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In this Update:
Visit to the 110th Pennsylvania Farm Show
Tuesday, I had a fantastic time at the Farm Show! A huge thank you to Meecee Baker, President & CEO of Versant Strategies, and Derek Snyder, Chief of Staff, for taking the time to show us around the Pennsylvania Farm Show. My Statement on the Desecration of Monuments at Gettysburg
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the desecration of historic monuments at Gettysburg National Military Park. These actions are not protest, not expression and not harmless mischief — they are acts of vandalism and desecration that dishonor the memory of the brave Americans who fought, suffered and died on this sacred ground. Gettysburg is hallowed ground. As President Abraham Lincoln reminded the nation here, ‘four score and seven years ago’ our fathers brought forth a nation ‘conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.’ The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War and in the struggle to end the evil of slavery. It tested whether that nation — or any nation so conceived and so dedicated — could long endure. This place is not abstract history to me. I have spent countless hours at Gettysburg walking the battlefield and monuments, educating families, students and visitors about the many battles fought here over the course of several critical days and explaining what the outcomes of those battles signified for the survival of the Union and the future of liberty in America. Gettysburg is where history comes alive, where Americans can see — not just read about — the terrible cost of freedom and the sacrifices required to secure it. The monuments that stand at Gettysburg do not glorify war; they commemorate sacrifice. They honor citizen-soldiers who gave what Lincoln called ‘the last full measure of devotion,’ so that the nation might have, in his words, ‘a new birth of freedom.’ To deface these memorials is to dishonor not only the men who fought here, but the cause of equality and civil rights that their sacrifice helped advance. The damage inflicted is especially troubling because many of these monuments are constructed of porous historic stone and bronze, materials that readily absorb oil-based substances. This makes restoration extraordinarily difficult, time-consuming and costly. In some cases, the damage may never be fully reversed. The financial burden of restoration will fall on taxpayers and preservation professionals, diverting resources that should be used to preserve history and educate future generations — not to repair acts of reckless disrespect. As the state senator for the district that includes Gettysburg, I will not remain silent while this sacred place is violated. Those responsible must be held fully accountable, and every effort must be made to restore and safeguard these monuments so that future generations may continue to learn from this defining chapter of our national story. Gettysburg reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy were purchased at an immeasurable price. We owe it to those who fought here — and to Lincoln’s enduring vision that ‘government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth’ — to preserve this hallowed ground with the reverence it deserves. Pennsylvania, and the nation, must stand united in making one thing clear: the desecration of our history, our heroes and our shared ideals will not be tolerated. Enough Is Enough — Stop the War on Law Enforcement
Let’s call this what it is — dangerous, disgraceful and downright un-American. Philadelphia’s District Attorney Larry Krasner and Sheriff Rochelle Bilal have crossed every line with their unhinged, anti-law enforcement rhetoric. Threatening federal ICE agents with arrest? Calling them ‘fake’ cops? This isn’t just insane — it’s reckless and it’s putting lives at risk. Every time Krasner and Bilal open their mouths to smear ICE, they’re sending a green light to criminals, agitators and radical activists to confront, resist and attack law enforcement. They are deliberately fueling hostility on the streets, and someone is going to get hurt because of it. They don’t care about public safety — they care about headlines. Our ICE agents are federal officers, executing federal law. Period. They have the full backing of the United States government. No local official has the right to interfere with that. This isn’t a sanctuary city fantasy land — this is America. And in America, we back the badge. Krasner and Bilal need to sit down, shut up and stop playing games with the lives of law enforcement officers. Their words are reckless. Their agenda is lawless. And their war on federal agents will fail — badly. Larry Krasner, Rochelle Bilal — your reckless words are not just disgraceful, they’re dangerous, and you need to shut them down now before your political grandstanding gets a federal officer killed. We stand 100% with ICE and every man and woman in uniform. The Constitution is not optional. Federal law will be enforced. And if you don’t like it — tough. Throwback to the Early Days
Just back from our honeymoon, Rebbie and I said goodbye to my parents and headed for our next adventure—Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and my start in Military Intelligence. One move became many, including Nuremberg, West Germany, serving on the Iron Curtain with the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment. Big love. Big changes. Bigger dreams. U.S. Supreme Court Hears Cases on Fairness in Female Athletics
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments in two cases involving state laws designed to safeguard women’s sports. Here in Pennsylvania, I supported the Save Women’s Sports Act, which will ensure athletic teams designated for women are reserved for biological females in Pennsylvania’s K–12 and collegiate sports. Senate Bill 9 reinforces 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 acknowledges biological realities and helps guarantee a safe, level playing field for women and girls. The bill passed the Senate in May 2025 and is awaiting action in the state House of Representatives. 2025 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Applications Now Being Accepted
The application period is now open for this year’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, which provides rebates from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is accepting applications for rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2025. Forms and instructions are available online, and eligible Pennsylvanians are encouraged to file their applications via myPATH to ensure their rebates are processed as quickly as possible. Please reach out to my office with any questions. Your Input Wanted on Program Helping PA Seniors and People with Disabilities
Older Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities and their families can find services and support in their community through Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources (PA Link). Public input is wanted on a plan to redesign and improve PA Link. The plan calls for developing performance metrics, expanding call center functionality, deploying volunteers for community engagement and more. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging will hold a listening session Jan. 27, and the public comment period will be open until Feb. 9. You can review the draft plan, submit comments and sign up for the listening session here. Tips for Preparing for Winter Storms and Power Outages
Winter storms are part of Pennsylvania living, and they’re made worse when the power goes out. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission offers these tips for what to do before and during winter storms:
Learn more about what to do if you lose power during the storm, how to stay safe while waiting for power to be restored and what utilities do to deal with storms here. Deadline Approaching for PennDOT “Innovations Challenge”
How can artificial intelligence (AI) improve work zone safety? That’s the latest Pennsylvania Department of Transportation “Innovations Challenge” for high school students. Students are asked to develop a concept for the use of AI in work zones to dramatically improve safety for work crews and motorists. The concept should take into consideration cost-benefit information, statewide deployment implications and public outreach. Regional winners will be invited to present their solutions to a panel of judges, who will determine the statewide winners. Teams must submit entries by Jan. 30 for a chance at a prize. Rules and submission information can be found here. Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream
Americans of all colors and backgrounds are bound by a love of liberty, a can-do spirit and other ideals that resonate strongly across the United States. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an opportunity to recommit to celebrating what brings us together and to seeing each other as fellow citizens, judged by what we do and not what we look like.
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