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Upcoming Events Sharing the Warmth The Township of Hampton's Social Services Department is holding a Valentine's Day blanket drive to benefit local nursing homes, and we're excited to offer our District Offices as collection sites! Drop off your new blankets now through Wednesday, February 12th: Ross Township Office Harrison Township Office Good News Defending Civil Liberties and the PA Constitution Last week, our new and returning members were sworn into the Pennsylvania Senate, swearing an oath to uphold both the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions. I’m incredibly proud to be named a 2023-24 ACLU PA Constitutional Champion for the Senate. I take my oath of office very seriously, and I will continue to uphold the civil and constitutional rights and liberties of all Pennsylvanians every day. Swearing In Days Throwback Last Tuesday marked my fourth official Swearing In Day in Harrisburg, and was a great chance to look back on some fond memories of the last six years! The past six years have included two of my own Swearing In Days, and two midterm ones, where Senators from the odd-numbered districts in the state were elected. Swearing In and Starting the 2025-26 Session Last Tuesday marked the start of the 2025-26 Session. The Senate Democratic Caucus welcomed two new members, Sen. Nick Pisciottano and Sen. Patty Kim, and eight returning members. As in previous years, my colleague Senator Muth and I introduced an alternate set of operating, ethics, and financial rules to govern this session. These rules reforms would have ensured government transparency, encouraged public participation in the legislative process, and held senators accountable to the public. Specifically, the ethics rules that I introduced would have protected everyone who comes in contact with the Senate from sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and other forms of harassment and discrimination. I also reintroduced rules that would require the Senate Chief Clerk to post all Senate expenses on a central website in an easily searchable format. (To see the past six years of expenses from my office, check out my expenses webpage.) You can read more about these rules reforms on my website. Unfortunately, these resolutions were rejected on a party line vote and referred to committee. Instead of taking this new Session as an opportunity to create Rules that better reflect what Pennsylvanians want from their government, the Senate chose to adopt rules that uphold the status quo and concentrate power in the hands of a few. Pennsylvanians expect and deserve a transparent and accountable legislature that actually works for them, but that is not what they got. Deal keeps Democrats in charge of Pa. House as Legislature swears in members Exploring Pennsylvania Agriculture at the Farm Show I had a great time at the Pennsylvania Farm Show! We kicked the morning off with the traditional Milk Toast celebrating our PA Dairymen's Association farmers and made our way around, checking out the exhibits, animals, and delicious food-- hello half mint, half vanilla milkshakes! Learning More about Agriculture and Technology While at the Farm Show, I had the chance to participate in a panel discussion on how technology powers Pennsylvania Agriculture. I learned so much during this discussion, and I'm looking forward to working this legislative session on ways we can get our K-12 students more career ready in the agricultural and technological spaces! Farm Show roundtable examines technology’s impact on PA agriculture 2025-26 Committees I'm excited to announce my committee assignments for the coming session! In addition to serving as the Democratic Chair for the Education Committee, I'll also sit on:
I've been fortunate enough to sit on all of these committees for at least two years, including being with the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee since 2019. I'm looking forward to continuing my work on all of these committees this year! Legislative Update Putting Universal Lunches Back on the Table My colleague Senator Judy Schwank and I will be reintroducing our Universal School Meals legislation again this session. This bill will expand the current successful Universal School Breakfast Program to include lunches for all students. Parents, teachers and students talk to me all the time about how much they love the breakfast program. Expanding the program to include lunch will help parents and families even more, especially with grocery costs climbing. No kid should go hungry at school. You can read more about the legislation and its benefits for the entire community in this recent Valley News Dispatch article: Free school lunches could be on the table again for all students beginning in the fall News You Can Use New Year, Whoooo Dis? Join the Allegheny County Park Rangers for a Guided Hike Owl Prowl and learn all about our feathered friends!
Register at the links above, or check out all of the upcoming events at the County Park near you at Activity search | Allegheny Parks. In Person Job Fair! Join PA CareerLink for an In-Person Job Fair on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 from 10 AM - 12 noon. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Levy Restaurants, Pittsburgh Cares, and more employers will be on site to discuss open positions. Please bring multiple copies of your updated resume and two forms of identification with you. For more information, visit PA CareerLink’s website. Getting to the Heart and Soul of Etna Etna Heart and Soul, a community-driven initiative that works to gather residents’ stories, is hosting a free night of storytelling and snacks on Friday, January 24 from 7-9 PM at CoStar Brewing! Heart and Soul is looking for people to attend and for a few people willing to share a 5-minute story in front of the group about what they love about Etna. Stories should be like a Moth Story– true and as remembered by the storyteller. If you need examples, check out The Moth. RSVP with the QR code in the above graphic or email [email protected]. Free snacks and a drink ticket included. Don’t Forget to Vote!
Check out the Allegheny County "I Voted" sticker finalists and vote for your favorite before Monday, January 27th! (One vote per device.) We're super proud that so many of these amazing designs come from schools within Senate District 38!
Votes can be cast at "I Voted" Sticker Contest. Join the 1000 Books before Kindergarten Initiative with CLAV! Start your child's reading journey before they take their first step with the Community Library of Allegheny Valley! This national program was designed to approach reading in a simple and fun way to establish strong, early literacy skills and kick-off a child's love of learning. For more information check out the library website or stop in and ask a staff member. It's never too late to start! Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day! There are lots of meaningful local activities to honor Dr. King’s legacy: Sunday, Jan. 19th: Carnegie
Museum of Art Monday, Jan. 20th: Carnegie
Museum of Art Pittsburgh
Glass Center Kelly
Strayhorn Theater Children's
Museum of Pittsburgh As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected]. My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday). |
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