Senator Pennycuick E-Newsletter

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In this Update:

  • Month of the Military Child
  • Senate Prioritizes Community Safety by Passing Bill to Strengthen Bail Determination Process for Dangerous Individuals
  • Court Ruling Helps to Safeguard Elections
  • NFIB Press Conference
  • Berks-Mont Business Association Legislative Meeting
  • Bright Hope Community – Inclusive Playground Groundbreaking
  • Luncheon Honoring Local Veterans
  • Youth Fishing Derby!
  • FREE Replacement License Plate Event
  • Mobile Van Connects Veterans with Important Services, Programs
  • Honoring Sacrifice on Gold Star Spouses Day
  • PA Broadband Development Authority Unveils Improved Website
  • Survey: How Did PennDOT Do This Winter?
  • Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Eggs, Support PA Agriculture

Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to acknowledge the unique challenges and remarkable resilience of children from military families.

Senate Prioritizes Community Safety by Passing Bill to Strengthen Bail Determination Process for Dangerous Individuals

The PA Senate this week passed a bill championed by myself, Senator Devlin Robinson, Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr., and Senator Lisa Baker that will crack down on easy bail for dangerous criminals.

Senate Bill 1120 would ensure common-sense procedures are followed during this process for repeat violent offenders, drug dealers trafficking fentanyl and those who assault law enforcement officers or evade arrest on foot.

Currently, issuing authorities follow the Rules of Criminal Procedure, which have no safeguards during the bail process that take into account the provisions this legislation calls for. The legislation would specifically bar non-monetary forms of bail from being issued to those who pose a threat to public safety. In Pennsylvania, non-monetary forms of bail include but are not limited to, release on own recognizance or unsecured bail. These provisions are designed to ensure the defendant’s appearance in court while addressing concerns about flight risk and public safety.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and approximately 50 times more potent than heroin. Two milligrams of fentanyl – the amount that fits on the tip of a pencil – is enough to kill an average person. An average of 14 Pennsylvanians die every day from overdose.

The bill is part of the Senate Republican effort to improve community safety across Pennsylvania. It now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Court Ruling Helps to Safeguard Elections

The safeguarding of elections in Pennsylvania was boosted by the Third Circuit Court’s recent ruling upholding current Pennsylvania law, requiring voters to date a mail-in ballot for it to be accepted.

Many voters, election officials and good government advocates feel preserving election integrity must be a priority. The first step toward that goal is upholding laws that are already in place. While this may seem obvious, in recent elections some counties accepted and counted undated ballots – despite the state law prohibiting that action.

Applying the election law uniformly across all 67 counties is a significant step forward in the effort to protect the integrity of our electoral process. Senate Republicans will continue to work to protect Pennsylvanians’ constitutional right to free and fair elections.

NFIB Press Conference

So thrilled to join my Senate colleagues, Senator Greg Rothman, Senator Judy Ward, Senator Ryan P. Aument, and Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill and friends at NFIB, to discuss empowering Pennsylvania’s incredible small businesses.

I’m proud to have introduced legislation (Senate Bill 1015) to ensure business owners receive a fair and reasonable timeframe to make their business websites ADA-compliant and Senate Bill 884 to allow veteran-owned businesses (VOB) to again be automatically considered a small diverse business (SDB).

These bills are designed to directly support our entrepreneurs.

Berks-Mont Business Association Legislative Meeting

Met so many great small business owners at the BMBA – Berks-Mont Business Association legislative meeting! Thanks to Vicki Kriczky and the Association for all the wonderful work they do promoting our business community and economic development!

Bright Hope Community – Inclusive Playground Groundbreaking

The Montgomery County Housing Authority recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new inclusive playground at the Bright Hope Community in Pottstown!

This exciting project will create a welcoming and accessible space for children of all abilities to play, socialize, and develop essential skills.

Weather permitting, the playground is expected to be finished by the end of May or early June. This is a significant step towards fostering a vibrant and inclusive community!

Luncheon Honoring Local Veterans

Youth Fishing Derby!

I will be hosting my annual Youth Fishing Derby at Bergey Park (675 Bergeys Mill Road, Schwenksville, PA 19473) on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

This free event is a fantastic opportunity for children (14 and under) to enjoy a fun morning of fishing in the park’s scenic stream while learning about Pennsylvania’s diverse wildlife and the importance of environmental conservation.

Participants will have the chance to learn from experts, compete for prizes, and enjoy snacks/refreshments. Educational material will also be provided. Please find the event flyer here.

Pre-registration is required and can be completed online or by calling my Red Hill office at (215) 541-2388.

FREE Replacement License Plate Event

Attention Drivers! I will be hosting a FREE License Plate Replacement Event on May 15, 2024 at Topton Borough.

Is your license plate:

  • Faded or peeling paint?
  • Cracked or damaged material?
  • Reduced reflectivity?

An unreadable plate can be a safety hazard and lead to citations. This event provides a convenient opportunity to replace your plate at no cost. Register NOW!

Mobile Van Connects Veterans with Important Services, Programs

Pennsylvania is home to more than 700,000 veterans and their family members. With such a significant veteran population, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) works hard to connect veterans and their families with the services and programs available to them.

One way the agency can meet and assist veterans in the communities they live is through one of its two mobile veterans outreach vans. They travel throughout the state to assist veterans in obtaining information and initiating benefit claim paperwork with the assistance of DMVA accredited veteran service officers.

Request a van for a community event such as a sporting event, county fair, parade or festival. The form should be submitted six months but not less than 45 days prior to the event. Requests with less than a 30-day turnaround will be handled on a space available basis only.

Honoring Sacrifice on Gold Star Spouses Day

Friday, April 5, is Gold Star Spouses Day – a day when we pause to reflect on the incredible loss felt by men and women who have lost their partners in the line of duty.

It was first recognized in 2010 as Gold Star Wives Day. Later, it was updated to include any surviving spouse of any person of the United States military who died while a member of the armed forces of our country or who died after such service as a result of an injury or disability incurred during such service.

PA Broadband Development Authority Unveils New Website

The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PBDA) launched a new website aimed at offering visitors a more intuitive experience.

New features include a navigation panel for locating information; quick links to hot topic resources; real-time data on unserved/underserved locations, projects awarded and funding allocated; and resources that are specifically tailored for various audiences.

Created by the General Assembly, the mission of the PBDA is to expand access to high-speed internet. The authority is accepting applications until April 20 from community anchor institutions and units of local government to fund community projects that enable public work, education and health monitoring.

Survey: How Did PennDOT Do This Winter?

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is offering a short survey so motorists can offer their feedback on the winter services PennDOT provided.

By filling out the short survey, you will have the opportunity to share your thoughts about where you get information about road conditions, how soon you can expect roads to be safe to travel following a winter storm event and what features you would find useful from 511PA.com.

There is also an opportunity to share additional comments. The survey can be completed anonymously.

Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Eggs, Support PA Agriculture

Spotted lanternflies are an invasive pest that could damage the state’s grape and wine industries, as well as other types of agriculture.

This time of year, Pennsylvanians can take an important step to control the spotted lanternfly population. While most adult spotted lanternflies have frozen to death, their eggs can survive over the winter. A single egg mass holds 30 to 50 eggs.

The egg masses – which can commonly be found on trees, rocks and equipment stored outdoors – should be scraped into a bag of hand sanitizer. Learn what the egg masses look like during various stages and find more information about how to destroy them here.

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