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In this Update:
Senator Dawn Keefer Welcome Video
Senate Republicans Kick Off 2025-26 Session with Swearing-In Day
The Pennsylvania Senate convened on Tuesday for the start of the 2025-26 legislative session. It was an amazing day at the state Capitol as I was sworn into office for my first term as the senator of the 31st District. The moment was made even more special being surrounded by my family, friends, and staff – thank you for your unwavering support and for being there to witness the beginning of my journey as a state senator. I am truly fortunate to have each and every one of you in my life. The proceedings also included the formal reelection of Sen. Kim Ward (R-39) as senate president pro tempore, as well as a vote on rules to govern the body for the next two years. Senate Republicans return this session with a 28-22 majority following the November 2024 General Election. Learn which members took the oath of office for the first time, who was sworn in following reelection and who is serving as part of the leadership team here. PA Farm Show
I look forward to the Pennsylvania Farm Show every year – it’s always an enjoyable experience taking in the many things the agricultural expo has to offer. My visit to the show this past week started with the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association Milkshake Stand, where my staff and I had the pleasure of serving delicious milkshakes and engaging with everyone who came the stand for a milkshake or just to say hi. My thanks go out to everyone who supported the stand and made my time there memorable. In the far right picture above, I’m with state Rep. Scott Barger (R-80).
I had a blast driving a team of draft horses during the Mike Waugh Celebrity Feed Scurry competition at the Farm Show. Thank you to Seneca Resources for generously sponsoring my scurry sled. I am proud to share that I placed 17th out of 30 teams in this great Farm Show fundraising event. Pictured below are Tyler Miller and I prior to our race – thank you Tyler for all your help.
My thanks also go out to Nathaniel Turner, who was my mucker – the person loading and unloading the bales of hay on my sled – during the race. Scholarships Available Soon for Students Earning Degrees in In-Demand Jobs
Pennsylvania students pursuing a degree for an in-demand occupation will soon be able to apply for a $5,000 scholarship through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) because of a law passed by Senate Republicans. To bolster industries with lots of open positions, the law requires them to agree to live and work in Pennsylvania in an in-demand occupation for at least one year for each year they accept the scholarship. Those occupations include agriculture, computer science, business, education, special education, STEM education, engineering, nursing, allied health, criminal justice and other programs approved by PHEAA. The list of in-demand occupations will be adjusted regularly to reflect Pennsylvania’s workforce needs. Out-of-state students are eligible for scholarships that allow them to pay in-state tuition rates. If a student receives a scholarship but does not complete the educational program or fails to meet other terms of the agreement, the scholarship will be converted to a loan and must be repaid by the student. The application is expected to be available on PHEAA’s website in April, and more information will be shared then. Online Resource Tracks State Plows
Winter weather can impact safety on the roads, particularly before snow is cleared and salt is spread to mitigate icy spots. As the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) crews work to keep roads passable, you may be wondering where the plow is in your area. All of PennDOT’s roughly 2,200 owned and rented plow trucks are equipped with automated vehicle location systems, which use in-truck technology to log and share data in real time for that truck. View the routes of these interstate and expressway trucks here. PennDOT maintains nearly 40,000 miles of roads and 25,400 bridges statewide, which translates to more than 95,000 snow-lane miles. More Veterans are Eligible for Free Birth and Death Certificates
New this year, more veterans and their families are eligible for free birth and death certificates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health because of legislation passed by Senate Republicans. All veterans who were discharged or released from services under conditions other than dishonorable can receive a veteran fee waiver. Previously, they were only available for military members who were in active service or who were honorably discharged. Normally, there is a non-refundable $20 fee per copy, but with this law, up to 10 free copies will be available. The fee waiver may be applied to applications for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. To be eligible for the waiver, applications for birth and death certificates must be submitted with documentation proving military status. Schedule Your Free State Capitol Tour
If you’re looking for a fun educational activity for your family, you can tour the state Capitol for free. During a 30-minute guided tour, Capitol tour guides point out architectural and artistic highlights as they make the Capitol’s history come alive. There is also an Interactive Welcome Center and Capitol Gift Shop to enjoy during your visit. Guided tours are offered every half hour Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Weekends and most holidays, tours are offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Schedule a tour online or by calling the Tour Guide Office at 1-800-TOUR-N-PA (868-7672). Groups of 10 or more require advanced reservations. For your safety, group size is limited to 40. Pipe Replacement on Goram Road (Route 2041) York County
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced a PennDOT maintenance crew in York County is scheduled to replace a pipe on Goram Road (Route 2041) in York County. The pipe is located between Route 74 and Bare Road in Lower Chanceford Township Weather permitting, this project may begin on or after Monday, Jan. 6, and is expected to be completed no later than March 31, 2025. Goram Road will be closed between Route 74 and Bare Road. A detour will be in place using Route 74, Gum Tree Road (Route 2020) and Route 425 (Furnace Road). Due to the forecast for snow from earlier this week, the work may start later in the week or the following week beginning Monday, Jan. 13. A press release will be issued when the road reopens. Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.
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