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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
On behalf of my family and me, I want to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. As we reflect on what it means to have a heart of gratitude, I am truly appreciative of the honor to represent this community. I am continually encouraged by the many people and organizations who devote themselves to doing good, strengthening our communities and lifting up those around them.
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, my offices will be closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 26-28. PennDOT Driver License Centers will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 27-28, though many services are available online at www.dmv.pa.gov.
If you are traveling, be sure to check www.511pa.com for the latest traffic and weather information.
From my family to yours, may you all have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
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Unleashing PA’s Energy Industry
I joined my fellow House and Senate Republicans, as well as union and industry leaders, last Tuesday to celebrate Pennsylvania’s departure from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), as well as landmark permitting reforms that, together, will create renewed opportunities to grow our energy industry and economy.
RGGI is a multi-state pact that would have added more than a billion dollars in new electricity taxes on families and job creators in the Commonwealth. While it never fully took effect, the mere threat of it caused Pennsylvania to lose out on 22,000 direct energy-related jobs and nearly $8 billion in economic development in recent years.
In addition to freeing the Commonwealth from RGGI, the 2025-26 state budget agreement adopted by the General Assembly and signed by the governor last week removes further impediments to economic growth by streamlining key permitting processes, providing both predictability and accountability for industries looking to invest in our Commonwealth.
These powerful policy changes bring the certainty and stability needed to encourage new and expanded energy investment, generate new job opportunities, stabilize the electric grid and lower consumer energy prices for Pennsylvania.
Watch the full press conference here.
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House GOP Calls for Investigation After Terror-Connected Illegal Alien Obtains PA CDL, REAL ID
In the wake of news that an Uzbeki national illegal immigrant with ties to terrorism obtained a Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License with a REAL ID indication, the leaders of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Attorney General Dave Sunday and Auditor General Tim DeFoor demanding an investigation to find out how this happened and prevent reoccurrence.
The incident raises serious questions about public safety, especially since REAL IDs allow people to gain access to air travel, military installations and other federal buildings. It also raises concerns about the security of our elections due to the Shapiro administration’s automatic voter registration policies.
A copy of the letter is available here.
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Supporting Small Businesses
Consider showing some love to the small businesses in our community throughout the holiday season but especially on Small Business Saturday, which is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Launched by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to support the small businesses that help drive the economies of our communities.
Learn more about Small Business Saturday here.
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Safety Tips for this Hunting Season
Firearms deer season opens Saturday, Nov. 29. As you prepare to head out to our fields and forests, be sure to keep safety in mind. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers these important tips:
Basic Safety
• Positively identify the target. Be sure you are shooting at legal game. Never shoot at sounds or movement.
• Stay in the zone! Hunters should be spaced 25 to 40 yards apart, and always in sight of one another. Each hunter’s zone of fire spans about 45 degrees directly in front of the hunter. Never shoot at game moving between you and someone else.
• Plan your hunt! Let someone know where you're hunting and when you'll return.
• Buckle up! If you hunt from an elevated stand, always wear a full-body, fall-restraint device as soon as your feet leave the ground and until they return.
• Keep fit! Hunting is hard work. Don't become a statistic. Keep physically fit. Start with a check-up and follow your doctor's advice.
• Stay found! Become familiar with your hunting area. Learn how to use a map and compass or GPS unit. Be prepared for emergencies. Carry a basic survival kit and know how to use it.
• Be seen! Wear or display the required amount of fluorescent orange clothing.
SMART Firearms Safety
When using a firearm, follow these five primary safety rules:
• Safe Direction: Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times.
• Make sure: Positively identify your target.
• Always check: Know what's beyond your target before shooting.
• Respect firearms: Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.
• Trigger caution: Don't touch the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Click here for more hunting safety information.
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Hunters Can Share Their Harvest
The state Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Game Commission are again encouraging hunters to consider sharing their deer harvest to provide thousands of pounds of venison to people in need.
Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is Pennsylvania’s venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating meat processors to food pantries and community assistance centers across the Commonwealth. One deer provides about 200 servings of high-protein, low-fat venison.
HSH has distributed 3 million pounds of donated venison since 1991. More information about the program and how to participate is available at www.sharedeer.org.
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