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In this Update:
Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Review of RGGI
Here is a short video update about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The argument earlier this week in front of the Supreme Court made it clear the Commonwealth Court was right when it said RGGI is unconstitutional. Once the Supreme Court rules on this issue, we will then be able to have serious discussions on the future of energy advancement in our Commonwealth. I look forward to the Supreme Court’s swift decision so we can quit wasting time on unnecessary lawsuits and focus on implementing strong energy policies to benefit Pennsylvania families and businesses. Pittman, Major & Bashline Announce $200,000 in State Funding To Help Keep Allegheny River Locks Open
I am pleased to join with Reps. Abby Major (R-60) and Josh Bashline (R-63) to announce $200,000 was presented to the Allegheny River Development Corporation (ARDC) to help fund efforts to keep locks open on Armstrong County’s portion of the Allegheny River. The funding was approved by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Allegheny River is a great resource for Armstrong County, but if the locks on the river don’t remain open, it will have a hugely negative impact on recreational opportunities and local businesses. I’m happy to have been able to work with Reps. Major and Bashline to get the ARDC needed funding to ultimately benefit recreational boaters, tourism and the region’s economy. You can read our full press release here. Indiana County Senior Summit 2025
Robert F. Manzi, Jr., Indiana County District Attorney and the Elder Abuse Task Force recently hosted their annual ‘Senior Summit’ at the YMCA of Indiana County. The goal of the Senior Summit is to provide senior citizens with information to raise awareness of current scams, ways to protect themselves and their loved ones, and what to do if they become the victim of a scam. I was pleased to have my office take part in this great event and provide state-related materials to attendees. Thank you to all the other participants for providing important information as well.
AP Government Class at Armstrong Junior-Senior High School
During Senate session I was pleased to introduce the AP Government class from Armstrong Junior-Senior High School. The students were accompanied by Mr. Brian Coil. It was my honor to join Reps. Abby Major & PA State Rep. Josh Bashline in welcoming them to our beautiful State Capitol building! I recently met with these driven young women and men in their classroom, and many of them also attended my student government seminar last month. They are committed to understanding the history of the Commonwealth, along with the importance of our state government. The students certainly have very bright futures ahead of them! Senate Votes to Help Fire and EMS Departments
The Senate passed legislation to address Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighter shortage that, if left unaddressed, threatens to cause local tax hikes to fund paid services. The bill would also fix recent issues with emergency services grant funding. Senate Bill 466 would allow job training credits to count toward Firefighter I Certification, giving volunteer recruits a more flexible pathway to credentialing. It would also correct a recent administrative error that led to a number of Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services grants being rescinded. Many departments had already budgeted for those funds, and the bill would ensure they receive the support they were promised. To prevent similar issues, the bill would also establish a one-time, 15-day grace period – available once every three years – for fire and EMS companies to submit required reports without needing to demonstrate undue hardship. It moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Bill Ensuring Sportsmen’s Rights are Protected Receives Senate Support
Legislation to protect sportsmen’s rights by aligning state law with the federal and state constitution passed the Senate and is headed to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Pennsylvania Game Code contains sections indicating it is unlawful to refuse to answer questions from representatives of the Game Commission. However, that violates the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions, which ensure no person may be “compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself” and “he cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself.” Senate Bill 518 would remove the offending sections, ensuring the protection of sportsmen’s constitutional rights. New Sextortion Scam Blackmails Children
A disturbing new scam involves organized groups of Nigerian cybercriminals targeting American children online. After befriending them – sometimes even posing as their classmates – and exchanging nude photos, the criminals blackmail them and demand money. Organized Nigerian criminals have increased this practice, known as sextortion, by 1,000% in the last 18 months. It can cause unthinkable consequences, including even suicide after a child is told that the image will be sent to their family, friends and everyone in their school if they don’t pay. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a helpful tool to anyone facing this overwhelming scenario. Take It Down is a free service that allows a child to have a “hash value” – essentially a digital fingerprint – assigned to the photo being used against them. The “hash value” is then sent out to participating sites such as Instagram, Snapchat and even pornography sites that put a block on the image so it cannot be seen, shared, or spread, rendering it useless for the blackmailer. A child never has to upload the photo to the service, nor does anyone ever view the image in the process. Win Money for Your Child’s Education
In honor of PA 529 Day on May 29, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity invites families to contribute $10 or more to their child’s PA 529 account in May to be automatically eligible for one of six regional awards of $5,529. PA 529 plans allow families to use their savings to pay for a wide variety of education expenses, including at any qualified educational institution, from K-12 to college and career training programs. If the child doesn’t pursue education, the beneficiary can be updated to certain family members or used to repay the principal and interest on a qualified education loan for a PA 529 beneficiary or sibling. Anyone – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and family friends – can contribute to a PA 529 plan. Saving with PA 529 does not impact a student’s eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. Learn more. Election Day is Tuesday, May 20
Election Day is Tuesday, May 20, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be able to vote. If you applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot, your county election office must receive it by Tuesday, May 20, at 8 p.m. Track your ballot to confirm it was received. Any voter who requested to vote using a mail-in or absentee ballot but would prefer to vote in person may do so. Bring the ballot and the envelope to surrender at the polls. If you don’t have those materials, you may vote using a provisional ballot. Call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) if you experience any issues.
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