Senator Dush

𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐥
I hope the 150 elementary school students from Johnsonburg Area School District News and Penns Valley Area School District enjoyed their recent visits to our state Capitol, as much as I enjoyed hosting them.

Your Pennsylvania Capitol is not only the seat of state government, it’s also an architectural and artistic treasure to be experienced by citizens from across the commonwealth.

Visitors are welcome to explore the building at their leisure on regular weekdays.

You can also schedule a tour with a guide. Tours take about 30 to 45 minutes.

You can plan your next visit and book a tour of this 120-year-old National Historic Landmark by following this link: https://www.pacapitol.com

Yesterday, I had the privilege of touring Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania and The Rivet, Makerspace for Adults & Teens at Discovery Space, (State College).

I am very impressed with all they have to offer our communities and, especially the tremendous impact they are making in our young people`s lives.

https://discoveryspace.org/visitcentrecounty/

Our 911 EMS providers are in a crisis. Across the Commonwealth, they are struggling financially and many are closing their doors.

EMS providers are mandated to provide local municipalities with 24/7/365 emergency medical services.

Unlike other medical providers, EMS providers cannot choose to respond to a call based on the person’s insurance coverage or reimbursement rate; they must respond to every 911 call.

On May 12, I had a very informative and productive meeting with Centre Lifelink EMS, Bellefonte EMS and Moshannon Valley EMS to discuss soon to be introduced legislation that would establish a fair and direct reimbursement rate for mandated 911 emergency medical services provided by EMS providers from insurers—regardless of whether the EMS provider is in the insurance network or not.

It is absolutely critical, not only from a financial perspective, but for the safety of all Pennsylvanians, that we continue to take tangible legislative action to support the life-saving public service of our irreplaceable emergency responders.

As I have said many times, Earning/Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is a monumental achievement. Very few achieve the highest rank in scouting because of the tremendous commitment that is required.

On April 25, I had the privilege of attending the Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony for Samuel Frost (Boy Scout Troop 35 of Falls Creek).

To fulfill his Eagle Scout community service project requirement, Samuel, a recent graduate of the diesel mechanic and heavy equipment technology program at Jeff Tech, took on the extraordinary task of rescuing and restoring Prescott Cemetery, owned by First Baptist Church of Reynoldsville.

From July 5 through Sept. 6, 2025, Samuel along with family members, his girlfriend, friends and fellow scout members completely cleared more than 25 large loads of brush and debris, redid the landscaping and built a road leading to the cemetery.

Samuel and his team of volunteers also installed a new sign, the metal part built and donated by the welding and metal fabrication shop at Jeff Tech, with materials donated by Lowe’s in DuBois.

The main reason Samuel chose Prescott Cemetery for his Eagle Scout project was to honor the veterans buried there:

"There are multiple Civil War veterans and one World War I veteran buried here, so we completed this project so these veterans would not be forgotten, and always remembered."

Scouting teaches members to respect their country and honor its veterans. “I have that engrained in me,” he said. “I really wanted to help.”

It was great welcoming students and educators from CPI Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology and CPI Culinary Arts as part of Career and Technical Education Day at the PA Capitol.

CPI`s Culinary Arts Diploma Program prepares students for employment related to commercial food services and culinary arts.

Specialized learning units include theory and work experience in the major areas of cooking, baking, nutrition, sanitation, food and beverage purchasing, management and organizational skills.

Experience is also gained in front-of-house skills including waiting on tables and cashiering, care and use of kitchen equipment and sanitation in food handling in commercial and institutional settings.

It was my privilege spending time with them, sampling their delicious "homework assignments" and, especially, highlighting the tremendous impact career and technical education is having across Senate District 25

For more information https://cpi.edu/programs/culinary-arts/ for more information.

Earning/Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is a monumental achievement. Very few achieve the highest rank in scouting because of the tremendous commitment that is required.

This past weekend, I had the extra special privilege of attending two Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremonies for Joseph Rostan (Allegheny Highlands Council, Boy Scout Troop 427) and Sean Storer (Allegheny Highlands Council, Boy Scout Troop 410).

To fulfill his Eagle Scout community service project requirement, Joseph both designed and laid pavers to enhance the flagpole at Kane Area High School.

As part of this project, Joseph installed an electric conduit to enable light to shine on our American flag. He also landscaped and seeded the surrounding area, as well as scraping and painting the wooden benches that are used on the practice field.

Sean’s Eagle Scout community service project was to install stainless steel U.S. flag collection boxes across McKean County.

He was able to raise enough funding to install flag collection boxes in Bradford, Eldred, Kane, Mount Jewett, and Port Alleghany.

Again, the rank of Eagle Scout is one that is earned, not given.

Congratulations and thanks are also in order to all of the parents, grandparents and volunteers who dedicated countless hours to prepare these young men for a lifetime of serving their communities.

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