Recent News
PA Senate Leaders Issue Statement on Passing of Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr.
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Transportation Committee Chair Judy Ward (R-30) and Senate Majority Policy Committee Chair David Argall (R-29) issued the following statement today: [Read More]
E-news Updates – July 3, 2026
In this Update: Celebrating 250 Years of American Freedom Working to Finalize the State Budget Cornerstone Worship Center Government Day Service Fairness in Womenโs Sports Pennsylvania Medal of Freedom Increasing Accountability of Taxpayer-Funded Childcare Programs Senate Votes to Improve PA Amber Alert Response Providing Pennsylvanians with Information on Long-Term Care Options Staying Cool When the […] [Read More]
PA Senate Leaders Issue Statement on the 2026-27 State Budget
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13) issued the following statement today on completion of the 2026-27 state budget: [Read More]
E-news Updates – June 27, 2026
In this Update: Senate Votes to Cut Taxes and Put PA Families First Indiana in the Morning Interview Summer Intern โ Owen Mattis Senate Votes to Support Victims Over Murderers Reducing the Backlog in PA Rape Kit Testing Cutting Red Tape for Charities Providing Discounted Fishing and Hunting Licenses to Law Enforcement Why Do PA […] [Read More]
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๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐. ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ.
Pennsylvania Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41), Senate Transportation Committee Chair Judy Ward (R-30) and Senate Majority Policy Committee Chair David Argall (R-29) issued the following statement today:
โLast week, Pennsylvania suffered a heartbreaking tragedy. Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael E. Pahira Jr. was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop involving a truck driver who was in the country illegally. Trooper Pahira represented the very best of our Commonwealth, dedicating his life to serving his family, his community, and the people of Pennsylvania.
โWe remain committed to the safety of our law enforcement officers and every Pennsylvanian. That is why we must strengthen our laws and oversight governing non-domiciled Commercial Driverโs Licenses to enhance commercial vehicle safety and help protect lives across our Commonwealth.
โAs Pennsylvania mourns the loss of Trooper Michael Pahira, we lift up his family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers in our prayers and honor his faithful service and sacrifice.โ
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐บ๐ธ
Happy 4th of July! 250 years ago โ on July 4, 1776 โ our nationโs founders gathered in Philadelphia and signed the Declaration of Independence. President Abraham Lincoln once described the Declaration as โan apple of goldโ and said it gave โliberty, not alone to the people of this country, but hope to the world for all future time.โ
Earlier this year, the Senate visited Independence Hall in Philadelphia and convened for a ceremonial celebration at the National Constitution Center to honor Americaโs 250th birthday. As we gather in our communities to celebrate Independence Day this year, and to mark our nationโs semi quincentennial, may we all take time to reflect on the many blessings of being Americans and living in the United States.
๐
๐๐ข๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง`๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can take action to protect fairness in #womenssports, specifically holding that states โmay maintain womenโs and girlsโ sports for biological females.โ I sat down with Senator Judy Ward to talk about the significance of this ruling and the steps we have already taken in the #Pennsylvania Senate.
The PA Senate has passed both Senate Bill 9 and Senate Bill 1293 to protect female #athletes by requiring public schools and colleges to label sports teams as male, female, or coed. Both bills state that only biological females can join teams designated for women, and the bills would allow students to take legal action if they are harmed by violations of this rule.
Given the recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, itโs certainly time for House Democrat Leaders to allow a vote on this important legislation, which received bi-partisan support in the Senate!
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ
The sooner we achieve a responsible 2026-27 budget, the better it is for every citizen of this Commonwealth. We are staunchly committed to doing just that.
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ
This week, we have received the necessary clarity on many outstanding issues which were delaying completion of this yearโs budget. Presently, we believe we are well on our way to effectuating a full budget agreement in the days following July 4th.
At the conclusion of session today, the Senate will recess to the call of the President Pro Tempore and will reconvene once final budgetary language is ready to advance.
You can watch my Senate floor remarks here ๐บโฌ๏ธ
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐
Thank you to Pastor Paul Price of Cornerstone Worship Center in Indiana for inviting me to take part in their Annual Government Day Service on Sunday morning!
It was a pleasure to join other local leaders, including Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts Randy Degenkolb, Nate from Congressman Guy Reschenthalerโs office, PA State Rep. Jim Struzzi and Sheriff Robert Fyock, to take part in this moving service. It is a blessing, an honor and very humbling to be a state senator and to serve on behalf of the residents of our community.
๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง - ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ
It was a pleasure have our Indiana Office Summer Intern visit the #Pennsylvania Capitol this week and to introduce him during #PASenate Session. Owen is a student at @iupedu and is a graduate of Marion Center School District in Indiana County.
Fun fact: Four years ago, he spent a day shadowing me and we snapped a photo - and today we got to take another picture - this time on the Senate Floor.
Owen will be a part of our team over the next few months, learning more about state #government and helping to provide constituent services. Please join me in giving Owen a warm welcome!
๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐-๐๐๐ฐ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฐ
The latest edition of my e-newsletter just dropped this afternoon.
Click the link in bio to view my current update and sign up to receive this weekly email! โ๏ธ
