Senator Keefer E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Empowering Families to Take Control of Their Health
  • York County Launches the Countdown to America’s 250th Anniversary
  • Discover Pennsylvania Granges
  • PA Department of Revenue Job Openings
  • Returning Whole Milk to Schools
  • Jan. 31 Submission Deadline for Student Anti-Litter Contest
  • Celebrating National School Choice Week
  • PennDOT Roadwork Schedules for Cumberland and York Counties

Important Notice: My offices will be closed for in-person services today, Tuesday, Jan. 27, due to inclement weather. Virtual services are still available at senatorkeefer.com.


Empowering Families to Take Control of Their Health

It was an honor to join U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy in Harrisburg for the “Take Back Your Health” rally, which focused on the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Trump administration’s efforts to Make America Healthy Again.

As the sponsor of hospital price transparency and fluoride-in-water legislation, and a co-sponsor of several bills that put people in the driver’s seat when it comes to their health, I appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from Secretary Kennedy about advancing wellness through smart policy. He highlighted the importance of reducing highly processed foods and strengthening public health initiatives that support healthier communities.

These discussions reinforce the work I am doing in Pennsylvania to prioritize transparency and personal choice in health care and to ensure families have the tools and information they need to make truly informed decisions about their health and well-being.

York County Launches the Countdown to America’s 250th Anniversary

I recently had the pleasure of attending the America250PA kickoff celebration in York County, marking the start of the countdown to our nation’s 250th anniversary. The event showcased the lasting contributions of York County to Pennsylvania and the country, honoring its rich history while looking toward the future.

As part of its statewide semiquincentennial tour, America250PA is visiting all 67 counties, stopping at historic sites and courthouses to celebrate our shared heritage. It was inspiring to see York County, our nation’s first capital, play a part in this milestone and join communities across Pennsylvania in commemorating this historic moment.

Discover Pennsylvania Granges

Ever wonder what a Grange is? I spoke with Pennsylvania State Grange Vice President Philip Vonada at the Pennsylvania Farm Show to learn about this historic organization and the role it plays in communities across the state.

In the 31st District, we are fortunate to have the Valley Grange in Lewisberry, which plays an active role in the community by hosting fairs, fundraising events, selling Pennsylvania Farm Show milkshakes and providing scholarships. To get involved, you can call them at 717-938-3749 or reach out through their Facebook page here.

PA Department of Revenue Job Openings

Are you good with numbers? The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue lists openings for full-time, part-time, temporary and student positions.

The department receives and collects all of the commonwealth’s General Fund tax revenue. In addition, it annually processes more than 10 million business and individual tax reports and payments.

Positions include accountants, tax examiners, research analysts, clerical assistants and others, some of them seasonal. You can review what’s currently available and subscribe for job alerts to receive automatic email notifications when new vacancies are posted in your field of interest.

Returning Whole Milk to Schools

Last June, I joined my Pennsylvania Senate colleagues in voting to approve a resolution urging Congress to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Whole milk provides 13 essential vitamins to help build strong bones and maintain a healthy immune system. The evidence is overwhelming that both 2% and whole milk should be offered to our students in schools.

We applaud the recent enactment of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act at the federal level, which allows U.S. schools to once again offer whole and 2% milk as options for students, in addition to the current reduced-fat, low-fat and fat-free milk.

The bill was in response to enactment of federal legislation in 2010 that permitted only low-fat and fat-free milk options in public schools. Within the first two years of the law taking effect, 1.2 million fewer students drank milk with their lunches.

Pennsylvania ranks second in the number of dairy farms and eighth in total milk production, making this change a great positive for children while also supporting our dairy farmers!

Jan. 31 Submission Deadline for Student Anti-Litter Contest

Students in grades K–6 have until Jan. 31 to submit entries for the latest Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful “Litter Hawk” anti-litter campaign.

This year’s theme is Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful, incorporating the nation’s semiquincentennial. Students can craft their message through art, writing or video.

Winners will be announced in April and will be invited to take part in a Capitol ceremony. Contest details and application can be found here.

Celebrating National School Choice Week

Every student learns differently, and every family deserves options — especially when their school is failing to meet basic academic performance standards. National School Choice Week highlights the importance of giving parents the tools to choose the learning environment that best supports their child’s growth and success.

In Pennsylvania, families can explore a wide range of education opportunities, from traditional public schools and public cyber charter schools to private schools and homeschooling. Trapping students in failing schools not only hurts those students — it’s detrimental to our communities, workforce and commonwealth. School choice is critical not only to provide students with an education that fits their academic needs, but to ensure all students, regardless of zip code, have an academic lifeline when their public schools fall short.

PennDOT Roadwork Schedules for Cumberland and York Counties

As we move into the winter months, PennDOT road work schedules are released less frequently. To ensure you stay informed, we will share PennDOT news releases about specific construction projects planned in our senatorial district.

Because these updates are issued based on project timelines, the information at the link may not change each week, and it may not include every project or reflect the latest conditions.

We hope these updates help you plan ahead, avoid delays and travel safely throughout the season.

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