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In this Update:

• Visit to Peoples Library in New Kensington
• Armstrong County Junior Livestock Sale
• Cambria County Regional Firefighter’s Association
• Pennsylvania Has New Tools to Solve Violent Crimes
• State Budget Boosts College Tuition Assistance
• PA College Savings Fees Waived for Fifth Straight Year
• Red Tape Slashed for PA Cosmetology Workers
• Booking a Tour of Your State Capitol

Visit to Peoples Library in New Kensington

I had a great time visiting Peoples Library in New Kensington and watching an afternoon magic show held as part of the summer programming for children. Peoples Library has a rich history in the community as it was started by The Woman’s Club of New Kensington in October 1927. After several location and name changes, it was incorporated as the People’s Library on October 18, 1946. In 1992, a newly built branch was also opened in Lower Burrell.

Libraries, like Peoples Library, provide access to a wealth of knowledge, resources, and technology for people of all ages. Their work plays an important role in helping to foster a love for reading and lifelong learning! Thank you to Library Director, David Hrivnak and staff for the warm welcome and for all you do to serve the New Kensington community

Armstrong County Junior Livestock Sale

It was a pleasure to have the Schrecengost family stop by my office to provide information on animals they raised for the upcoming livestock sale:

• Grant – showing his pig; Bailey Zimmerman
• Reece – showing his pigs; Jelly Roll & Willie Nelson

The Jr. Livestock sale features Armstrong County 4-H and FFA members’ market livestock projects. It gives the youth a wonderful experience in learning the responsibility of caring for the needs of their animals while providing a great feeling of achievement.

Best wishes to Grant & Reece showing their animals and participating in the livestock sale at the Dayton Fair. Your time, dedication and commitment to 4-H and your animals is impressive!

Cambria County Regional Firefighter’s Association

The 105th annual convention of the Cambria County Regional Firefighter’s Association was recently held in St. Michael. The festivities were hosted by the St. Michael fire department, 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!

Pennsylvania Has New Tools to Solve Violent Crimes

Law enforcement agencies will be able to access new tools to boost clearance rates for homicide and other violent crime cases through a new state law. 

The Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act was enacted with the new state budget. The law establishes a grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help police hire and retain detectives and investigators, and upgrade technology used to analyze evidence.

Solving more violent crimes will help make communities safer by getting offenders off the streets while also serving as a deterrent to would-be criminals who know their crimes will not go unanswered.

State Budget Boosts College Tuition Assistance

Under the new state budget we recently passed, the maximum PA State Grant award has increased to the highest amount in program history, helping students across the commonwealth and their families pay for higher education.

For the 2026-27 fiscal year, the maximum award is $6,000, up from $5,750, the amount it’s been for four years. The funding is administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA).

Each year, PHEAA’s board reevaluates the awarding formula by analyzing several factors, including tuition costs, the effect of inflation on family incomes, the number of expected applicants and recommended funding for the program as part of the annual budget process. Read more about the PA State Grant program here.

PA College Savings Fees Waived for Fifth Straight Year  

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced asset-based fees for the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program’s Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) will be waived for the fifth year in a row.

PA 529 GSP account owners will not see any asset-based fees on their quarterly statements for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, resulting in $5.9 million in savings. This fee waiver is funded through surplus earnings of the GSP fund.

The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs. Families can choose from a variety of tuition levels to save from community college to Ivy League. PA 529 GSP account earnings are based on tuition inflation rates.

Red Tape Slashed for PA Cosmetology Workers

Legislation to streamline licensing for the cosmetology workforce has been signed into law, a major step in addressing Pennsylvania’s ongoing workforce shortages.

Act 43 of 2026 authorizes Pennsylvania to join the Cosmetology Licensure Compact, an interstate agreement that makes it easier for licensed cosmetologists — who provide treatments for hair, skin and nails — to obtain a multistate license and work in participating states without unnecessary red tape. It also ensures cosmetology professionals in active-duty military families face no burdensome licensure requirements in compact states.

Pennsylvania is the 13th state to enter the compact, joining neighboring states Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. Read more about this new law here.

Booking a Tour of Your State Capitol

Summer is a great time to tour your state Capitol, a National Historic Landmark featuring Renaissance designs, paintings, stained glass and furnishings by some of the best artisans in the world.

Scheduling in advance is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome according to availability. Tours take approximately 30-45 minutes and are limited to 40 guests total per tour. Self-guided tours do not take place on weekends and holidays.

More than the seat of Pennsylvania’s government, the Capitol is a magnificent symbol of the hopes and vision of the commonwealth that gave birth to a nation. Find details and book a tour here.