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In this Update:
Committee Assignments Announced
It’s an honor to be named chair of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee again for this upcoming session. I look forward to working with many of the same committees I was assigned last session, and I’m eager to dive back into the issues to further our work on protecting ratepayers. Additionally, I’ve been assigned to the following committees:
Bedford County Farm Celebrated
During the Pennsylvania Farm Show last week, Sandra and Dennis Millin were honored with a century farm award. In 2024, they celebrated 100 years of production on their fourth-generation family farm in Bedford County. On February 11, 1874, Sandra’s great grandfather purchased 140 acres for $12.33 per acre, and then ran both a farm and a sawmill on the property for years following. Today, Sandra and her husband have renovated the original farmhouse and now run a grain operation on 201.5 acres, including all of the farm’s original acres. Congratulations Sandra and Dennis! New Restaurant, Event Center Opens in Fayette County
Congratulations to the team at The River’s Edge! The new restaurant and event center is now open in Connellsville, located along the Youghiogheny River and Great Allegheny Passage Trail. I had the privilege of attending their soft opening last weekend and the food was delicious! PennDOT Contest for Students to Improve Roadway Safety
Students are invited to participate in the Innovations Challenge to help the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) increase awareness for seatbelt safety and improve driver behavior for the benefit of our roads. The challenge, which has an award of $6,000 for the winning team, encourages ninth- through twelfth-grade students to use their problem-solving, creative and strategic-thinking abilities to resolve real-world transportation challenges. Regional winners will be invited to present their solutions to the PennDOT secretary and a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide cash prize winner. The submission deadline is Jan. 31. Free Winter Activities at State Parks
Staff at Pennsylvania state parks and forests host free events throughout the year for people of all ages. During winter, snow walks, bird watching, night owl hikes and more are among the activities available. The event listing can be sorted by in-person or virtual events. It can also be filtered by region and date. To make it even more convenient, a personalized list of events can be emailed to you weekly if you build an event digest email to your liking. The email can be customized for your event preferences and when you wish to be notified. REAL ID to be In Effect on May 7
Beginning May 7, Pennsylvanians will need a REAL ID-compliant license/identification card or other federally acceptable identification (such as a valid passport or military ID) to board domestic commercial flights or enter a military installation or federal facility that requires ID. To get a REAL ID, you must bring your documents to a driver licensing center for verification in person. Learn about the specific items that are required to be issued a REAL ID. The website also offers the option to pre-verify online if your documents are already on file with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. REAL ID is optional. It is not required to drive, vote, access hospitals, visit the post office, access federal courts or apply for or receive federal benefits. Help is Available for People Who Want to Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is difficult, and not just because of the addictive properties of nicotine. Different people experience unique challenges, and personalized resources are available for veterans, women, teens, those who are age 60 and older and others. People can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669), text QUIT to 47848 or use the live chat feature on SmokeFree.gov. The website has lots of practical articles, including ones about how to make a plan to quit, manage cravings, cope with stress without smoking and much more. There are resources for people who want to stop using dip and vapes, as well as information about how to support a loved one who is quitting. Jan. 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for peace, even while he worked to instill change. As our country has faced various transitions in the past few years, I hope all Americans can celebrate his commitment to treating each other with decency – even when perspectives may differ. President Ronald Reagan signed legislation into law that made the third Monday in January a federal holiday honoring the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
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