Senator Dush

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.

hashtag#eaglescout
hashtag#courtofhonor

𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐧

On Tuesday, by a landslide vote of 49-0, the Pennsylvania Senate successfully advanced legislation—brought to my attention by a very ambitious group of Bucktail High School students—which I proudly sponsored to officially change our state fossil to the Hynerpeton Bassetti (Senate Bill 829).

For those who may not know, the Hynerpeton Bassetti was a powerful four-limbed, pre-historic creature that most closely resembled today’s modern-day hellbender salamander.

It was discovered in 1993 at the Red Hill fossil site in Hyner, Pennsylvania—
which is about a five-minute drive down Route 120 from Bucktail Middle and High School in Clinton County.

More important than winning any conflicting arguments with very convincing answers as to why Bucktail’s Colossal @harrythehynerpeton mascot deserves to become our next state fossil, I also had the honor of once again collaborating alongside and congratulating several dedicated Bucktail Ecology Club Students at our beautiful state Capitol.

They have all worked tirelessly to get this landmark legislation—recognizing a milestone achievement in local archaeology and a fossil that is exclusively unique to Pennsylvania— “teed up” for final consideration on the floor of the Pennsylvania Senate.

By expertly balancing all of their daily schedules between school, homework, family and so many other extracurricular activities, they have all set a tremendous example for other students to emulate and have proven that a great team, with a great mascot—like @harrythehynerpeton—is truly unstoppable.

Senate Bill 829 now advances to the PA House for hopefully prompt and equally affirmative consideration.

You can follow and read more about Harry and these extraordinary students here:
https://www.facebook.com/HarrytheHynerpeton

hashtag#VOTEFORHARRY hashtag#PASTATEFOSSIL hashtag#AMERICA250PA