring counties and tri-state area. We need to be sure that we’re doing everything we can at the county and state level and even in our neighborhoods to recruit young veterans to our social clubs, to our VFWs, to all of these organizations. We have to spread the word. We have to recruit them and bring them in. Let them know this is a community that loves them and supports them, and there’s some wonderful things that they can do at any one of these establishments. Vietnam veteran and Pittsburgh Steelers legend Rocky Bleier will be heading the renovations through his Rocky Bleier Construction Group.
[Picture left to right is Jeanine Henry, Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful / Greene County Commissioner Betsy McClure / Greene County Commissioner Jared Edgreen / Representative Bud Cook / Waynesburg Mayor Lynn Bussey / Jarrett Niecgorski, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler’s office / Joel Morris, PennDOT District 12 Business Manager / Greene County Commissioner Blair Zimmerman / Melody Longstreth, Greene County Chamber of Commerce] This week we celebrated the completion of the $13M Waynesburg Betterment Project that utilized both federal and state funding that I helped secure along with Congressman Guy Reschenthaler. Waynesburg is unique in that the only east-west traffic runs right through the downtown business district and sees 19,000 vehicles daily. The year-long project repaired the pavement, modernized traffic signals, updated sidewalks, improved drainage, and beautified the streetscape. People truly care about this town, and the completion of this project will help draw more visitors to shop, eat and enjoy downtown Waynesburg. I believe this is a pilot light under a lot of future projects coming their way.
It was a beautiful day for last weekend’s Greene County Chamber of Commerce annual Christmas Parade in Waynesburg. The #CameraCrew was there to share in the holiday spirit!
Voting ends tomorrow for the PennDOT Paint the Plow High School Art & Safety Contest. Support the 46th District by voting for either Bethlehem-Center Senior High School, California Area High School, Carmichaels Area High School, or McGuffey High School. Visit this link to cast your vote. Paint the Plow is a statewide outreach aimed at promoting winter driving safety and fostering appreciation for high school art programs and student creativity. Earlier this year, teens from the southwest region designed and painted PennDOT plow blades based on the statewide theme “Use your reason when it’s freezin’”. The theme was chosen to remind motorists to practice safe driving during the winter season. Voting ends at 11:59 PM tomorrow. Fostering Greater Educational Opportunities for Students
Throughout the 2023-24 legislative session, Senate Republicans advanced numerous initiatives to expand educational opportunities and dedicate record-breaking levels of funding for our students. A newly implemented law now gives schools the option to use funding for resources to limit student smartphone use during school hours to improve students’ mental health and academic performance. Another measure is now working to improve early literacy rates – critical to lifelong success – by bolstering reading instruction, identifying struggling readers and properly training educators. We know skilled and dedicated teachers are vital to providing students with a strong educational foundation. To attract and keep passionate educators in our commonwealth, Grow PA Scholarships are available to in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in a high-demand industry, and agree to live and work here after graduation. Another new law created is the PA Student Teacher Support Program, to provide student teachers with a stipend to alleviate the financial strain caused by student teaching requirements, thereby increasing the likelihood for degree completion. The new program will assist with the goal of reducing teacher shortages in Pennsylvania. Empowering parents when it comes to the education of their children has been and will remain a focus of our caucus. Read more about our efforts to strengthen educational opportunities here. 2025 Fishing Licenses, Permits and Gift Vouchers on Sale
Fishing licenses, permits and vouchers for 2025 purchased now from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission are valid immediately through Dec. 31, 2025. They can be purchased online, through the FishBoatPA mobile app or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents. Customers can choose from annual or multi-year licenses and permits with three-, five- and 10-year options. All documents can be printed immediately after purchase or saved digitally to a smart device which serves as proof of possession. People may also purchase vouchers to be given as gifts and redeemed by recipients. Tips to Stay Safe Throughout the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a special time when many of us spend time with loved ones enjoying long-loved traditions. Because these special activities can come with extra risks, taking some precautions is wise. Candles, which cause the most fires on Christmas day, should be kept at least 12 inches from anything that can burn. Trees should be at least three feet from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles and heat vents. It’s best to dispose of the tree when it’s dry or after the holiday season. Discarding string lights that are worn or damaged also protects against fires. Read more about winter fire prevention. Help Wanted: Qualified Professionals Needed to Improve DEP Permit Process
To help Pennsylvanians who are tied up by bureaucratic red tape, Senate Republicans passed legislation as part of this year’s state budget that created the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) Program. The program allows permit applicants to have a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)-verified professional conduct the initial review of the application, with DEP making its decision based on the qualified professional’s recommendation. Applicants for eligible permits must pay any review fees incurred by the professional in addition to their permit application fees. Qualified professionals who would like to review permits on an expedited basis are encouraged to apply for the specific permits that interest them by Dec. 31. Permits eligible for the SPEED program include air quality plan approvals (state-only) (Chapter 127), earth disturbance permits (Chapter 102), individual water obstruction and encroachment permits (Chapter 105) and dam safety permits (Chapter 105). Please email brfranklin@pa.gov or call 717-787-2471 with any questions. Wreaths Across America to Honor Veterans on Dec. 14
Each December, Wreaths Across America helps communities remember the fallen, honor those who served in the military and teach the next generation about the value of freedom by laying wreaths on the graves of heroes. These acts of remembrance take place at Arlington National Cemetery, and more than 4,600 locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. Ceremonies take place on Saturday, Dec. 14. You can help by sponsoring a veteran’s wreath at a cemetery near you, volunteering or donating to programs. Search for the nearest participating cemetery here.
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