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Grateful for the thoughtful and collaborative appr

Grateful for the thoughtful and collaborative approach taken by the PIAA. The Governor would do well to take a similar approach.

PIAA Update:

Next event TODAY @ 1PM: "How to Save Money on Your

Next event TODAY @ 1PM: "How to Save Money on Your Education"

Find the event on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/280297069928607/

Pleased to support @thecitadel1842 Class of 1999 w

Pleased to support @thecitadel1842 Class of 1999 with this new mask.

Applications for state rail freight grants are bei

Applications for state rail freight grants are being accepted now through Aug. 28. PA’s vast rail network has kept goods moving during the pandemic & these competitive grants aim to help maintain the system. Details & applications from @PennDOTnews:
https://www.penndot.gov/Doing-Business/Pages/dotGrants.aspx

The #PASenate approved nearly 2 dozen bills in res

The #PASenate approved nearly 2 dozen bills in response to the #COVID19 pandemic. Other measures reform government, strengthen education, create jobs, improve health care, & more. All of the notable bills passed so far in the 2019-20 session are here: https://www.pasenategop.com/senate-passed-legislation/

Consumers are receiving unordered seeds from overs

Consumers are receiving unordered seeds from overseas labeled as jewelry as part of a scam. The seeds may contain plant diseases or invasive plants. Please report to the @USDA confidential hotline, 800-877-3835 or email SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov.
https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=946

The latest Advisory Notice from the PA Liquor Cont

The latest Advisory Notice from the PA Liquor Control Board for license holders relaxes some license renewal fee and license safekeeping requirements. It includes no late fees for license renewal or validation applications through September 30, 2020. https://www.lcb.pa.gov/Legal/Documents/Advisory%20Notice%20No.%2027.pdf

I first introduced this bill to increase access to

I first introduced this bill to increase access to online learning resources for our schools as a member of the House in the 2013-2014 legislative session. The bill increases online course access for students and our schools by requiring the PA Department of Education (PDE) to establish a central repository of online courses accessible to all public schools, nonpublic schools, home education programs, and the general public. While this bill was introduced long before the pandemic, it’s relevance and need has only grown as schools and parents decide what education format is best for their students in this upcoming school year. You can read more about it here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=32156

New voting machines, mail-in ballots, and last-sec

New voting machines, mail-in ballots, and last-second changes by the Wolf Administration caused confusion and extreme delays in reporting election results in the 2020 primary election. A PA Senate hearing last week with state and county election officials explored possible solutions. Watch the hearing and read testimony here: https://www.pasenategop.com/blog/072320/

Under a newly enacted law, Governor Wolf and futur

Under a newly enacted law, Governor Wolf and future governors are prohibited from directing a state agency to ignore citizen requests for government records during an emergency declaration. The measure received unanimous General Assembly approval but was opposed by the governor, who allowed it to become law without his signature. https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2463

Jack and June joined me today at our State Capitol

Jack and June joined me today at our State Capitol. We stopped by to visit a new exhibit in the PA Senate Library.

“One day the South will know that when these dis

“One day the South will know that when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters, they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judaeo Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.” - Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

May God richly bless the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis.

A number of years ago, while serving as a member o

A number of years ago, while serving as a member of the PA House, I introduced a bill during the 2013-2014 legislative session to increase access to online learning resources for students and schools. This legislation seeks to empower our high quality educators and assist them as they seek to individualize and customize the learning experience for Pennsylvania students.

Now, as we work through the challenges of the COVID-19, we’ve been forced to reevaluate and rethink the way we do many things, especially education. As school administrators create plans and make decisions about what a return to school will look like this fall, I’ve decided to reintroduce this legislation to give our educators and families as many options as possible so that they can ensure our children continue receiving a customized world-class education, no matter what this fall brings.

As we near the start of another school year, I believe parents, local communities, and local education leaders are best suited to choose the best and most appropriate education format for our students. This is consistent with my view throughout this pandemic that local community leaders – county commissioners, municipal officials, school board members, etc. – are better positioned to make decisions for their communities than bureaucrats in Harrisburg. As such, this legislation will provide schools with additional resources that will help as we increasingly utilize online education. While this bill has been proposed for the last six years, it’s relevance and need has only grown. Customization, flexibility, more instructional options, and local control – these are the goals of my bill. You can read more about it here: https: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20190&cosponId=32156&mobile_choice=suppress

In May, the #PASenate approved legislation directi

In May, the #PASenate approved legislation directing federal funds to help renters and homeowners struggling financially due to the #COVID19 pandemic. @PHFAtweets is now accepting applications for this rent & mortgage assistance. Details & applications: https://www.phfa.org/pacares/

#PAFire, #PAEMS & rescue companies that lost fundr

#PAFire, #PAEMS & rescue companies that lost fundraising opportunities during #COVID19 can register now for grants to help cover operational expenses, including apparatus repairs, sanitizing, PPE, utilities & insurance. Registration open until Aug. 7.
https://www.osfc.pa.gov/GrantsandLoans/Pages/COVID-19-Fire-Rescue-EMS-Grant.aspx

The Senate recently approved a proposed constituti

The Senate recently approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the length of future emergency disaster declarations unless an extension is approved by the General Assembly.

Limiting the length of an emergency declaration would ensure greater cooperation between all branches of government during an emergency and restore the system of checks and balances that Pennsylvania’s government was founded upon.

For four months, Governor Wolf has used the COVID-19 disaster declaration to suspend state statutes, spend taxpayer dollars without legislative approval, and keep millions of Pennsylvanians from earning a living through his business shutdown orders. His refusal to work with the General Assembly makes clear the critical need for this constitutional amendment.

The Senate recently approved legislation that woul

The Senate recently approved legislation that would assist recent teaching graduates who are attempting to navigate the state certification process, which was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legislation is needed because teacher certification testing centers were closed during the health emergency. In addition to enabling graduates to obtain certification, the additional flexibility will ensure schools are not faced with additional challenges in recruiting staff when reopening.

Senate Bill 1216 would assist teachers, recent graduates, undergraduate students and paraprofessionals when attempting to navigate the state required certification process by:

✅Allowing the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to issue a temporary certificate to individuals that have completed all of their teacher preparation requirements except their final assessment (i.e. praxis).

✅Allowing PDE to issue an exceptional case permit for current educators who are unable to take their assessment to move from an Instructional I certificate to an Instructional II certificate.

✅Allowing PDE to issue a temporary certificate under limited circumstances for individuals who were seeking to add on a certification (physical education/health, cooperative education and special education are exempted). Individuals will have to provide proof to PDE that their assessment was cancelled.

✅Waiving requirement for undergraduate sophomores to take the basic skills exam. This test is required for teacher preparation programs.

✅Extending the deadline for paraprofessionals to satisfy staff development requirements.

✅The flexible provisions would expire June 30, 2021.

The Senate recently approved a bipartisan bill to

The Senate recently approved a bipartisan bill to improve Pennsylvania’s probation system by addressing serious flaws that have trapped nonviolent offenders in a cycle of incarceration without improving public safety.

Senate Bill 14 would help to ensure the probation system ultimately serves as a pathway out of the criminal justice system. Under the bill, courts would have stronger guidelines and restrictions on imposing new sentences of incarceration on probationers.

Incarceration would be reserved for individuals convicted of new crimes and more serious technical violations. The bill also creates incentives for probationers to succeed through credits for good behavior, such as maintaining a job and performing community services.

Currently, technical violations that are not actual crimes – such as being late for an appointment – can lead to extensions of probation or prison time that far exceed the original sentence handed down at trial. The cost to incarcerate these individuals is far greater than the cost of supervision, resulting in wasted taxpayer dollars without any benefit in terms of public safety.

The bill also creates a mandatory probation review conference after three years for misdemeanor convictions or five years for felony convictions, with a presumption that probation will be terminated unless the individual does not qualify. The review could occur earlier based on the good conduct of probationers and on the achievement of educational, employment and other goals.

Coach Jack helping his sister get ready for the up

Coach Jack helping his sister get ready for the upcoming football season.

Hanging out with these two this evening.

Hanging out with these two this evening.

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