Recent News
PA Senators Support Empowering Parents with Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
A bipartisan group of state senators is working to ensure Pennsylvania benefits from a new federal tax credit program which could help empower parents and create new learning opportunities for students. [Read More]
E-news Updates – August 1, 2026
In this Update: Indiana in the Morning Interview Marion Center Senior Spotlight Senate Stands with Attorney General, District Attorneys, State Troopers and Police Measure Cracking Down on โCDL Millsโ Becomes Law Consider a Future as an Emergency Medical Services Provider Nominate a Non-Teaching School Employee for a RISE Award Organ and Tissue Donation Saves Lives […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – July 25, 2026
In this Update: Indiana County Farm Bureau Event Tremendous Win for Private Property Rights PA House Fails Murder Victimsโ Families While Jeopardizing the Safety of Commonwealthโs Communities Standing Up for Rape Crisis Services Pittman, Struzzi, Cooper, Major & Bashline Announce $6.75 Million in Area Community Improvement Grants Protecting Our Communities from Child Predators and Human […] [Read More]
PA House Fails Murder Victimsโ Families While Jeopardizing the Safety of Commonwealthโs Communities
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Majority Whip Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin (R-13), and Senate Judiciary Chair Lisa Baker (R-20) issued the following statement after the House failed to protect Pennsylvania communities today by refusing to allow a vote on bipartisan legislation passed twice by the Senate: [Read More]
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๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐
๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐๐ซโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐
The 105th annual convention of the Cambria County Regional Firefighterโs Association was recently held in St. Michael. The festivities were hosted by the St. Michael #firedepartment, gathering numerous #firemen from around the region for meetings, a variety of awards, tributes to past members, a #community parade, the battle of the barrel, and several other friendly competitions. I was pleased to join area leaders and Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr. to take part in the event. A special thank you to all the members of CCRFA for presenting me with a plaque as an honorary member of the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association!
Two of my family members were also recognized for their extraordinary actions during a carbon monoxide incident on April 3rd of this year. Fire Chief/EMT Mark Riva and First Responder Trish Riva were presented with the Life Saving Award/Unit Citation for their heroic actions that helped save the lives of four individuals who were unconscious.
Congratulations to St. Michael Fire Department & VFD members, and all the local officials who hosted a wonderful convention this year!
๐๏ธ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๏ธ
Thank you to Todd Marino for inviting me to join him on @wccsnewstalk โIndiana in the Morningโ today to discuss the completion of the 2026-27 state budget and key issues impacting our Commonwealth as we move forward. You can watch this 15-minute video here.
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Bryon Breisch. Byron is a rising senior at Marion Center Jr. Sr. High School and has a strong desire to pursue a nomination to attend the USAF Academy and ultimately to serve our country in the United States Air Force.
For the past two years, Byron has been studying for his private pilotโs license which spurred his interest in the #USAF. He is also very active with numerous school club activities, served as a class officer and is an avid athlete on Marion Centerโs #Basketball and #Track teams. Thank you to Byron for stopping by my Indiana office and best wishes in his future endeavors!
๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐
๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฌโ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐กโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ
In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the stateโs sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder cases โ life without the possibility of parole โ are unconstitutional. The court gave the legislature 120 days to set new guidelines that ensure fairness, accountability and public safety. Members of our Senate Republican Caucus have worked with victim advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors and the Pennsylvania Attorney General to create new guidelines that would ensure the punishments fit the terrible nature of these crimes.
The Senate passed legislation twice to address the issue of Second-Degree Felony Murder. On June 25 we sent Senate Bill 1400 to the House and on July 12 we sent House Bill 1042 to the House. Both bills have bipartisan support, passing our chamber by votes of 30 to 20. With the support of Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, the FOP and the DAโs Association, there is no valid reason for House Democrats to have not allowed a vote to send HB1042 or SB1400 to the Governorโs desk.
On the 119th day, House Democrats still had the opportunity to join the Senate in keeping our communities safe. Instead of allowing a vote on either of the bipartisan bills passed by the Senate, they chose to engage in political theater and failed to produce any feasible product to protect our communities and victimsโ families.
@pasenategop are serious about public safety and securing our communities, which is why we acted decisively and in a bipartisan way. Since the day the House announced their return to Session this week, there has been no outreach to us by the Governor or House Democrat Leadership. The lack of engagement on such a significant issue is gravely troubling and a complete failure of leadership.
๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ
I had a wonderful time visiting the Indiana County Farm Bureauโs โHay Thereโ Summer event on Saturday with great activities, picnic food, raffles, and a few rides for folks to take part in. It was a pleasure chatting with students from Marion Center & Penns Manor #FFA programs, as well as with farm bureau members, Ed Rising and Ray Sleppy.
Always such a privilege to spend time with our local #agriculture community!
๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฐ โ ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ
It was great to sit down with Francine Schertzer from @pennsylvaniacablenetwork(PCN) to talk about the completed 2026-27 state budget in an โOn the Issuesโ Interview. Iโm proud of our work to stand up for Pennsylvania taxpayers and families.
๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ
Nearly 1,200 people convicted of second-degree murder in Pennsylvania could be released if House Democrats donโt take action by July 24. The #PASenate passed bipartisan legislation twice to address this issue - legislation supported by the Attorney General & DAs.
Urgent action is needed because in March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Lee ruled that the sentencing scheme for second degree murder in our Commonwealth is unconstitutional. The Court imposed a 120-day stay in order to provide the General Assembly with an opportunity to enact remedial legislation.
The safety of our communities is of paramount importance to @pasenategop. It`s time for House Democrats join us in taking needed action now!
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๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก ๐
Good News! Pennsylvania now has a 2026-27 State Budget in place.
When Governor Shapiro first presented his budget plan in February, Senate Republicans raised serious concerns about the problems it would create for taxpayers and our commonwealthโs future.
Over the past several months, we have worked extremely hard to create a responsible spending plan that protects taxpayers, prevents new tax hikes, safeguards our financial future, and breaks down barriers to economic growth.
