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In this Update:

• Supporting Pennsylvania’s Next Generation of Skilled Workers
• Connecting Families With Fresh Food and Community Resources
• York College Expands Student Housing and Campus Life
• York County Seeks Public Input on Transportation Safety
• New Manchester Satellite Office Opens Aug. 20
• Discover Resources for Older Adults at My Senior Expo
• Continuing the Conversation on School Property Tax Elimination
• Felony Murder Sentencing, PA Crime Highlighted at Senate, House Hearing
• Empowering Parents with Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
• Reporting Suspected Benefits Fraud
• PennDOT Roadwork Schedules for Cumberland and York Counties

​Supporting Pennsylvania’s Next Generation of Skilled Workers

I recently attended SECCO Electric’s Apprenticeship Breakfast, where I met with participants and learned more about their experiences preparing for careers in the skilled trades.

I was pleased to share my efforts in the state Senate to strengthen apprenticeship opportunities, including my apprenticeship ratio legislation, Senate Bill 439, which would give programs greater flexibility to train more workers and help meet the growing demand for skilled tradespeople.

I appreciate SECCO Electric’s investment in the next generation of skilled workers and the opportunity to meet with these apprentices as they build their careers.

Connecting Families With Fresh Food and Resources

Supporting local farmers and helping families develop healthy habits are important priorities for our communities. I was pleased to see both in action at the Highmark Wholecare Farm-to-Family Farmers Market at William Penn Senior High School in York City.

The event connected families with fresh produce, preventive health resources and community support. Teaching our children to choose whole, nutritious foods over processed convenience foods can help build healthy habits that last a lifetime.

I appreciate Highmark Wholecare, local farmers, volunteers and community partners for working together to support healthy families and a stronger community.

York College Expands Student Housing and Campus Life

I recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for York College of Pennsylvania’s newly expanded Northside Commons area, a significant investment in the college’s campus and its students.

The expansion adds 204 new beds to help accommodate growing enrollment while providing students with more opportunities to study, socialize and build community. The project also includes enhanced multipurpose meeting areas, outdoor recreational seating and additional spaces designed to improve the overall student experience.

Congratulations to York College on this exciting expansion and its continued commitment to creating a welcoming and engaging campus community.

York County Seeks Public Input on Transportation Safety

York County residents have an opportunity to help shape the future of roadway safety in their communities. The York County Planning Commission is developing a Transportation Safety Action Plan aimed at identifying ways to improve roads.

As part of the process, the commission is asking residents to take a brief survey and share their experiences and any traffic safety concerns they have encountered.

Survey responses must be submitted by Sept. 30.

New Manchester Satellite Office Opens Aug. 20

I am pleased to announce that Rep. Joe D’Orsie and I will be opening a joint satellite office in Manchester Township on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Manchester Township Municipal Building, 3200 Farmtrail Road, York.

The office will be open on the third Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., giving residents more convenient access to constituent services. Staff will be available to assist with property tax/rent rebates, PennDOT paperwork, birth and death certificates, veterans assistance and other state-related services.

In addition, my York City Satellite Office hours will change to the first and third Wednesday of every month from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We hope you will stop in to say hello!

Discover Resources for Older Adults at My Senior Expo

Please join me Thursday, Sept. 10, for my Senior Expo from 10 a.m. to noon at the West Shore YMCA, 410 Fallowfield Road, Camp Hill. Admission is free, and more than 50 exhibitors will be on hand to answer questions and share information about programs, services and resources available to older adults and their families.

In addition to valuable resources, attendees can take advantage of free health screenings and immunizations, enjoy light refreshments and enter for a chance to win door prizes. I hope you will join me for this informative and engaging event and learn more about the resources available in our community.

Thank you to our Prime Sponsors Giant Food Stores, Select Medical and West Shore YMCA for their generous support in making this event possible.

Continuing the Conversation on School Property Tax Elimination

I recently held a School Property Tax Elimination Town Hall at the Hickory Corners Fire Company in Dalmatia. The meeting gave residents an opportunity to learn more about my School Property Tax Elimination Act, ask questions and discuss the future of education funding in Pennsylvania.

If you would like to learn more about eliminating school property taxes, please join me at my next town hall, hosted by Rep. Dave Zimmerman, on Monday, Aug. 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the IronSpire Complex, 2800 N. Reading Road, Adamstown.

Please RSVP to Rep. Zimmerman’s office by calling 717-556-0031. I look forward to continuing this important conversation with residents.

Felony Murder Sentencing, PA Crime Highlighted at Senate, House Hearing

Law enforcement officers and other public officials shared the on-the-ground reality of their efforts to fight crime and how the General Assembly could support their mission during a joint public hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and the House Republican Policy Committee.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday discussed sentencing for felony murder after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled mandatory life sentences for this crime are unconstitutional. He stated Senate Bill 1400, passed twice by the Senate, would provide an appropriate sentence for felony murder. But the House changed the bill, he said, “and in doing so provides a huge break to convicted murderers.” Sunday said, “Victims deserve better than legislative gamesmanship.”

The committees learned that violent crime is down across the commonwealth, but drug offenses are on the rise, with the Bureau of Narcotics removing 56.5 million doses of fentanyl off the streets of Pennsylvania last year. Read more about the hearing and access video and testimony here.

Empowering Parents with Federal Scholarship Tax Credit

Last year, Congress established a new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit to create new learning opportunities for students. I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues this week to announce legislation that would ensure Pennsylvania families can benefit from this new program.

The program would allow taxpayers to earn up to $1,700 in tax credits for contributions to non-profit Scholarship Granting Organizations. These organizations could use the funds to provide scholarships for education-related services at private or public schools, including tuition, fees, academic tutoring, special education services, technology services and classroom supplies.

For students and families to be eligible for scholarships, a state must opt in with either an order signed by its governor or a law passed by the state legislature by Jan. 1, 2027. If a state does not opt in, taxpayers in that state will still be eligible for the tax credit, but the money will fund scholarships in other states.

Our legislation would ensure Pennsylvania students in both public and private schools would have access to these new resources. Learn more about this opportunity for Pennsylvania students and families here.

Reporting Suspected Benefits Fraud

You can help eliminate fraud in benefits programs such as cash assistance, food stamps, childcare, home energy assistance and medical assistance.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the Office of the State Inspector General. A complaint should be completed only if an individual has been issued benefits that you believe the individual was not entitled to receive.

Report suspected fraud to the State Inspector General here.

PennDOT Roadwork Schedules for Cumberland and York Counties

Please see the latest PennDOT road work schedules provided to my office. These updates are issued periodically and may not include all projects or reflect the most current conditions. Additional updates are shared as they become available and posted on my Facebook page.

If you have a road concern such as potholes, bridge issues or other roadway problems, you can report that information directly to PennDOT through the Customer Care Center form.

I hope this information helps you plan your travel and avoid delays.