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Dear Friend,

If you’re a parent or caregiver, I encourage you to check out the link posted below regarding a recent informational discussion we had about ways to protect our youth from social media harm. The video includes expert testimony from law enforcement and mental health professionals who provide valuable information about tools available to help navigate the online world.

Sincerely,

In this Update:

• Public Hearing Looks to Protect Youth from Social Media Harm
• Career and Tech Schools to Receive $1 million in Grants
• Lower Pottsgrove Township Awarded $1 million for ADA Accessible Playground
• Visiting Saint Mary’s Catholic School to Announce EITC Scholarship
• Working to Increase Affordability for Pennsylvanians
• New Law Cracks Down on Robocalls, Scam Texts and Caller ID Spoofing
• Key Election Dates to Remember
• National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24
• Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Public Hearing Looks to Protect Youth from Social Media Harm

Yesterday, the Senate Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing about ways to protect youth from social media harm. I requested the hearing to spotlight the growing concerns surrounding youth over-exposure to social media and the potential harm associated with excessive online engagement.

We heard from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and other members of the law enforcement community as well as the Berks County Intermediate Unit, Pottsgrove School District and Berks County Intermediate Unit.

In addition, on Tuesday, I lead an informational session with parents about social media safety for kids at Boyertown High School. The program included mental health professionals and law enforcement who provided tips for safe use of social media, gaming platforms and other online communication; advice on cyberbullying, sextortion and deepfakes, and what to do if it happens; addressing student mental health concerns in a digital world; and emerging trends parents should know about.

To watch the full session, click here.

Career and Tech Schools to Receive $1 Million in Grants

On Wednesday, I was pleased to announce state grants to support multiple Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in high schools across the 24th Senate District. The grants, which total $1,000,000, were awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Job Training and Education Program to support CTE facility improvements and new equipment purchases.

Keeping Pennsylvania competitive on a national and global scale means investing in our career and technical education programs. The equipment funded through these grants will empower our students to take on new challenges, expand their skills, and benefit from meaningful hands-on learning experiences.

Since 2022, my office has helped secure more than $1,000,000 in state grants for Western Montgomery Career and Technical Center. These investments have supported major security upgrades and funded essential equipment for WMCTC’s culinary, automotive, and welding programs.

For a summary of other grants, read here.

Lower Pottsgrove Township Awarded $1 million for ADA Accessible Playground

I’m pleased to announce the award of a $1 million grant to Lower Pottsgrove Township for a new ADA accessible playground at Sanatoga Park. Every child deserves the opportunity to play, explore and connect with others in a space that welcomes them. This investment will help create that kind of environment for children and families in the Pottsgrove community.

Awarded through Pennsylvania’s Local Share Account (LSA) Statewide program, the $1 million grant will cover much of the approximately $1.6 million project cost.

Adventure Grove Inclusive Playground Inc. was formed in 2019 with the goal of bringing an all-inclusive playground to the Pottsgrove area. The new playground will replace Sanatoga Park’s existing, aging equipment with a space that will go beyond basic ADA accessibility to accommodate a range of physical, developmental and sensory needs, including those of children with autism.

The preliminary playground design includes a sensory hut (quiet zone), a sensory walk, a brail pad, large tactile floor games to promote creative play, a pavilion with picnic tables, an ADA-compliant active play structure for kids ages 2-15 years, and other ADA accessible and inclusive features.

Visiting Saint Mary’s Catholic School to Announce EITC Scholarship

I was so pleased to visit Saint Mary’s Catholic School to announce a scholarship of $10,000 to families in Montgomery County as part of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The event was hosted by the school and the Bridge Educational Foundation and Raymond James.

Catholic and private schools offer families high-quality educational options and serve as a critical part of our community. State scholarships offer a lifeline to families who could not otherwise afford to attend the school of their choice. These schools often provide smaller class sizes, strong academic standards, safe learning environments and a values-based education that many parents seek for their children. For thousands of families, scholarship assistance is the difference maker enabling kids to be in the school that’s the right fit for them.

Working to Increase Affordability for Pennsylvanians

At a time when families continue to feel the strain of inflation, we know state government must look for ways to implement policies and programs to increase affordability. Fighting for the state budget to respect taxpayers and take less of your hard-earned money, enacting the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Programs, and making homes more attainable are some of the ways we’ve focused on affordability during the 2025-26 legislative session.

The new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit provides meaningful relief for working families across the commonwealth. Families that claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit may also claim the state tax credit equal to 10% of the federal amount. This amounts to hundreds of dollars saved every year for many working families.

We also created the Employer Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Program, which provides incentives for businesses to make contributions of up to $500 annually toward their employees’ child-care costs.

And we took steps to make housing attainable to more Pennsylvanians by passing legislation streamlining municipal approval processes, reducing delays, cutting unnecessary red tape, and creating a Housing Development Regulatory Compliance Officer to serve as a single point of contact and improve coordination in the permitting process.

We’re committed to continuing to implement greater government efficiencies and policies to control the growth of spending and help address affordability for families throughout Pennsylvania.

New Law Cracks Down on Robocalls, Scam Texts and Caller ID Spoofing

Legislation we unanimously passed enacting stronger protections from deceptive telemarketing practices will take effect Monday, Oct. 19.

Under Act 47 of 2026, Pennsylvania’s telemarketing law will now cover modern forms of solicitation, including text messages, voicemails, ringless voicemails and robocalls. It also establishes stronger rules for when and how telemarketers can contact Pennsylvanians, including:

• Prohibiting telemarketing calls before 9 a.m. and after 7 p.m. and on Sundays.
• Requiring prior express written consent for most robocalls and telemarketing text messages.
• Prohibiting telemarketers from falsely identifying themselves or using deceptive caller ID information, including spoofed numbers.
• Requiring telemarketers to stop a solicitation when a consumer asks them to do so.

The legislation also prohibits the use of AI-generated messages to deceive consumers.

Key Election Dates to Remember

Election Day will be here before you know it, and I want to make sure you know the key dates.

• The first step is registering to vote, and the deadline to do that is Monday, Oct. 19.
• If you want to vote by absentee ballot, the deadline to file a request is Tuesday, Oct. 27.
• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

To make sure you’re registered, learn how to request an absentee ballot and find your polling place, visit the state’s elections information webpage.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, most people who use prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend. Removing unnecessary medications from the home can help remove this risk.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs.

Find a local collection site near you at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV breast cancer, is diagnosed when breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. While treatments can help control metastatic cancer and allow many people to live longer, Stage IV breast cancer is currently considered incurable.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s recognize the Pennsylvanians living with metastatic breast cancer every day. Organizations like the PA Breast Cancer Coalition offer programs specific to individuals with metastatic breast cancer including a Stage IV-specific care package program and patient resources.

Metastatic breast cancer research is essential to developing more effective treatments, improving quality of life and extending the lives of those living with stage IV cancer.

Please consider making a $5 contribution to research when you renew your Pennsylvania driver’s license or vehicle registration online. For more information, visit the PA Breast Cancer Coalition website.