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Exciting Things Rolling into the Northern Tier
In case you missed it last month, I am excited to share with you more about the new policy change that we have been working on with PennDOT on that will affect ATV/UTV enthusiast in our area and across the Commonwealth. I appreciate PennDOT for making this happen and giving more opportunities for towns, municipalities and boroughs to help connect area trails to improve the riding experience. This is a small change that will make a big difference, and I am excited to see where this takes the Northern Tier.
You can read more about it here.
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Leading on Legislation: Supporting the Dairy Industry
While being in the minority party in the state House has made it more challenging to advance some of our legislative priorities, rest assured I’m fighting as hard as ever to make our voices heard on the issues that matter most. For the summer, I will share with you each week a bill I am working on at the state Capitol.
June is Dairy Month in Pennsylvania, the perfect time to share my support for the dairy industry. The dairy industry is a major part of our state’s agriculture economy, providing economic value to the tune of $14.7 billion annually and over 52,000 jobs. But it has been shrinking here in our Commonwealth in recent years, and we need to reverse that trend, as dairy is a vital segment of our state’s agriculture industry, providing jobs to those who work in the industry and nourishment to those of us who enjoy milk, yogurt, cheese and more.
That’s why I have co-sponsored two bills to advance policies to support the industry. House Bill 177 would provide tax incentives to bring new dairy processing facilities to the Commonwealth, improving the market for Pennsylvania milk. House Bill 179 would allow Pennsylvania schools to purchase and serve whole milk and 2% milk to students (contrary to federal law that allows only 1% and skim milk). I am joining Rep. John Lawrence of Chester County in sponsoring these measures.
You can also support Pennsylvania dairy by checking the milk you purchase at the grocery store and looking for the PA Preferred logo or milk with a plant code beginning with “42.” Plant codes are usually printed near the top of the container or on the lid, or sometimes they’re printed right on the label. The first, and most important, part of the code will always be two numbers (between 01 and 56). This identifies the state where the milk was processed. Pennsylvania’s magic number is 42!
Learn more about the state’s dairy industry here.
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The Servant’s Heart
It was a special honor to celebrate the servant’s heart of one of our own community leaders. Kayla Hurler was presented with the 2025 BLS (Basic Life Support) Practitioner of the Year award by the Pennsylvania Department of Health on June 19. Kayla was recognized for her exceptional demonstration of care and compassion, serving as a leader, innovator, and mentor, and her dedication to the community.
Kayla is employed full-time at the Sabinsville Fireman’s Ambulance Association and volunteers at Clymer Township Volunteer Hose Company and the Crary Volunteer Hose Company. Kayla’s humble heart is just like so many others who faithfully answer the call to serve those in need. Thank you, Kayla, and all who serve our community for all you do to make a direct impact on people’s lives.
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Penn College at Wellsboro
It was a privilege to host Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson last week during his visit to Penn College at Wellsboro, where we had the opportunity to learn about the various programs available right here in the Northern Tier. Penn College provides opportunities for professional and personal skills development, along with customized courses designed for business and industry training. We learned more about the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program, which is an excellent program that offers students practical, real-world training, enabling them to embark on a fulfilling career in just one year. If you are considering a career in the health care industry, it has never been easier, and you can do it right here, close to home. I encourage you to explore the offerings at Penn College in Wellsboro. There is a new class starting this fall, and there is a huge need for health care workers right here in our area.
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Freedom Day
On June 19, we recognized Juneteenth National Freedom Day. Considered the longest-running African American holiday, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, with news of the end of the Civil War, which had occurred two months earlier with the surrender of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Virginia.
The troops’ arrival also came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, establishing that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” Learn more about the history of Juneteenth here.
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Deane Center Receives America250PA Grant
America250PA – the organization planning the state’s participation in the United States’ 250th birthday next year - is supporting the work that so many are doing across our Commonwealth to provide meaningful, engaging, and impactful projects, programming, and events in preparation for this historic birthday.
We are excited to announce that Deane Center for Performing Arts in Wellsboro has received a $10,000 grant toward History Comes Alive and Deane’s Little Beans.
America250PA’s Semiquincentennial Grants are supporting educational, civic, and celebratory events and programming that elevate and enhance Pennsylvania’s celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026.
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Attention Artists!
America250PA is seeking submissions from local artists for its “Bells Across PA” art series.
Selected artists will execute their designs on a fiberglass bell sculpture. The goal is to place at least one bell in each of the state’s 67 counties, but the hope is for many more.
Bells Across PA is open to all Pennsylvania artists and groups from the acclaimed to the amateur. Painters, sculptors, craftsmen, multi-media artists and other wildly creative people are all encouraged to apply. Each commissioned bell will receive one honorarium, regardless of group size. Learn more here.
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New Liberty Bell License Plates Available
Pennsylvania vehicle owners can now order new state license plates featuring the Liberty Bell, the quintessential symbol of the Commonwealth and our nation’s independence. Perfect timing as we prepare to mark the nation’s 250th birthday next year!
The new style is available for standard vehicles and trucks, including personalized plates. If you switch from a specialty plate (like a military, organization or special fund plate), it will be replaced with a standard plate in the new design.
PennDOT’s partners, such as dealers and online messengers, will use all existing standard issue license plate inventory before transitioning to the new plate design. If you want to ensure you receive the new plate design, order directly through PennDOT. The new license plates are optional for drivers with current license plates.
Click here for more information.
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Reining in Red Tape
The House Republican Policy Committee held a public hearing this week to examine the impact of excessive regulations on economic growth, job creation and government accountability in Pennsylvania.
The hearing featured testimony from Emily Greene, Pennsylvania state director with Americans for Prosperity, and Kevin Kane, director of legislative strategy with the Commonwealth Foundation, who both underscored how Pennsylvania’s over 164,000 regulatory restrictions – the 14th highest in the nation – are driving businesses, jobs and families out of the state.
According to the Commonwealth Foundation, by reducing regulatory requirements by 36%, Pennsylvania could see an increase of $9.2 billion in gross domestic product (GDP). That amounts to $1,760 per household and the equivalent of 180,000 new jobs each year.
Video of the hearing is available here.
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Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreement
Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with Virginia’s Attorney General Jason Miyares, announced the finalization of a reciprocity agreement with the Commonwealth of Virginia allowing holders of Licenses to Carry Firearms to do so in both states.
Under the agreement, a license holder from Pennsylvania may carry a firearm concealed on their person or in a vehicle in Virginia, and a license holder from Virginia may carry a firearm concealed on their person or in a vehicle in Pennsylvania.
You can read the press release from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General here.
This is great news for legal gun owners in both of our great commonwealths!
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PHEAA Hosts Scholarship Sweepstakes
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is giving away $2,500 no-essay scholarships through its PA Forward and Keystone Student Loan programs!
The scholarship sweepstakes is for college students, graduate students and their parents for the 2025-26 academic year who opt in to receive communications from PHEAA between June 5 and Dec. 15. The communications are designed to provide students and families with tips on planning and paying for college.
Twelve winners will be selected for each scholarship. Winners will be announced in August and December of this year.
The PA Forward scholarship is open to PA residents only. Click here to enter the PA Forward sweepstakes.
The Keystone scholarship is open to residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Click here to enter the Keystone sweepstakes.
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