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In this Update:
IUP College of Osteopathic Medicine
Congratulations to Indiana University of Pennsylvania for obtaining ‘candidate’ status from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. The first IUP College of Osteopathic Medical students will be on campus for the fall 2027 semester! By recently receiving pre-accreditation, IUP is now:
This program is a commonwealth-defining opportunity and great news for our region. The creation of the medical college is bigger than IUP and Indiana County, serving as a catalyst for change which will have a tremendous and positive impact on rural healthcare not only locally, but for Pennsylvania and beyond. Armstrong County Annual Convention of Township Officers
I was pleased to attend and speak at the Annual Convention of the Armstrong County Association of Township Officers. It was great to see many familiar faces and meet a few new folks as well. My thanks to all of you for your dedication and service in government within our local municipalities! Support for Local Infrastructure Projects
Great news! Three local projects have been awarded funding totaling over $1.4 million as part of the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Surface Block Grant Program: Armstrong County Projects
Indiana County Project
Applications were reviewed by representatives from PennDOT, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Metropolitan and Rural Planning Organizations. Kittanning Firemen’s Band Representing Pennsylvania
The Kittanning Firemen’s Band (KFB) has been selected to represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the America250 National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., on July 4, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As a former tuba player myself, I am extremely proud to advocate for KFB in their efforts to obtain support for needed equipment which will be used for this historic event, as well as at ongoing performances at local parades, civic events, and community celebrations. Thank you to KFB for representing Pennsylvania so well – We look forward to watching the nationally televised performance in July! Indiana County Association of Township Officials
I enjoyed the opportunity to speak at the Indiana County Association of Township Officials (ICATO) Spring Convention held at Clymer Volunteer Fire Company. It was a great chance to discuss priorities in Harrisburg and how those impact our local townships. I appreciated hearing the perspectives of ways to further help our local communities. Thank you for inviting me to take part in this important discussion! Cutting Costs for PA Families by Ending Outdated Emissions Testing
Taking legislative action to do away with an outdated and unnecessary mandate, the Senate voted to eliminate the vehicle emissions testing requirement across the commonwealth. The measure will save Pennsylvanians an estimated $160 million annually. Senate Bill 1298 would remove all 25 counties currently subjected to annual emissions testing. It also clarifies that no additional counties can be added into the program, protecting Pennsylvania vehicle owners. The bill was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 1298 here. Ending State Funding for Gender Transition of Children
Legislation to end state funding for the gender transition of children was approved by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The measure follows recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stating gender-related medical interventions for minors do not meet professionally recognized standards of care. Senate Bill 1321 would require the state to withhold Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program funding for any procedure conflicting with federal standards. At least half of U.S. states have passed similar laws. The U.K. banned the use of puberty blockers and sex-reassignment surgeries for minors in 2024. The measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Read more about Senate Bill 1321. Committee Acts to Bolster Support of Constitutional Right to Bear Arms
The Senate continued its work to reinforce Second Amendment protections with committee approval of legislation to allow law‑abiding adults who are legally permitted to own a firearm to carry concealed without the need for a government‑issued permit. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 357, which also preserves an optional License to Carry Firearms for reciprocity with other states and modernizes the permitting process by reducing investigation time from 45 to 14 days, updating terminology and removing outdated disqualifiers while keeping all prohibitions for individuals who may not legally possess a firearm. The full Senate recently passed Senate Bill 822 to prevent local governments from undermining constitutional rights by enacting firearms ordinances that are more restrictive than those established by the General Assembly. Read more about our efforts to protect your Second Amendment rights here. Remove Invasive Plants, Get a Free Native Replacement
Registration is open for the opportunity to receive free native trees and shrubs by removing invasive plants from your property. You can participate in the Pennsylvania Invasive Replace-ive Program by removing an invasive tree or shrub from your property or with permission from a property owner (such as a park, library or school), taking a photo of the removed plants and attending an event to receive a replacement plant. It’s available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Learn more and register here. Save for Education and the Opportunity to Win $5,529
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced the fifth annual 529 Day Promotion is running throughout May. Pennsylvania families who contribute at least $10 to their PA 529 account this month could be eligible to win one of six regional awards of $5,529 to boost their education savings. The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program is a tax-advantaged way for families to save for a wide variety of education, including technical training, college, apprenticeship, credential program and K-12 expenses. Saving with a PA 529 does not impact eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid. The PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan helps families save at today’s tuition rates to cover tomorrow’s tuition expenses and the PA 529 Investment Plan offers a wide variety of investment options to choose from. Find official rules and learn more about how to make an eligible contribution here. |
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