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In this Update:

• 30 Years of SFI: Strengthening Forests, Communities, and Local Economies
• Look Out for Scams, Fraud and Theft During the Holiday Season
• Fishing Gift Vouchers, Licenses on Sale
• Dec. 7: Remembering a Day of Infamy

30 Years of SFI: Strengthening Forests, Communities, and Local Economies

I recently had the privilege of delivering remarks on the Senate floor recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Since its founding in 1995, SFI has united landowners, loggers, industry partners, and conservation leaders in advancing responsible forest management and protecting one of Pennsylvania’s most vital natural resources. Our forests are the backbone of a wood products industry that supports tens of thousands of jobs and drives economic activity in rural communities across the Commonwealth.

For three decades, the Pennsylvania SFI Committee has strengthened this industry by training thousands of loggers, foresters, and landowners; promoting best practices; and fostering collaboration across the forestry sector. These efforts help ensure safe, sustainable harvesting operations that keep Pennsylvania’s hardwood industry globally competitive while sustaining family-supporting jobs in communities that rely on forestry and logging as an economic foundation.

As SFI marks this milestone, we celebrate its leadership and the countless individuals whose work protects our forests, supports our rural economies, and preserves opportunities for generations to come. I’m proud to recognize the lasting impact of the Pennsylvania SFI Committee and the vital role the forestry and logging industry plays in our Commonwealth.

Look Out for Scams, Fraud and Theft During the Holiday Season

The holiday shopping season is prime opportunity for scams, fraud and theft. Some of the most common scams to be on the lookout for include bait-and-switch scams, skimming devices and fraudulent “cybersquatting” websites.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday offered several tips to prevent scammers from taking advantage when shopping online:

• Watch out for bait-and-switch scams, where a retailer lures customers with a low price — but then substitutes a product that either costs more or is less desirable. Also be alert for scammers, known as cybersquatters, who use fraudulent internet domains that look and sound like legitimate brands or stores to trick unsuspecting customers.
• Be especially careful when paying for services or items with wire transfers, cryptocurrency or money orders. Scammers may also ask for payment for things like bills, parking tickets, etc. via a gift card, which is a big red flag — a gift card is not a normal payment method for these items.
• Do not provide your Social Security number or bank account information and be wary of emails and texts you didn’t request.

The Attorney General’s Office has set up a Scams Complaint Form residents can fill out should they encounter any scams. The FBI also provides tips on how to avoid holiday scams and identify skimming devices, which are estimated to cost consumers and financial institutions more than $1 billion per year.

Fishing Gift Vouchers, Licenses on Sale

Gift vouchers for your favorite angler, along with Pennsylvania fishing licenses and launch permits, are now available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Items for the upcoming 2026 season can be purchased at HuntFish.pa.gov or by visiting one of nearly 700 retail license issuing agents. Licenses, permits and vouchers purchased now are valid immediately for up to 13 months, from Dec. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2026.

While in-person retail purchases remain popular, online purchases can save time and help you avoid long lines, especially right before the spring trout season, which begins statewide on Sat., April 4, 2026. Customers can choose an auto-renew option at the time of purchase.

Dec. 7: Remembering a Day of Infamy

Each year on Dec. 7, we remember the 2,403 service members and civilians killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships and destroyed 188 aircraft.

We remember not just the surprise attack, but the steely resolve of Americans to do whatever it took to defeat the Axis forces of World War II.

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