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Dear Friends,

On Tuesday, Governor Shapiro signed an executive order putting some guardrails around data center development. It incorporates several protections I have been advocating for over the past year, including requiring developers to address their enormous water and electricity demands, paying the full cost of the power and infrastructure they require, and ensuring those costs are never shifted onto hardworking families and small businesses. Read my full statement here.

Sincerely,

In this Update:

• Legislation to Stem Fraud in State Health Insurance Program
• Commemorating the 73^rd Anniversary of the Republic of Korea and the United States Alliance
• Join Us for a Pottstown Home Safety Event!
• School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action
• Schools Can Apply Now for Safety, AED Training Grants
• Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes Highlighted at Senate Hearing
• What to Know About Teen Gambling
• Elk Cam Shows Largest Free-Roaming Elk population in Eastern U.S.

Legislation to Stem Fraud in State Health Insurance Program

This week, I introduced legislation to address improper enrollment, waste, and fraud in Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Exchange Authority called Pennie.

Senate Bill1439, the Reducing Fraudulent Pennie Claims bill enhances fraud identification within Pennie by requiring documentation for enrollment to include proof of residency or documented proof associated with the individual’s intent to reside in the Commonwealth.  Additionally, the legislation will require the establishment of an Office of Fraud Prevention within Pennie to solely focus on identifying and combatting fraud before it takes place.

The measure has strong bipartisan support and represents common-sense provisions to ensure the state takes every necessary step to prevent consumers from experiencing higher insurance costs due to fraud on the state exchange.

Read the full release here.

Commemorating the 73^rd Anniversary of the Republic of Korea and the United States Alliance

On September 20, 2026, we will commemorate the 73^rd Anniversary of the Republic of Korea – United States Alliance. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and is being held at Memorial Grove Park, 1120 Kenas Road in North Wales.

As part of this commemorative event, we will be honoring Korean War veterans for their courageous service and sacrifice with a medal presentation ceremony. If you would like to attend the event and receive an Alliance Peace Medal, please contact my office at (215) 541-2388. The deadline to do so is September 10, 2026.

I hope you can join us for this important event commemorating the enduring friendship and alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States of America.

Join Us for a Pottstown Home Safety Event!

Join me, area firefighters, and Peppa Pig for a Home Safety event on Friday, August 28^th, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Pottstown YMCA, 724 N. Adams Street in Pottstown. Information and free fire and carbon monoxide detectors will be provided as well as fun activities for the kids, including a snow cone truck and a visit from Peppa Pig! Registration is not required. I hope to see you there.

School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action

Over the past five years, 25,136 Pennsylvania drivers have been cited for school zone violations, including 8,302 for overtaking or illegally passing a school bus. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania breaks down the numbers here.

In September 2025, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 65, Enhancing the Safe Transportation of School Children, which would extend the stopping distance requirement from 10 feet to 15 feet before reaching the bus when the red signal lights are flashing and the side stop arm is activated. It also develops a tiered penalty system for a second or subsequent offense. Current law does not penalize repeat offenders.

With the start of a new school year nearly a year later, it still awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. Read more about this effort to boost school bus safety here.

Schools Can Apply Now for Safety, AED Training Grants

School districts can apply now for the latest round of funding to improve safety, including an initiative passed by the General Assembly to increase the presence of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at school events.

Under the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program, school districts, career and technical centers, intermediate units, charter schools and cyber charter schools are eligible for funding to use for safety and security assessments, staff training and more. It can also be used to improve CPR training and AED preparedness.

In addition, nonpublic schools can apply for CPR/AED Training for Nonpublic Schools Grant Program that can be used for CPR and AED training.

The AED funding is made available through Greg Moyer’s Law, named in honor of Pennsylvania student-athlete Greg Moyer, who died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game.

Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes Highlighted at Senate Hearing

Strategies to increase energy production and lower utility bills for Pennsylvanians were the focus of a public hearing by the Senate Majority Policy Committee.

The committee heard from energy generators, utilities, business groups, taxpayer advocates and more. Pennsylvania is the top electricity exporter and supplier of natural gas, but the retirement of generation sources is driving up prices and risking electric grid reliability.

Testifiers noted the commonwealth needs to build more reliable baseload generation to keep prices stable and ensure access to energy. Read more and access hearing video here.

What to Know About Teen Gambling

Just because teens aren’t allowed to gamble doesn’t mean they don’t.

Gambling among teenagers is a growing problem. Information is available to learn what teen problem gambling is, how to recognize the warning signs and where to go for help. 

Topics include: Why do people gamble? The “gambler’s fallacy,” and Who’s at risk? Learn more here from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Elk Cam Shows Largest Free-Roaming Elk population in Eastern U.S.

Elk were once native to Pennsylvania but disappeared in the 1800s due to overhunting and habitat loss. Today, Pennsylvania is home to 1,300 to 1,400 elk, making it the largest free-roaming elk population in the eastern U.S.

Live from Elk State Forest in northern PA, the Elk Cam is a window into the world of these impressive animals, as well as turkey, deer and other wildlife. Best viewing times are mornings and evenings.

The livestream is provided by HDOnTap and made possible with the help of the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission.