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In this Update:
United Way of PA Day-on-the-Hill
It was a pleasure to meet with Will Price, Executive Director of United Way of Venango County, and Kim Amsler, Director of Mission Advancement at United Way of Pennsylvania. Will and Kim visited the Capitol this week to advocate for key United Way initiatives, including Pennsylvania 211. PA 211 is a free, confidential service that connects individuals and families with essential health and human services in their communities—everything from housing and food assistance to mental health support and utility help. It’s available 24/7 online at pa211.org, by dialing 2-1-1, or by texting your zip code to 898-211. This resource plays a vital role in linking Pennsylvanians—including those here in northwest Pennsylvania—with the support they need. If you or someone you know could use a hand, I encourage you to reach out. Apraxia of Speech Awareness in Pennsylvania
I recently took to the Senate floor to raise awareness about Apraxia of Speech, a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to speak. Since May is Apraxia Awareness Month, it was important to me to highlight the challenges faced—especially by children and their families—living with this disorder. Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a rare motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to coordinate the muscle movements needed to speak, even though the muscles themselves are not weak. Kids with apraxia often know and understand exactly what they want to say but, have difficulty saying it clearly and consistently. Early diagnosis and intensive speech therapy are key to helping them find their voice. Senate Votes to Help Fire and EMS Departments
The Senate passed legislation to address Pennsylvania’s volunteer firefighter shortage that, if left unaddressed, threatens to cause local tax hikes to fund paid services. The bill would also fix recent issues with emergency services grant funding. Senate Bill 466 would allow job training credits to count toward Firefighter I Certification, giving volunteer recruits a more flexible pathway to credentialing. It would also correct a recent administrative error that led to a number of Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services grants being rescinded. Many departments had already budgeted for those funds, and the bill would ensure they receive the support they were promised. To prevent similar issues, the bill would also establish a one-time, 15-day grace period – available once every three years – for fire and EMS companies to submit required reports without needing to demonstrate undue hardship. It moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Bill Ensuring Sportsmen’s Rights are Protected Receives Senate Support
Legislation to protect sportsmen’s rights by aligning state law with the federal and state constitution passed the Senate and is headed to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Pennsylvania Game Code contains sections indicating it is unlawful to refuse to answer questions from representatives of the Game Commission. However, that violates the United States and Pennsylvania constitutions, which ensure no person may be “compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself” and “he cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself.” Senate Bill 518 would remove the offending sections, ensuring the protection of sportsmen’s constitutional rights. New Sextortion Scam Blackmails Children
A disturbing new scam involves organized groups of Nigerian cybercriminals targeting American children online. After befriending them – sometimes even posing as their classmates – and exchanging nude photos, the criminals blackmail them and demand money. Organized Nigerian criminals have increased this practice, known as sextortion, by 1,000% in the last 18 months. It can cause unthinkable consequences, including even suicide after a child is told that the image will be sent to their family, friends and everyone in their school if they don’t pay. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers a helpful tool to anyone facing this overwhelming scenario. Take It Down is a free service that allows a child to have a “hash value” – essentially a digital fingerprint – assigned to the photo being used against them. The “hash value” is then sent out to participating sites such as Instagram, Snapchat and even pornography sites that put a block on the image so it cannot be seen, shared, or spread, rendering it useless for the blackmailer. A child never has to upload the photo to the service, nor does anyone ever view the image in the process. Election Day is Tuesday, May 20
Election Day is Tuesday, May 20, 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 applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot, your county election office must receive it by Tuesday, May 20, 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.
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