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Dear Friends, As you’ll see in the newsletter below, there is a lot going on in our Commonwealth besides an upcoming election. I know we are all ready for Election Day to arrive. If you have not voted already, please do so this Tuesday, November 5 and let your voice be heard! Sincerely,
In this Update:
Honoring First Responders on National First Responders Day
In honor of National First Responders Day (October 28), I’ve created a “Wall of Heroes” showcasing the dedicated first responders of the 24th district. This beautiful display will be featured in my office. I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the organizations that submitted photos. Your participation has made this tribute possible. Thank you to all our first responders for your unwavering commitment to our community. Your heroic efforts do not go unnoticed. Also, thank you to Trooper Paul Holdefer for the helping hand! Two Key Bills Signed into Law
I’m pleased to report that two of my bills were recently signed into law. Senate Bill 1213, now Act 125, combats “deepfake” images of minors and child sexual abuse materials generated by artificial intelligence (AI).Previously, Pennsylvania law made it illegal to share intimate images without consent but did not clearly address the use of AI deepfake technology for this purpose. This gap in our law left many vulnerable to a new form of digital abuse. In addition, the measure also prohibits AI from being utilized to generate child sexual abuse material, previously referred to as “child pornography,” which is not currently prohibited under law. With the changes, law enforcement now has the ability to prosecute individuals who generate and disseminate these types of child sexual abuse materials. In addition, legislation I introduced with Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) to make the Workers’ Compensation system more efficient by moving more benefit payments from paper checks to direct deposit was signed into law on Tuesday. Senate Bill 1232, now Act 126, allows individuals entitled to compensation to request funds be deposited to an account of their choosing. It also allows insurers to no longer offer paper checks as a payment option as long as the individual has a bank account that can accept direct deposit. This legislation will help workers and cut costs and allow Injured workers to get their benefits in a faster, more convenient manner, and insurers will be able to reduce processing time and mailing costs. Protecting Pennsylvania’s Energy Economy
60% percent of Pennsylvania’s electricity comes from natural gas, helping to secure our electric grid and our nation’s security. I was pleased to have a substantive discussion with Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association President and CEO Dave Taylor about growing our energy economy and stopping any efforts to implement the RGGI carbon tax, which would only result in higher energy prices. Watch here. Over $37,000 Recovered for Constituents at State Services Day
I was thrilled to host my State Services Day where we assisted over 40 constituents in my district in recovering $37,000 in unclaimed property! Thanks to the collaborative efforts of my staff, Pennsylvania Treasury, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, PA State Police, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Berks County Area Agency on Aging and Montgomery County Senior Services we were able to provide valuable assistance to our constituents. Women Owned Small Business Month
Celebrating National Women Owned Small Business Month with the sweetest stop in Boyertown! The Peppermint Stick Candy Store, owned by the amazing Rachael Kehler, has been delighting customers since 2015 with nostalgic candies, loose chocolates, and delicious Longacre Ice Cream. Be sure to stop by and support any and all our women-owned businesses in the 24th! Montgomery County Launches Public Log of Ballot Deficiencies
For the first time, Montgomery County will be making the list of ballots with errors that may otherwise disqualify the voter’s choices publicly available on the County’s Voter Services website. The list, which will be updated twice a week, will include voters’ names, municipalities, birth years, and the error that may prevent their ballot from being counted. See if your name is on the list, here. Support the 2024 VetFit4Life Fundraiser
Help honor Korean War Veterans by supporting the Red Horse Veterans’ Dinner in May 2025. This is your chance to support an incredible cause and have some fun doing it! Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Receives Pink Ribbon Award for Breast Cancer Screening Efforts
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a end, I’m proud to recognize Pennsylvania Insurance Department Commissioner Michael Humphrey as the latest recipient of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Pink Ribbon Award. As a sponsor of Act 1 of 2023, I’m particularly pleased to see the Department’s crucial role in implementing this historic, comprehensive breast cancer screening and testing law, which will significantly impact the lives of countless Pennsylvanians. Although Pennsylvania first mandated coverage for preventive breast cancer screenings in 1989, Act 1 of 2023 eliminated all costs associated with one supplemental breast cancer screening per year for women who are at increased risk for breast cancer. Screenings may include MRIs, abbreviated MRIs, and breast ultrasounds. Act 1 also covers BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling at no cost for high-risk individuals. Act 1 applies to commercial insurance policies that are regulated under state law. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although Act 1 applies only to individuals at increased risk for breast cancer, PID encourages all Pennsylvania women to schedule their annual mammogram. This life-saving screening is free-of-charge for women over 40 years old with commercial health plans when using an in-network provider. Under federal law, preventive screening mammograms are also available for individuals covered by self-funded plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid recipients. Pennsylvanians with questions about their insurance should contact PID’s Consumer Services Bureau online or at 1-877-881-6388. Consumers who want to learn more about health insurance should visit the Department’s dedicated Health Insurance page. New PA Maple Map Connects Consumers with Maple Products and Businesses
Pennsylvania announced a new PA Maple Map to connect consumers with Pennsylvania-produced maple products and businesses that serve or sell them. A partnership of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Hardwoods Development Council and PA Preferred® program, in cooperation with the PA Maple Syrup Producers Council, the map is part of a marketing initiative promoting Pennsylvania maple syrup with nearly $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Learn more about PA maple syrup, and find a listing of restaurants and coffee shops on the website. Or click on a location or filter the dashboard by county or product to find your favorite treat, or a coffee shop, retailer, or farm-to-table restaurant offering locally produced maple syrup products. With nearly 300 farms producing maple syrup for sale, and 790,000 trees tapped, Pennsylvania ranks sixth nationally in production. In 2023, PA farms produced 205,000 gallons of maple syrup worth more than $7.5 million, and 46 farms across the state had maple syrup sales of over $50,000. PA Preferred® is Pennsylvania’s brand for locally produced agriculture. Look for the PA Preferred yellow and blue check, on the PA Maple map and wherever you shop. Find a full range of PA Preferred members and quality local products at papreferred.com. PA Families to Receive More Support Saving for the Future
Because of a bill Senate Republicans passed, families saving for educational expenses and costs for those with disabilities could soon have more support from their employers. A tax credit will encourage employers to contribute to their employees’ PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts and PA ABLE accounts. Beginning January 2025, employers will receive a 25% tax credit on matching employer contributions of up to $500 per employee per year. The law helps employers offer their employees a significant benefit so they can attract the best workers while receiving a financial incentive themselves. It supports Senate Republicans’ priorities of empowering Pennsylvania families and protecting Pennsylvania jobs. New Law Creates Rape Kit Tracking System
Having received unanimous support from the General Assembly, a bill to establish a statewide rape kit evidence tracking system is now law. Act 122 of 2024 allows survivors to track the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process, from collection to destruction. With this legislation, Pennsylvania joins 35 states and the District of Columbia that have already implemented rape kit tracking systems. It brings Pennsylvania into compliance with the Fairness for Rape Kit Backlog Survivors provision of the recent Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization. To comply with VAWA, the law provides a waiver for survivors who file untimely claims for compensation due to delays in rape kit testing. Survivors would not need to undergo an appeal process for consideration of this waiver. Bill Giving Parents Info About Student Tick Removal Now Law
Legislation giving parents the opportunity to access important information about their child’s health was approved by the Senate and is now law. It requires schools to notify a parent or guardian if a tick is removed from a student and provide the tick to them for testing. When discovering a tick on yourself, a family member or a pet, it’s important to send it to the Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at East Stroudsburg University. For free, the tick can be tested for common illnesses to provide you and your health care provider with valuable information about potential exposure. For more than a decade, Pennsylvania has had more cases of Lyme disease than any other state in the nation. While Lyme disease is reason enough to take precautions, ticks also carry a host of other illnesses with undesirable symptoms. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5
Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 5, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line by 8 p.m., you will be able to vote. If you would like to vote with a mail-in or absentee ballot, your county election office must receive it by Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 8 p.m. Track your ballot to confirm it was received. Any voter who requested to vote using a mail-in or absentee ballot but would prefer to vote in person may do so. Bring the ballot and the envelope to surrender at the polls. If you don’t have those materials, you may vote using a provisional ballot. Call 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) if you experience any issues. Time to Turn Clocks Back This Weekend
Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, so Pennsylvania residents should turn their clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. Biannual time changes can be a great reminder to check or change the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced every 10 years and located near bedrooms and on each level of the residence.
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