|
||||
|
In this Update:
Local Cadet Reaches New Heights
I was thrilled to celebrate Cadet Landen N. Snyder of Civil Air Patrol Squadron 501 on earning the Amelia Earhart Award! This achievement reflects Landen’s exceptional dedication, leadership, and perseverance. It was an honor to recognize this milestone and I am excited to see what comes next for him. Major Don Beatty Composite Squadron 501, the Franklin squadron of Civil Air Patrol, is based at Venango Regional Airport and is open to youth aged 12 and up. It offers hands-on opportunities in aviation, leadership, and emergency response. Cadets don’t just learn about aerospace, they experience it. From orientation flights and search-and-rescue training to leadership labs and community service, members gain real-world skills that build confidence, discipline, and teamwork. Along the way, they develop character, make lasting friendships, and prepare for future careers in aviation, the military, public safety, engineering, and beyond. If you know someone who is ready for a challenge, a purpose, and wants to be part of something bigger than themselves, the Civil Air Patrol is a place to grow as a leader, serve the community, and reach new heights. Key Points from This Week’s Senate Budget Hearings
Efforts to trim the governor’s $53.3 billion proposed state budget – which would spend $2.7 billion (5.4%) more than the current budget – got underway this week with Senate budget hearings. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee focused on containing the growing cost of Medicaid and other entitlement programs and how to identify and eliminate fraud during the hearing with the Department of Human Services, the highest-spending agency in the state budget. The department requests a 6.6% increase for 2026-27. The committee also questioned officials from the Department of General Services (DGS) and the Pennsylvania State Police about missing revenue, funding projections, cracking down on new, more sophisticated fake IDs and more. DGS seeks an 11.8% spending increase for 2026-27 and the State Police’s proposed budget is more than 9% higher than the current fiscal year. You can go here to find recaps of every budget hearing, plus video and a schedule of remaining hearings, which run through March 5. Hearing Explores Ideas to Combat State Housing Crisis
Efforts to make housing more attainable for working families were reviewed during a Senate hearing with local government officials, housing advocates, builders and developers. The Senate Majority Policy Committee heard how housing shortages drive up costs for Pennsylvanian families and stall economic growth. Among the solutions explored were infrastructure partnership programs to help lower upfront development costs, state tax credits, development incentives and bond financing specifically targeted to middle-income housing development, and more. Forming a robust strategy to increase housing supply, lower costs and stimulate economic activity is a key focus for the Senate this year. Video of the full hearing and written testimony can be viewed here. Record-Breaking Unclaimed Property Returns to PA Residents
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity recently announced that the Pennsylvania Treasury returned a record $334.1 million in unclaimed property in 2025, the most ever returned in a single year. Unclaimed property can include dormant bank accounts, abandoned stocks, uncashed checks, and more. These assets always remain available for the rightful owner to claim. Tangible property, often the contents of forgotten safe deposit boxes, may be auctioned after three years, but the proceeds remain available to claim in perpetuity. As Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, I was pleased to work with Treasurer Garrity to enact the Pennsylvania Money Match program through Act 81 of 2024. This commonsense law allows Treasury to automatically return unclaimed property valued at up to $500 directly to Pennsylvanians. In its first year alone, nearly $50 million was returned through this program, helping drive the record-breaking total returned in 2025. To see if you have any unclaimed property, visit patreasury.gov/unclaimed-property. Saturday is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
School bus drivers play a critical role in the safety and well-being of students, but shortages of these vital workers can disrupt schedules and learning. Thank you to all the men and women performing this critical task in our area. Individuals interested in becoming a school bus driver can visit the commonwealth’s Become a School Bus Driver webpage or the School Bus Hero website to learn more.
For anyone who hasn’t already signed up to receive my e-newsletters, you can get on the mailing list here. |
||||
|
||||
Want to change how you receive these emails? 2026 © Senate of Pennsylvania | https://www.senatorscotthutchinson.com | Privacy Policy |
