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In this Update:
* 250^th Army Birthday Event
* Victory In Europe Day 80th Anniversary
* Beagle and Bagel Event, SB 381
* Remarks on SB 9
* Day of the Bible at the State Capitol
* Visit from Franklin County Sheriffs
* WWII Veteran, Irvin C. Gers
* Senate Votes for the Save Women’s Sports Act
* PASS Scholarships to Help Students in Failing Schools Receive Senate Support
* Bill Strengthening PA’s Sexual Offender Registry Approved by Senate
* PA Treasury Continues Working to Return Money to the People
* Happy Mother’s Day!

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** 250th Army Birthday Event
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Join me on Monday, June 9 at Noon in the Main Rotunda of the State Capitol to celebrate the 250th Birthday of the United States Army. As a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 30 years of service, I will be joined by fellow Army veterans serving in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. The keynote address will be delivered by Colonel Gerald York (U.S. Army, Ret.), grandson of legendary World War I hero Sergeant Alvin C. York, known for his extraordinary valor in combat. Sgt. York, then a 29-year-old corporal, distinguished himself during the largest series of battles fought by American forces in World War I. Armed with only a rifle and a handgun, he was credited with killing up to 25 enemy soldiers and capturing at least 128 others.

All U.S. Army Veterans are invited to attend.

Please register at: Army’s Birthday – Senator Mastriano ([link removed])

A meet and greet with Colonel York will be held beforehand at 11 a.m. in Hearing Room 3 of the North Office Building.

Help us honor the proud legacy of the U.S. Army and those who have served!


** Victory In Europe Day 80th Anniversary
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On Thursday, I held an event to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) honoring the bravery and sacrifices of our World War II heroes. It was a privilege to meet and award the six WWII veterans who were able to attend. We must ensure their stories are shared, their legacies are remembered, and we continue to strive for the peace and freedom they fought so valiantly to protect.


** Beagle and Bagel Event , SB381
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We had a fantastic event on Tuesday advocating for animal protection. I was joined by Sen. Carolyn Comitta as well as many other senators and representatives. Shelters, rescues, and concerned individuals from across the state gathered to share their stories and their support for SB 381.

My bill, Senate Bill 381 ([link removed]) , would defund painful testing on dogs and cats in Pennsylvania.

To read and track this legislation, please visit, [link removed]


** Remarks on SB 9
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Above are my remarks on Senate Bill 9, Save Women’s Sports Act.
“Every person deserves respect and dignity, but respecting one group should not sideline another.”


** Day of the Bible at the State Capitol
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What an incredible opportunity it was to gather at the Capitol in celebration of the Day of the Bible! Such moments remind us of the powerful impact and significance of faith in our lives and communities.


** Visit from Franklin County Sheriffs
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On Tuesday, I was visited by some fine men from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office ([link removed]) at the Capitol. Keep up the great work, gentlemen!


** WWII Veteran, Irvin C. Gers
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It was an honor to have WWII Veteran Irvin C. Gers on the Senate floor today as we commemorate Victory in Europe Day!

YN3 USN WORLD WAR II – VETERAN Irvin C. Gers was born August 21, 1926, in Osceola Mills, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. In 1944 he graduated from Osceola Mills High School. Irvin answered the call to service to his country within the military, U.S. Navy, at 18 years of age. His enlisted “boot camp” was spent at the U.S. Naval Training Center, Sampson, New York. His military specialty training, as a Seabee, was spent at Camp Davisville, Rhode Island. He served aboard the U.S.S. George F. Elliot. Soon after additional Seabee training at Port Hueneme, California, he was assigned to the 146 Construction Battalion which deployed to islands throughout the South Pacific theater (including Okinawa, Japan) during World War II. Irvin was honorably discharged in 1946 from the U.S. Navy. He returned to his home of record in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania. He obtained employment with a coal mining company for the next 2 years. During the following 36 years he excelled in a career within the Insurance
sector; he retired in 1984.


** Senate Votes for the Save Women’s Sports Act
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With a bipartisan vote, the Senate passed legislation to protect athletic opportunity, competitive fairness and safety for female athletes across Pennsylvania. The Save Women’s Sports Act ([link removed]) would ensure athletic teams designated for girls and women are reserved for biological females in K-12 and collegiate sports across the commonwealth.

Senate Bill 9 ([link removed]) would reinforce the original intent of Title IX by ensuring female athletes are not denied scholarships, placements or opportunities due to unfair competition from biological males.

It is now headed to the House of Representatives for consideration.


** PASS Scholarships to Help Students in Failing Schools Receive Senate Support
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To expand education access and reform outcomes in Pennsylvania’s most challenged schools, the Senate Education Committee this week advanced bipartisan scholarship legislation. The bill, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) scholarship program, now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate Bill 10 ([link removed]) would establish scholarship accounts for eligible students, allowing them to pursue educational opportunities outside of their assigned public school. The program would be administered by the Pennsylvania State Treasury and funded through appropriations, grants, donations or other contributions from public and private sources.

Eligible students must live within the attendance boundary of a school that ranks in the bottom 15% statewide based on academic performance and come from households earning less than 250% of the federal poverty level. Funds in a student’s PASS account could be used for tuition, school-related fees or special education services at a nonpublic school. Learn more ([link removed]) about scholarship amounts, which vary from $2,500 to $15,000 based on the student’s grade level.


** Bill Strengthening PA’s Sexual Offender Registry Approved by Senate
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The Senate unanimously approved legislation this week to better protect children ([link removed]) in Pennsylvania against sexual predators. Senate Bill 255 ([link removed]) would require a sports official, volunteer or employee of a nonprofit association who is convicted of sexual assault to register as a sexual offender under the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

Under current law, a conviction for this offense does not require registration as a sex offender. Closing this loophole will strengthen SORNA and ensure potentially violent sex offenders can be properly monitored.

The bill, which now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration, is part of a larger Senate Republican priority of making commonwealth communities safer.


** PA Treasury Continues Working to Return Money to the People
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More than 40,000 Pennsylvanians may soon find a check in their mailbox for money they didn’t know they had, thanks to legislation passed by Senate Republicans.

PA Money Match is a new law that allows Treasury to automatically return certain unclaimed property. The program includes properties valued at $500 or less that belong to a single owner. Those with eligible properties will receive a letter in the mail to confirm their address. About 45 days later, they’ll receive a check for their property.

PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity is working to return more than $4.5 billion in unclaimed property, which includes dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, rebates and insurance payments. The average claim is worth more than $1,000. Because PA Money Match will not automatically return properties exceeding $500 or those that may have more than one owner, you are still encouraged to regularly use Treasury’s website to check if you have unclaimed property ([link removed]) .


** Happy Mother’s Day!
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Mothers are the backbone of our communities. Whether they sat in the stands cheering us on at our games, brought cupcakes to every PTA bake sale or roughed it in the woods with our scout troop, they put action to their love. On Mother’s Day, we recognize the special women who love and care for us at all stages of our lives. Their support sets us up to be happy, healthy members of society.

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