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We Will Never Forget!
Friday marked the 25th anniversary of one of the worst days in our nation’s history. On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 men and women were killed in devastating terrorist attacks in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Pennsylvania, including more than 400 first responders.
While most of us remember both the tragedy and bravery of that day, there are now an estimated 100 million Americans who are too young to remember 9/11. It is our duty to share our perspectives of that day – from fear and sadness to resilience and patriotism – to ensure the lives lost and lessons of that time in our history are never forgotten.
In addition to the annual remembrance events, special programming was planned at Ground Zero and Pennsylvania’s own Flight 93 Memorial. On Sept. 12, officials broke ground for construction of a Visitor Education Center adjacent to the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C.
May God bless the souls lost and the loved ones they left behind on this tragic day and always.
The House of Representatives has also produced a 9/11 Remembrance video titled “We Were One That Day.” Only six current members of the House were in office when the tragedy occurred 25 years ago, and it is interesting to hear their perspectives on what happened that day and beyond. You can watch it here.
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Game Commission Night
We had a great turnout for Game Commission Night last Thursday at the Fireman’s Annex in Wellsboro!
We enjoyed hearing from bear biologist Brandon Snavely, who shared information about Pennsylvania’s black bears, their behavior, and the work being done to manage and protect these animals. Local Game Commission officials also shared their knowledge and answered questions from those in attendance.
The evening provided a meaningful opportunity for education, conversation and connection while highlighting the importance of preserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources and supporting responsible outdoor recreation.
Thanks to everyone who came out and made the night such a fun, educational event!
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Honoring Those Who Serve
Our veterans are an inspiring group of people who remain humble despite their extraordinary acts of service to us and our nation. I am honored to host a Veterans Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 15, in Troy to recognize and thank the veterans of the 68th Legislative District for their service.
The free event will provide an opportunity to come together, honor our veterans and hear firsthand stories of service and sacrifice from local veterans.
This year’s breakfast will feature Vietnam veteran Erwin “Butch” Baker and Tioga County Commissioner and combat veteran Sam VanLoon, who will share reflections from their military service. It is my hope that this breakfast serves as a small but meaningful way to express our gratitude for the dedication, courage and sacrifices of our local veterans.
The breakfast is open to veterans of the 68th Legislative District, along with one guest each.
RSVPs are requested at www.RepOwlett.com/events or by calling the Wellsboro office at 570-724-1390 or Troy office at 570-297-3045.
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Human Trafficking Awareness Event
On Thursday, Oct. 29, join me at North Street Community Church in Canton for an engaging Human Trafficking Awareness event.
Geared toward parents and grandparents, the event will help attendees recognize the signs of human trafficking, particularly the online grooming and exploitation of children, and learn how to protect loved ones and neighbors.
Speakers will include Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters and Korrin Moon, president and founder of Lantern Rescue.
RSVPs are requested at www.RepOwlett.com/events or by calling the Wellsboro office at 570-724-1390 or Troy office at 570-297-3045.
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Celebrating 50 Years of Love: Lynn & Gail Kinch
On Thursday, Sept. 3, Lynn and Gail Kinch celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They included me in their special day, and I was grateful to meet them in my Troy office and recognize them with an official citation from the House of Representatives.
I had a wonderful time getting to know this special couple and hearing about their adventure getting married in Spring Lake, North Carolina, while Lynn was stationed at Fort Bragg. They reminisced about the early days of their marriage, when they lived at Fort Bragg, and shared how much the area has changed over the years.
I always like to ask couples who have reached such an incredible milestone what the secret is to a long and happy marriage. And while so much has changed at Fort Bragg, some things never change, the importance of good communication, always looking out for one another, and caring and serving one another.
Lynn and Gail shared that they’ve certainly had their share of ups and downs, but you learn to figure it out together. Those are just a few of the many things that have helped them build 50 wonderful years together.
Congratulations, Lynn and Gail, on 50 years of marriage! Wishing you many more happy years together.
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Historic Session Held at Philadelphia’s Congress Hall
In recognition of our Commonwealth’s foundational role in the development of our nation, I joined my fellow legislators in an historic session at Philadelphia’s Congress Hall last week.
It was an honor to gather at what was once the meeting place of the United States Congress, from 1790-1800. Standing in a place with such an important role in our nation’s history was a pretty incredible experience. There’s something special about being where this nation was born.
You can hear my thoughts and reflections on the experience here.
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Settlement to Help Protect Kids on Social Media
Pennsylvania is part of a multistate coalition that recently reached a settlement with Meta that assures the social media company will implement sweeping changes to its existing age assurance framework, limit children’s time on its platforms and cut kids’ access to harmful content.
According to Attorney General Dave Sunday, the settlement, which involves up to $17.1 billion in national remediation payments, is the largest-ever settlement involving a big tech company. Pennsylvania is expected to receive $516 million over a period of years — and up to $729 million. The total is contingent on other major social media companies agreeing to the same sweeping changes.
Among the changes Meta must implement under the settlement are:
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Hard cap daily time limits and “productive pauses” for children to interrupt endless scrolling. |
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Nighttime blocks restricting children’s access from midnight to 6 a.m. |
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Limited school-time access for children by eliminating push notifications on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the school year. |
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Limits on social comparison features, including beauty filters and visible “like” counts. |
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Stronger, more user-friendly parental controls. |
Click here for more information and a link to the full settlement.
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