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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Around the District
Last week, I was proud to welcome the PA House GOP Policy Committee to our area for a hearing to discuss the obstacles and opportunities facing Pennsylvania’s tourism industry. I was proud to showcase the beauty of Pike and Wayne counties to my colleagues today. Be sure to check out the article about the hearing below.
Last weekend, the Wayne Memorial Hospital hosted the 14th Annual Harry D. Propst, MD Sporting Clays Invitational. Nearly 100 volunteers and participants took part in this event to raise money for the Wayne Memorial Health Foundation.
Under the lights! Last Friday, I attended the football game between the Delaware Valley School District Warriors and the Wallenpaupack Area High School Buckhorns. As an added treat, I had the distinct honor to shoot the cannon! Special thanks to the DV cannon crew for their help, and for John Actisdano for the opportunity.
Recently, local residents were inducted into the PA Voter Hall of Fame. These individuals voted 50 consecutive years in November elections. What an amazing accomplishment!
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District Services – Date Change for October
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Unleashing PA’s Tourism Potential
The House Republican Policy Committee recently convened a hearing to discuss the obstacles and opportunities facing Pennsylvania’s tourism industry.
A 2024 report from the Pennsylvania Tourism Office found the Commonwealth’s tourism industry generated $76.7 billion in economic impact, supported 486,871 jobs and contributed $4.7 billion in state and local taxes in 2022.
The hearing, titled “Passport to Prosperity: Unleashing Pennsylvania’s Tourism Potential,” featured testimony from John Kiesendahl, second-generation owner and CEO emeritus, and Bradley Kiesendahl, president and CEO, Woodloch Resort; Ronald R. Schmalzle, vice chair, Pike County commissioners; and Genevieve Reese, first vice chair, Pocono Mountain Visitor Bureau.
Click here to watch the hearing.
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Questions About PA’s Automatic Voter Registration
More than five dozen members of the House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro late last week calling on him to address concerns with the state’s automatic voter registration program raised in a recent court decision.
The program automatically takes residents, who are obtaining new or renewed driver licenses and ID cards and are eligible to vote, through the voter registration application process unless they choose to opt out of doing so. Previously, residents were first asked if they wanted to register to vote and then were directed to the voter registration application.
Earlier this month, the state Supreme Court issued a ruling involving a contested ballot in a Luzerne County primary election. The voter who cast the contested ballot had testified before a lower court that he believed changing his vehicle registration address — not his driver’s license — had triggered a change in his voter registration address. The majority of the court ruled PennDOT lacks the authority to make such a change outside the scope of a state driver’s license or identification card update.
Auditor General Tim DeFoor also announced recently he would conduct an audit of the automatic voter registration program, saying sufficient data is now available to assess the program which was launched one year ago by the governor.
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Poll Workers Sought for Upcoming Election
Beyond exercising your right to vote, what can you do to help elections run smoothly across the Commonwealth? Consider serving as a poll worker in the upcoming election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Open positions vary by county but may include judge of elections, majority inspector and minority inspector, which are elected positions. Counties also need clerks and machine operators/inspectors at each precinct. These positions are filled by appointment.
Counties train poll workers on their election day duties. Workers receive payment for training and for their service on election day.
In order to serve, you must be registered to vote in the county where you wish to work. Exceptions exist for 17-year-old high school students; contact your county election office for more information. Government officials and government employees generally are not allowed to serve as poll workers. Likewise, you are not permitted to serve if your name appears on the ballot.
Poll workers generally work for the entire day on election day, from before the time the polls open at 7 a.m., until after the polls close at 8 p.m.
People interested in serving as poll workers should start by filling out this form. If you have questions, call 877-VOTESPA (877-868-3772) or email re-voterreg@pa.gov.
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Fire, EMS Grant Applications Due Soon
All fire companies, emergency medical service providers and volunteer rescue squads may now apply for the latest round of grants through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner. Projects for which grants may be used include facilities, equipment, debt reduction, training, education, recruitment and retention.
The deadline to apply is Sunday, Oct. 20. For more information, please visit www.osfc.pa.gov.
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Learn More About PA Game Lands
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is planning a series of driving tours through several state game lands next month.
The tours are designed to help people learn more about opportunities available on game lands statewide, while showcasing how habitat work being done on these tracts benefits wildlife. All tours are free, held rain or shine, and open only to vehicles licensed for travel on public roads.
The tours will be held on three Sundays in October and include select game lands in Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Cambria, Dauphin, Elk, Fayette, Huntingdon and Luzerne/Wyoming counties. A detailed schedule is available here.
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Raising Cancer Awareness
Among many designations, the month of September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Uterine Cancer Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month.
It is an important reminder for all Pennsylvanians, regardless of age, to be aware of changes in their health that may indicate the development of cancer or other illness or disease. The American Cancer Society offers valuable resources to help people educate themselves on cancer risks and symptoms at www.cancer.org. Of course, you are encouraged to consult with a doctor for a specific diagnosis.
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