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In this Update:
Sen. Pittman Takes the Oath of Office
On Tuesday, I was sworn-in for the start of my second full-term serving in the Pennsylvania Senate. I am humbled and honored to have been re-elected by my constituents to serve as their senator. Making sure their needs are met and that they are served by our offices promptly and efficiently remain my top priorities. The Honorable Judge Gina Force administered the Oath of Office. The 41st Senatorial District includes all of Armstrong and Indiana Counties, and a portion of Jefferson and Westmoreland Counties. In addition to serving as senator representing the 41st Senatorial District, in November I was re-elected by my Senate colleagues to continue to serve in the position of Senate majority leader. As leader of the Senate Republican Caucus, I will continue to work to ensure the rights of Pennsylvania citizens remain safeguarded. Throughout this new legislative session, we will continue to advance policies and legislation to strengthen our communities, provide for family sustaining jobs and ensure Pennsylvania will remain a strong commonwealth for future generations. Senate Republicans Kick Off 2025-26 Session with New Members, Leadership Team
The Pennsylvania Senate convened on Tuesday for the start of the 2025-26 legislative session. The proceedings included the formal reelection of Sen. Kim Ward (R-39) as senate president pro tempore, as well as a vote on rules to govern the body for the next two years. Senate Republicans also elected Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. to the position of Senate majority whip. With the addition of Sen. Langerholc as the newest member of our leadership team, our caucus is fully organized and ready to get to work. Voters gave Senate Republicans a 28-22 majority in the November 2024 General Election PA Farm Show Recap
It was great to stop by the Pennsylvania Farm Show earlier this week with my family and Judge Gina Force and her family. We visited the PCN booth to see Punxsutawney Phil, chatted with several youth exhibitors from the district and enjoyed some great Farm Show food! I was also able to congratulate Emma Kerr Heeter and Addison Lynn Heeter of Clarksburg, who both won farm show scholarships – well done ladies! The Pennsylvania Farm Show showcases the importance of our rich agricultural history, the commonwealth’s number one industry, and the many folks who make it thrive. This year’s show runs through Saturday, Jan. 11. Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs
Pennsylvania students pursuing a degree for an in-demand occupation will soon be able to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) because of a law passed by Senate Republicans. To bolster industries with lots of open positions, the law requires them to agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for at least one year for each year they accept the scholarship. Those occupations include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs approved by PHEAA. The list of in-demand occupations will be adjusted regularly to reflect Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. Out-of-state students are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay in-state tuition rates. If a student receives a scholarship but does not complete the educational program or fails to meet other terms of the agreement, the scholarship will be converted to a loan and must be repaid by the student. The application is expected to be available on PHEAA’s website in the coming weeks, and more information will be shared then. Online Resource Tracks State Plows
Winter weather can impact safety on the roads, particularly before snow is cleared and salt is spread to mitigate icy spots. As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews work to keep roads passable, you may be wondering where the plow is in your area. All of PennDOT’s roughly 2,200 owned and rented plow trucks are equipped with automated vehicle location systems, which use in-truck technology to log and share data in real time for that truck. View the routes of these interstate and expressway trucks here. PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges statewide, which translates to more than 95,000 snow-lane miles. More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
New this year, more veterans and their families are eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of legislation passed by Senate Republicans. All veterans who were discharged or released from services under conditions other than dishonorable can receive a veteran fee waiver. Previously, they were only available for military members who were in active service or who were honorably discharged. Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies will be available. The fee waiver may be applied to applications for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. To be eligible for the waiver, applications for birth and death certificates must be submitted with documentation proving military status. Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour
If you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your family, you can tour the state Capitol for free. During a 30-minute guided tour, Capitol tour guides point out architectural and artistic highlights as they make the Capitol’s history come alive. There is also an Interactive Welcome Center and Capitol Gift Shop to enjoy during your visit. Guided tours are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and most holidays, tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Schedule a tour online or by calling the Tour Guide Office at 1-800-TOUR-N-PA (868-7672). Groups of 10 or more require advanced reservations. For your safety, group size is limited to 40.
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