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In this Update:
Senate Republicans Organize for 2025-26 Session
From left to right: Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46), Majority Caucus Secretary; Sen. Ryan Aument (R-36), Majority Whip; Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41), Majority Leader; Sen. Kim Ward (R-29), interim President Pro Tempore; Sen. Scott Martin (R-13), Appropriations Chair; and Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Majority Caucus Chair. Voters returned a 28-22 Republican majority to the state Senate for the 2025-26 legislative session. All Republican incumbents were re-elected, and two new Republican senators are on the way to Harrisburg. To drive priorities of protecting jobs, empowering families, and defending freedoms, Senate Republicans re-elected our leadership team for the upcoming session. I am humbled to have the confidence of my colleagues to again serve them as the Majority Whip. Senate Republicans are united in our efforts to prioritize the needs of Pennsylvanians. We remain focused on helping families restore economic freedom while positioning communities to thrive. Increasing energy independence, expanding access to well-paying jobs, and making communities healthy and safer are top initiatives in our work to move Pennsylvania forward. In divided government, our role as a necessary power check on House Democrats and Gov. Shapiro will be just as important as our work to advance our own conservative priorities. My focus for the next two-year legislative session will be on policies that build vibrant, safe communities where each resident has the opportunity to experience earned success and upward economic mobility. Read more about my legislative priorities for this upcoming legislative session here. Giving First Responders More Support
Beginning in December, a law passed by the General Assembly will give first responders greater access to workers’ compensation benefits for a post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics will be entitled to benefits for psychological traumas resulting from their employment – even in the absence of physical injuries. To receive benefits, they need to be diagnosed by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. Previously, Pennsylvania law required a first responder to prove there were “objective abnormal working conditions” to establish a PTSI claim. This standard was often difficult to meet. Recognizing the Work of Former Sen. Noah Wenger
It was an honor to host Brenda Tondi and Pam Shields, along with their husbands, at the state Capitol to celebrate the life and legacy of their late father, former Sen. Noah Wenger. May we never forget his unyielding advocacy on behalf of the great people of Lancaster County. He was a public servant for more than three decades and advocated for the creation of Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation law. He knew how critical agriculture is not only to the state’s history but to its rich future. Watch my remarks on the Senate floor in honor of Sen. Wenger here. Watch video footage from the full event here. Manheim Township Girl Named LNP Inspirational Athlete of the Year
Dakota Nesbitt – a soon-to-be 10-year-old from Manheim Township born with spina bifida – was named as the 2024 LNP | LancasterOnline Inspirational Athlete of the Year. She was chosen for her incredible performance as a national champion in the wheelchair track races at the Junior Para Nationals. I met Dakota earlier this year, and she is certainly an inspirational young lady. Congratulations, Dakota! Learn more about Dakota’s incredible journey here. Former Marine in Ephrata Collecting Bikes for Toys for Tots
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Eric Bair, a former Marine and current owner of Sports Barber in Ephrata. Eric has helped with Toys for Tots for 14 years by collecting bikes so kids wouldn’t have to choose between toys or a bike. His first year he collected seven bikes, but in 2023 he collected an impressive 318 bikes! All the bikes stay in Lancaster County and benefit our communities. If you would like to help Eric with his collection, he is accepting cash donations and new 16-, 18-, and 20-inch bikes for boys and girls until Friday, Dec. 6. Donations will be accepted at The Sports Barber, 50 E. Main St., Ephrata, Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Dozens of volunteers will inflate all tires, inspect each bike for safety, and load them up for delivery to the distribution point. Eastern Mennonite University Relocates to Lititz
Congratulations to Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) upon the opening of its new Lancaster location at Listrak in Lititz. EMU has been in Lancaster since 1989, but announced in February that the campus will relocate from its former site at the Greenfield Corporate Center to offer its students more convenient access to the Lancaster Airport. Learn more here. Learning About Innovative Technology at Armstrong World Industries
Armstrong World Industries’ goal is to “transform how people design, build, and experience spaces with safety, health, and aesthetics in mind.” They invited me to tour their Lancaster location to learn more about their new technology, Templok Energy Saving Ceilings, which can reduce energy costs and consumption by up to 15%. Learn more about Armstrong World Industries here. Seasonal PennDOT Jobs Open Now
PennDOT is hiring individuals for its winter maintenance program that runs until April 2025. The jobs pay from $17.00 to $27.75 an hour and could become a career. Roles include equipment operators, dispatchers, mechanics, tradesman helpers, semi-skilled laborers, and tunnel maintainers. Job requirements vary based on position. Learn more regarding required experience, training, and eligibility. Submit an online application. Call 855-524-5627 if you have trouble accessing your account. Recognizing Local Agriculture Advocate: Faith Musser
It is Faith Musser’s first year on the Pennsylvania Farm Show Junior Committee. A senior at Elizabethtown Area High School, she is actively involved in the Elizabethtown FFA chapter. Faith earned a trip to the National FFA Convention by placing first in the state with her team in the Ag Sales CDE. She enjoys raising swine, goats, and steers to show and sell at local fairs and the Farm Show. She exhibited the grand champion market steer and market hog at the Manheim Farm Show. She is the varsity captain on her school’s field hockey team and a member of the National Honor Society. Read more about the members of the PA Farm Show Junior Committee here. Share Your Experience Driving in Lancaster County by Nov. 19You have the opportunity to share your experience traveling around Lancaster County by participating in an online survey sponsored by the Lancaster County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Residents’ suggestions and concerns will help shape the priorities for making Lancaster County’s roadways safer. Learn more about the Traffic Safety Action Plan and take the online survey by November 19, here. Being Prepared for Fall Driving Hazards
Fall brings different driving hazards, including wet leaves, fog, sun glare, and frost. Drivers can use fall driving tips from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to make their commutes safer. Extra caution is needed on roads covered with wet leaves, which can be as slippery as ice. When driving in fog, it’s best to use low-beam headlights to avoid the glare created by high beams. Morning frost and icy spots can cause issues as overnight temperatures drop toward freezing. Ice is more likely to form on bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas. Pennsylvania drivers face the third-highest chance of being involved in an animal-related crash in the nation. To report a dead animal for removal from a state road, call the PennDOT at 1-800-FIX-ROAD. Call the Game Commission at 1-833-742-9453 for local roads. Recognizing National Diabetes Awareness Month
The men, women, and children who live with prediabetes and diabetes face challenges not only with their health but also with the financial impact of the disease. However, there is support available, including health tips and food ideas. Healthy eating for prediabetes and diabetes can be delicious and satisfying using recipes like these. Tools and resources are available regarding health care affordability and driving with diabetes. There is also helpful information for caregivers.
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